Mugabe Diverts Unity Govt Review

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 21:53
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe this week used a meeting in Namibia to brief
regional leaders on the progress of the inclusive government in a
pre-emptive strategy to defuse tension on the non-resolution of outstanding
issues.

Mugabe's strategy, government sources said, was meant to prevent Sadc
from taking a hard stance when it meets in Kinshasa to, among other issues,
review the global political agreement (GPA) signed last September by the
veteran leader, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur
Mutambara.

The GPA culminated in the formation of the inclusive government in
February. Relations between the three parties were last week strained over
outstanding issues of the pact after Mugabe's party announced that it would
not make any further concessions.

It is against this background that Mugabe seized the Namibia visit to
brief regional leaders on the sidelines of the Boundless Southern African
Expedition (BSAE) launch  in Oranjemund on his commitment to full
consummation of the GPA.

The leaders who attended the BSAE were Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia,
Botswana's Lieutenant-General Seretse Ian Khama, Lesotho Prime Minister
Pakalitha Mosisili and his Swazi counterpart Prime Minister Sibusiso
Dlamini.

Mugabe reportedly told the leaders that the inclusive government was
working smoothly and assured them that despite the Zanu PF politburo's
stance on the sticking points of the GPA, he was determined to resolve the
issues with Tsvangirai and Mutambara.

This, the sources said, was meant to render as a non-event the review
of the GPA by Sadc in the DRC next month.

The sources said South African President and Sadc chairman Jacob Zuma's
visit to Harare on Thursday was not expected to yield any major breakthrough
in resolving the current stalement between Zanu PF and Tsvangirai's MDC.

Senior officials in the inclusive government told the Zimbabwe
Independent that the country should not expect anything to come out of the
visit by Zuma, who will be in the country to officially open the Harare
Agricultural Show next Friday.

A Zanu PF official said: "This hype about Zuma's visit is a creation
of the media. Nothing is going to come out of that meeting. This issue about
outstanding issues and rising tensions is not like that. Zuma is here for
the agricultural show and that will be that. I wish we could continue for
the next 10 years with this inclusive government to get the country out of
the mess it is in."

Tsvangirai met with Zuma in South Africa two weeks ago about Zimbabwe's
widening cracks in the GPA.
It was at that meeting that Zuma reportedly promised to address the
outstanding issues during his Harare visit.

An official from one of the MDC formations said the GNU was "working
well together".

"The inclusive government is the best thing that has happened for
Zimbabwe," said the official. "If the stories about it collapsing were true,
why has it not happened? We are working very well together both in cabinet
and in our committees."

Such statements contradict recent statements from the two main
political parties over outstanding issues.
Zanu PF's politburo last week claimed that the party had fulfilled all
outstanding issues and that it was the MDC formations which had not met its
obligations outlined in the GPA.

The sticking points the MDC formations were raising, the politburo
said, were non-issues because the appointments of the Governor of the
Reserve Bank Gideon Gono and Attorney-General Johannes Tomana were done in
accordance with the constitution and so was the appointments of provincial
governors. The Zanu PF organ insisted Mugabe used his constitutional
prerogative to make the appointments.

In what Zanu PF sources are describing as a defensive mechanism, the
politburo said it was the MDC which had in fact not fulfilled key elements
agreed to under the GPA.

The politburo accused MDC of not doing anything to address the removal
of sanctions against Zimbabwe and Zanu PF and to stop the beaming of
anti-Zimbabwe messages by what it called pirate radio stations.

This, analysts say, was designed to prolong the negotiating process,
making it impossible for the MDC to continue demanding the reversal of
contentious appointments.

In response, the MDC issued a statement attributed to its spokesperson
Nelson Chamisa saying Zanu PF's statement was "nonsense" and that they were
not responsible for correcting Zanu PF's "barbaric" image.

"The world is clear that the so-called sanctions are a result of Zanu
PF's past sins of omission and commission. The onus is on Zanu PF to morph
into a civilised political party that does not believe in the primitive and
feudal coercive politics of machetes and knobkerries," the statement read.

When quizzed at a recent meeting by colleagues in the inclusive
government, Chamisa reportedly denied that he was the author of that
statement, saying it was a junior officer at the party offices who released
it without his authority.

This prompted Mugabe to remind ministers from all political parties
that they should be careful what they say because such statements might give
a wrong perception about the GPA and they may also overshadow achievements
made by the inclusive government.

The MDC was accused of grandstanding to give an impression to their
supporters that they were still fighting Mugabe and Zanu PF, when they were
working well with them behind closed doors.

One such front on which they might appear to be at loggerheads is the
constitution-making process, pertaining to the Kariba draft, which in the
GPA is recognised as the basis for that process.

At the same meeting MDC-T's chief negotiator Tendai Biti was said to
have fumed at his colleague, Parliamentary and Constitutional Affairs
Minister Eric Matinenga for "misleading" the nation that the Kariba draft
was not a factor in the process.

He asked Matinenga why he had not consulted him first as he was one of
the co-authors of that draft.
The three principals and the negotiators from the three parties met
briefly on Monday to find ways to reclaim the constitution-making process,
which they felt they could lose control of if not careful.

The meeting had been due to define the process and direction of the
constitution- making process.
One of the chief negotiators told the Zimbabwe Independent that they
felt that there was need to rein in the parliamentary select committee on
the constitution, co-chaired by the parties. The 25-member committee feels
it needs autonomy as envisaged in the GPA.

Paul Mangwana has been accused by Zanu PF senior officials of forming
an "unholy" alliance with MDC T.

In an effort to reach out to his former allies - Zimbabwe Congress of
Trade Unions, National Constitutional Assembly and Zimbabwe National
Students Union - Tsvangirai last Saturday met with their executive
committees to try to seek their support in the constitution-making process.

At that meeting Tsvangirai, in contrast to his position with
colleagues in the inclusive government, agreed that the process was flawed
and that using the Kariba draft was a mistake.

Faith Zaba

Parly to Clip RBZ's Wings

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 21:40
THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will soon surrender its shareholding in
private companies and four of its six subsidiaries if parliament passes a
Bill to clip the central bank's wings and those of its governor Gideon Gono.

The Bill - Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Amendment - was gazetted last week
and is meant to streamline operations of the bank in a bid to halt
quasi-fiscal operations.

Finance minister Tendai Biti and multinational financiers blame the
supra-ministerial activities of the bank for accelerating the decade-long
economic decline.

Information gathered by the Zimbabwe Independent shows that the
central bank would give up shareholdings in a number of companies which
include Carslone Enterprises (mining); Fiscorp (Pvt) Ltd, Homelink (Pvt) Ltd
(property development) and the Export Credit and Guarantee Company.

Apart from these the central bank also has shareholdings in three
listed companies - Tractive Power Holdings, Astra Industries, and Cairns
Holdings, all controlled by the Finance Trust of Zimbabwe, an investment
vehicle linked to the Reserve Bank.

The central bank would however retain control of jewelry concern Aurex
(Pvt) Ltd and money-printing Fidelity Printers and Refineries, amid a push
by Gono for the return of the Zimbabwe dollar.

"Subject to Subsection 2, all the shares held by the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe in any company incorporated in Zimbabwe in which it has a majority
shareholding are hereby transferred to and vested in the state, and the
shares shall be held on behalf of the state, notwithstanding anything
contained in the memorandum and articles of association of the company in
question, by the head of the ministry to whom the company in question is
assigned," reads the Bill.

The reforms would also see one of the three deputy governors to Gono,
Charity Dhliwayo, Edward Mashiringwani and Nick Ncube, facing the axe after
the Bill proposed to reduce the deputies to two.
Currently the Reserve Bank Act states that there shall be a governor
of the bank and not more than four deputy governors.

The cash-strapped central bank, the Bill further reads, would be
prohibited from lending or advancing any foreign currency to the state.

"The bank shall not lend or advance money to the state or any fund
established by the state unless the money is denominated in Zimbabwe
currency and the loan or advance is either repayable within twelve months
after the end of the financial year in which it was made, or convertible at
the end of the financial year in which it was made into negotiable bearer
securities issued by the state," the Bill reads.

The new Bill also proposes the establishment of a Monetary Policy
Committee, independent of the board of directors, which would be in charge
of formulating monetary policy. The committee would be chaired by the
governor.

On the oversight of bank operations, the Bill proposes the setting up
of a committee of the central bank board chaired by the permanent secretary
of Finance and all members of the board, "which shall meet twice in each
financial year and shall review the operations of the Reserve Bank to ensure
that they are conducted in compliance with the Act and in accordance with
best corporate practice".

Bernard Mpofu

GNU Parties Seek Election Freeze Extension

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 21:21
THE three political parties in the inclusive government want to extend
the one-year moratorium on by-elections by three years, government sources
have revealed.

In the global political agreement (GPA) signed by Zanu PF and the two
MDC formations last September, the parties agreed not to field candidates
against each other for a year stipulating that only the party that
previously held the seat could field a candidate. But this does not stop
other parties or independent candidates from contesting the seat.

The parties identified elections as the main cause of violence in the
country, hence the agreement on the moratorium not to contest against each
other in by-elections for a year.

The moratorium lapses on September 15, hence the talks to extend it.

Authoritative government sources told the Zimbabwe Independent this
week that the three political parties were now working on extending the
moratorium by three years.

"There are negotiations within the inclusive government to extend the
moratorium on the holding of by-elections and none of the parties are eager
to go for pending by-elections now as the situation is not conducive for all
of them," one of the sources said. "There is fear that violence might raise
its head at a time when the inclusive government still has pending issues of
the GPA."

With the success of the inclusive government on the economic front,
the sources said Zanu-PF was afraid of a backlash from the electorate in the
constituencies where by-elections are due while the MDC-T was not certain if
its popularity has grown in the so-called Zanu PF strongholds.

The sources said the Arthur Mutambara-led MDC was against the holding
of the by-elections and preferred an extension of the inclusive government
to five years, as it feared losing the only remaining seven parliamentary
seats under its control.

However, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Gorden
Moyo, said it was not the intention of the inclusive government to extend
the moratorium on elections and said everything was moving towards the
holding of the by-elections.

"There are no intentions to amend the GPA as we are implementing it as
it is. We do not believe that the by-elections will be violent and we are
putting in guarantees to ensure that any electoral competition will be
 fair," Moyo said.

He, however, said he did not know if the three principals had
discussed the possible extension of the one-year agreement.

Zanu PF chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa said the extension of the
one-year moratorium depended on the three political parties.

"The political parties can extend the moratorium depending on what
they agree on but I do not know whether the principals have initiated
discussions on that matter, so far I am not aware of any listing of that
matter," Chinamasa said.

There are close to 15 by-elections due in the senate and the House of
Assembly but President Mugabe has yet not called for the holding of
by-elections.

Several MDC-T members have pending cases in the courts and if they are
all prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to more than six months
imprisonment, the number of by-lections due could rise to more than 30
throughout the country.

Loughty Dube

Cash Crunch Hits Farmers as Planting Season Nears

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 21:16
ZIMBABWE'S summer cropping season could be under threat as farmers do
not have the money to procure agro-inputs.

Already expecting a disastrous winter season harvest due to poor
planning and financial constraints, Zimbabwe's food security could continue
to be dire in the countryside.

Presenting oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee
on Agriculture on Tuesday, the Zimbabwe Seed Trade Association (ZSTA) which
represents 12 seed companies said government requires 18 081 tonnes of
hybrid and open pollinated maize seed from the Sadc region to meet the
projected annual consumption for the season.

"Farmers require up to 40 000 tonnes of seed but seed companies
currently have about 22 000 tonnes," said ZSTA chairman Temba Nkatazo. "The
country is short of 18 000 tonnes which can be imported from the region."

Government, Nkatazo said, needs to outsource 1 000 tonnes of sorghum
seed during the same season to meet the 3 000-tonne demand for the small
grain.

The seed producers blamed low production on government payment delays
for seed procured during aborted agricultural programmes such as the
army-coordinated Operation Maguta. Government, according to the ZSTA, owes
seed companies more than US$10 million.

Nkatazo, managing director for Paanar Seed, said the association was
also planning to revive rural distribution shops that were closed during the
2007 price blitz which paralysed many companies.

"We are trying to revive these rural shops destroyed during price
controls because they accounted for up to 70% of seed sold in rural areas,"
Nkatazo said.

He attributed subdued demand for imports to cash shortages on the
market adding that local prices for fertiliser are currently pegged below
the regional average of US$2 500 per tonne.

On fertilisers, ZFC marketing executive Amos Vengere told the same
committee that local demand for common fertilisers - Ammonium nitrate and
Compound D - essential for maize production would fall short of the
estimated peak demand of 600 000 tonnes due to "funding constraints" by
farmers.

He said there were sufficient stocks for the country.

"The industry is currently operating below capacity due to limited
working capital as a result of weak domestic demand," he said.

Meanwhile, Finance minister Tendai Biti told the parliamentary
committee on Budget Finance and Investment promotion that government would
use US$73 million secured by the World Bank and deposited with the Multi
Donor Trust Fund to finance the cropping season.

"Under the Programmatic Multi Donor Trust Fund, coordinated by the
World Bank, US$300 million was mobilised for humanitarian-plus assistance
targeting agriculture, water and sanitation, health, education and social
protection" Biti said.

"US$73,75 million is earmarked for agriculture in the 2009/2010
season. The health sector is set to benefit to the tune of US$20 million for
the procurement of drugs and equipment for rural health centres."

Water and sanitation sector, Biti said is expected to benefit US$36
million for the maintenance and rehabilitation of water points and sanitary
facilities in both urban and rural areas.

"The local fertiliser industry has secured a line of credit worth
US$30 million from Afrexim Bank for local production of 170 000 tonnes of
the commodity in support of the summer cropping programme," Biti said.

Bernard Mpofu

Locals' Nightmare at the Hands of SA Immigration

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 21:12
IT'S a cold August night and the long winding queue at Beitbridge
border post, which links Zimbabwe and its neighbour South Africa, barely
moves.

Women and children, some of whom are as young as six months strapped
tightly on their mothers back, wait patiently to be served by South African
immigration officers.

It is so cold that the older children try to keep warm by running
around close to their mothers, excited about their journey to Mzansi - the
country of bright lights, where they will be treated to goodies like sweets,
ice cream, yogurt and pizza. After nearly six hours of playing, the cold
starts biting and the children are now hungry and exhausted and they start
crying.

The mothers try to comfort their children by telling them that they
will soon be on their way.

However, this is just the beginning of the ordeal that Zimbabweans
have to go through on the South African side of the border post.

Despite the situation almost normalising in the country with most
basic commodities now available on the shelves in the supermarkets,
thousands of Zimbabweans still flock to South Africa each day and continue
to endure the humiliating and degrading experiences at the South African
border post.

Some travel to seek treatment and medication, jobs and quality
education.

In May this year, South Africa scrapped visas for Zimbabwean
travellers to that country. Zimbabwean citizens can now apply for a 90-day
visitor's permit and can also do casual jobs while in South Africa. This
only applies to travellers with valid passports or emergency travel
documents.

While this is viewed as positive to relations between Zimbabwe and
South Africa, the situation at the border post tells a different story with
Zimbabweans, including children, being subjected to degrading and
humiliating conditions by the South African immigration and police officers.

The queues stretch for hundreds of metres meandering to as far as the
bridge and it can take more than 12 hours to have a passport stamped.

At first sight, one might be forgiven to think that the people were
desperately queuing for free food rations in a poverty-stricken country.

It was heartbreaking for the Zimbabwe Independent last Wednesday and
Thursday to watch Zimbabweans, particularly women and children, being pushed
around by South African police and immigration officers.

It was even more painful to watch a once proud people beg for passage
into South Africa.

At Beitbridge border post the nights are bitterly cold and late
mornings and afternoons are scorching hot. Despite the heat, people in the
queue are not allowed by the South African officials to stand in the shade,
worse still to sit down.

"You did not come here to sit, you Zimbabweans. This is not a sitting
area," a policeman bellowed and people quickly stood up to avoid assault.

A few minutes later there is commotion in the queue, with
terror-stricken women trying to duck a sjambok from a policeman who was
trying to straighten the queue.

A middle-aged woman is not so fortunate - she is beaten up and her
young children start weeping as they cannot understand why this man was
hitting their mother continuously. She was accused of jumping the queue.

Her explanations fell on deaf ears as the policeman continues to beat
her. She eventually succumbed and moves to the back of the queue, further
delaying her passage by another 12 hours.

No one questions or challenges the policeman for the inhuman treatment
but instead try to please him.
Tapiwa from Mbare claims she stood in the queue for more than eight
hours, without the queue moving an inch.

 It is alleged that the immigration officers are on a go-slow.

"When we got here, very few people were in front of us, such that if
they wanted to move faster they could have stamped our passports way back.
But the other buses started arriving and the crowd became larger, now people
are going in front of us causing a lot of chaos," she said.

Like an abused wife or child, a mother visiting her husband with three
children the youngest being seven months, has come to accept the humiliation
and degradation.

The woman lamented: "I am used to this. This is not the first time
that we are made to wait for so long.

Sometimes they are fast in stamping them and when they want to be slow
it's up to them. They can do it and we will wait patiently. They will
eventually clear us all. We have been patient for a change in our country
for so many years - so what is a few hours at the border. This is actually
even better, there are times when they fail to control the crowd that they
have to spray cold water on people."

Zimbabweans argued that the removal of visas was not a licence for
South Africans to degrade them.
"I think if they can't stand the removal of the visas they should just
put them back because the way they are treating us right now is so unfair,"
a disgruntled man said. "Why are they even on a go-slow at a border like
this? If they don't want us they should just tell us rather than beating us
and calling us all sorts of names."

However, with between R30 and R50, one can jump the queue. The money
is given to one of the officers controlling the queue at the front.

While Zimbabweans are excited about the relaxation of the visa
requirements, the South African immigration officers are complaining that
the volume of people crossing into South Africa has increased dramatically
and their staff can no longer cope with the numbers.

The scrapping of the stringent visa requirements was a culmination of
talks between Zimbabwe and South Africa under the Joint Permanent Commission
on Defence and Security that began in November 2007. The relaxation is the
first step towards the eventual removal of the visa.

Wongai Zhangazha

Water: Latest Weapon for Local Politicians

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 21:09
POLITICIANS are proverbially known to stoop very low in achieving
their own goals the world over. They believe that the means justifies the
ends.

But could Zimbabwean politicians use water or the absence of it to
gain political mileage?

Political observers reckon there could be a plot to use water as an
electoral drawing card judging by the fiasco that has ensued since the
signing of the global political agreement between rivals President Robert
Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara.

The observers believe that Zanu PF and the two MDC formations could
use water as an electoral gimmick to win the hearts of a disgruntled
electorate bearing the brunt of water shortages daily.

For instance, residents of Harare's Greendale, Mabvuku and Tafara have
gone for years without water.

Should water supplies be restored in such a constituency, it could
pacify a restive electorate, observers believe.

If the water situation is not resolved come election time, the
analysts said the two MDC formations would have played into the hands of
their political foe, Zanu PF, which is waiting patiently for the opposition's
failure in this area and simply highlights their ineptitude to the urban
voters.

Zanu PF lost the support of urban Zimbabweans owing to an economic
crisis and general misrule.

Analysts say that the battle for control of the city's water could get
messy as more parties seek to gain credit or to discredit rivals for any
water situation by election time.

Water Resources Minister Sam Sipepa Nkomo also reckons there is a
looming political battle for water. He told Bulawayo residents recently that
there could be a war for the precious liquid.

"What I said was that water is a precious liquid as much as the petrol
or diesel or oil is a precious liquid and I said that if there was going to
be another world war it would not be fought on the basis of oil - such as
the Iraqi war - the war would be fought over water," Nkomo said. "The water
resource is getting scarcer and scarcer in the world, and as you might know,
only about 2,5% of the world's water is usable for human consumption.
Ninety-six percent is salt so it cannot be used and so it is a scarce
resource that we need to manage for mutual benefit of all citizens of the
world and if it is mismanaged, the next war will be about water."

Nkomo has already clashed with Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda over his
decision to cut off water supplies to non-paying residents. He ordered
Masunda not to cut off supplies saying it would be a violation of the people's
rights.

But analysts say the clash could be just a tip of the iceberg saying
Nkomo exercised his powers to score political points and seek relevance.

Masunda argues that residents should settle bills whether they get
water supplies or not. He says he has not personally defaulted on water
bills although he has not received supplies for years.

Harare residents are angry with the city for exorbitant bills.

Observers say since the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) -
who had until recently been given extra judicial powers to provide
Zimbabweans with water ran the services into the sewers - the city
practically inherited a host of stinky problems.

Under Zinwa management 4 000 Zimbabweans succumbed to a waterborne and
preventable cholera disease, a scary number in modern times, further
evidence proponents of the school of thought say shows how important the
commodity is.

After firing Harare Mayor Elias Mudzuri and transferring water
management and household distribution to Zinwa, Local Government, Urban and
Rural Development Minister Ignatius Chombo has taken a back seat, but still
meets with Nkomo and Zinwa for what the government official describes as
"very good meetings" to create a rapport with all players.

According to Nkomo, Zinwa overstepped its mandate.

He says Zinwa's responsibility is not delivering water to households
particularly in the major urban areas, cities and towns.

Rather Zinwa's job is to deliver bulk raw water to the urban
authorities and take a back seat while municipalities will then take the raw
water, purify it and distribute it to households.

"Now that's its core business - except in the other smaller towns,
growth points where Zinwa does deliver clear water," Sipepa says.

Nkomo - appointed into office on an MDC-T ticket - says his ministry
administers the Water Act as well as the Zinwa Act. Basically that means
Nkomo is the only government official empowered by two long Acts to demand
attention on water matters.

He says: "The Water Act is required to make sure that there is water
for every citizen in Zimbabwe and uses Zinwa as its arm for achieving that
objective."

"Zinwa can now revert to doing what it knows best, what the Zinwa Act
actually requires it to do - that's to deliver bulk raw water to local
authorities and that's what they will continue to do. And they will continue
to deliver clear water to growth points and to rural areas and so forth,
that's what it is going to do."

The city or urban authorities, according to Nkomo, are the ones who
call the shots under his supervision.
Harare's water problems will persist until government constructs
Kunzvi Dam and raise financial resources to repair plant and treatment
facilities.

According to a paper compiled recently by Nkomo, the water crisis was
a result of years of absence of funding to recapitalise and failure to
expand capacity despite evidence that the urban population was growing at
what he described as an "alarming state."

Harare needs 1 200 megalitres of water daily, the Morton Jaffrey plant
has a maximum capacity of up to 614 megalitres daily, 50% less of the
capital's requirements.

The plant is also not operating in full capacity and currently
produces 400-500 megalitres per day, less than half of Harare's demands.

Nkomo said over 40% of the city's gross clear water produced does not
find its way to the consumers limiting volumes supplied.

Water from Chivero and Manyame dams is not helping, Nkomo said, adding
that the water is either of poor quality or is "heavily polluted with
sewerage and industrial waste".

Chris Muronzi

SA Leverage on Zim Politics Overstated -- Analysts

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 17:04
SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma who is expected in Harare on
Thursday will have an uphill task to nudge leaders of the inclusive
government to fully implement the global political agreement (GPA) they
signed last September as differences on the outstanding issues of the pact
have widened.

Zuma, who is the current chairperson of Sadc which facilitated the GPA
between President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his
deputy Arthur Mutambara, wants the full consummation of the deal before his
term as head of the regional bloc ends at its annual summit in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) next month. DRC President Joseph Kabila
will takeover the Sadc chairmanship.

Relations in the unity government have been tense after Zanu PF's
politburo last Thursday met in the capital and declared that the party would
not be pushed into making further concessions in the implementation of the
GPA.

This was in apparent reference to the outstanding issues of the deal,
among them, the rehiring of central bank governor Gideon Gono, the
appointment of Attorney-General Johannes Tomana and provincial governors and
the refusal by Mugabe to swear in MDC-T treasurer Roy Bennett as deputy
Agriculture minister.

Zanu PF said the only sticking issues were the failure by the two MDC
formations to call for the lifting of sanctions and an end to "pirate" radio
broadcasts.

A meeting on Monday between Mugabe and Tsvangirai to try and iron out
the differences was inconclusive amid reports of deepening tension.

It is against this background that Zuma will visit Zimbabwe next week
amid calls by the United States for South Africa to use its economic
leverage to force Mugabe to play ball.

Besides the US, Britain and its Western allies, some Sadc member
states like Botswana and Angola also want an immediate resolution to the
sticking points before the regional bloc's summit next month, which is
expected to review the GPA.

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton -- during her 11-day tour of
Africa a fortnight ago -- met Zuma in South Africa and impressed upon him
the need to take a strong position on Zimbabwe and ensure that the GPA is
fully implemented.

The meeting took place a few days after Tsvangirai had met with Zuma
in South Africa where the premier lamented Mugabe and Zanu PF's
unwillingness to resolve the outstanding issues.

Zuma made a commitment that he would consult regional leaders before
meeting Mugabe in Harare next week.

Political analysts this week said the leverage that South Africa
enjoys over Zimbabwe was often overstated.
The leverage, the analysts argued, considered South Africa's economic
strength over Zimbabwe, but fails to take cognisance of the dynamics of the
relationships between the key players within the historical context.

"While South Africa may be a big country with great might over its
counterparts, from an historical perspective the South African government is
younger than its continental peers," Alex Magaisa, a Zimbabwean lawyer based
in the UK, said. "There is more that unites South African leaders and their
African counterparts than those things that divide them. They have more in
common than is often admitted."

Magaisa said it was unthinkable that South Africa can take a tough
stance on Zimbabwe to force the full implementation of the GPA.

"South Africa knows that it has far more challenging circumstances
than its neighbours -- especially when it comes to the concerns of its black
population which remains impoverished and on the margins of the economy," he
argued. "South African leaders know that their people are impatient and want
some change.

They cannot adopt an approach that upsets their people by remaining
conservative but simultaneously, they cannot upset the current system too
abruptly lest they go the Zimbabwe way.

At heart, South African leaders know that despite their economic
power, they are still very much an African country, with the similar
challenges, problems and concerns and it will be a long time before they can
have the guts and standing to rise and chide their counterparts."

Political scientist Michael Mhike said the other problem was that the
US and its Western allies sometimes appear as Big Brothers giving
instructions to South Africa.

"No self-respecting country, let alone the US itself, will take
instructions from anyone. In fact the biggest mistake is for the US and
others to grandstand and say they have told this and that to South Africa
and African countries because frankly, that is only going to meet with
resistance from those people," Mhike said. "They will not want to be seen as
puppets of the US. Even if South Africa wanted to take a tough stance, they
would find it humiliating when such 'instructions' are shared publicly."

The analysts said Zuma would have a Herculean task to break the
impasse between the principals of the GPA on the outstanding issues,
especially if Mugabe insists that he will make further concessions only
after sanctions are lifted and pirate radios stop broadcasting.

The issue of sanctions, the analysts said, was problematic given the
assumption that the MDC formations had the capacity to have them lifted.

"The cold fact is that they (MDCs) don't have that capacity. Even if
it is= said that the MDC may have called for some form of sanctions, they
can scream and howl for their removal but they have absolutely no power to
lift the sanctions," Magaisa said. In any event, the removal of sanctions
such as those under the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act in the
US has to follow a fairly complicated process, influenced by US politics
more than by the MDC. This will take time."

He said those under targeted sanctions have to first demonstrate to
their protagonists that they have reformed to have them lifted.

"It's a matter that requires tact, diplomacy and ultimately
negotiations not the exacerbation of hostility and hate speech between the
parties," Magaisa added.

In a statement reacting to Zanu PF's new position on the outstanding
issues, the MDC-T said it had done all it could to have the sanctions lifted
and adamantly denied responsibility for the punitive measures on the
country.

The MDC-T said Zanu PF was to blame for the sanctions.

 "The world is clear that the so-called sanctions are a result of Zanu
PF's past sins of omission and commission," the party said. "The onus is on
Zanu PF itself to morph into a civilised political party that does not
believe in the primitive and feudal coercive politics of machetes and
knobkerries. The MDC cannot be held accountable for Zanu PF's political
misfortunes and the barbaric image it has carved out for itself in the eyes
of Africa and the world."

The MDC-T accused Zanu PF of violating the GPA by standing in the way
of constitutional reform and by delaying media reforms while maintaining a
stranglehold on the public media.

It accused Zanu-PF of persecuting political opponents, reneging on
agreed reform processes and refusing to swear-in officials legally seconded
to the inclusive government by their political parties.

Constantine Chimakure

Noczim Proposes Lower Fuel Prices

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 20:34
THE National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (Noczim) on Wednesday proposed a
new cost build-up for fuel which would result in a litre of petrol being
sold for US$1,16 while diesel will cost US$1,01 per litre.

Jet A1 fuel would cost US82c per litre.

While the latest cost build-up would result in the price of both
petrol and diesel declining, industry players said the price of fuel
remained high when compared to other countries in the region.

The Indigenous Petroleum Group of Zimbabwe (IPGZ) yesterday proposed a
further reduction of Carbon Tax and scrapping of debt redemption to ensure
fuel prices in Zimbabwe were in line with regional prices.
IPGZ yesterday said government should reduce carbon tax from $0,024
per litre for petrol $0,001.

"Carbon tax on petrol is still too high at $0,024 it should be reduced
to the $0,001 and  debt redemption should be scrapped. Let Noczim deal with
its own problems," IPGZ said.

IPGZ said the proposed levels of excise duty at the current levels
were reasonable "for now".

The new build-up has scrapped the strategic reserve levy. The margin
of 7% realised by oil companies is said to be low which requires a company
to handle large volumes to make a profit.

"Our target (IPGZ) is to have the final pump price for petrol to be
$0,97 per litre, and diesel $0,90 per litre then Zimbabwe can work again,"
said IPGZ.

Commenting on their proposal to scrap debt redemption, IPGZ said they
"strongly feel it is a Noczim liability and sovereign debt" and questioned
how it came about.

"Why should oil companies and consumers bear the brunt of historical
Noczim mismanagement?" IPGZ questioned.

IPGZ said the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (Zinara) road levy
needed to be "scrapped since there are now toll gates, and let Zinara make
their money from there".

"Sadly we do not see where these funds have been applied and our roads
are in a sorry state to say the least, this fund needs to be audited, to
establish where the funds are," said IPGZ.

Before 1999, Zimbabwe was using an average of 155 million litres of
fuel per month, but the figure are down to below 30 million litres per
month.

Despite some concessions by the government in reducing excise duty on
diesel and petrol, fuel prices in Zimbabwe still remain high compared to
other countries in the region.

Petrol prices had gone up to US$1,50 per litre last month while diesel
averaged at US$1,20 way ahead of regional averages. The National Procurement
Committee that is responsible for fuel imports, last month recommended a
pump price of US$1,30 for petrol and US$1,06 for diesel.

Paul Nyakazeya

Zesa Keen on Partnerships -- Rafemoyo

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 20:19
ZIMBABWE Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) said it was eager to
enter into private-public partnerships to boost power- generation to
mitigate the effects of load shedding.
Speaking to businessdigest yesterday, Zesa chief executive, Engineer
Ben Rafemoyo said the Munyati and Bulawayo power station were not working
and entering into partnerships with local or foreign partners would assist
both parties.
"Only the Harare power station is functioning. I cannot say the same
for Munyati and Bulawayo. For Zimbabwe, (partnerships) will increase
capacity to generate electricity," Rafemoyo said.
He said Zesa had entered into one such arrangement with an iron and
steel smelting company for the refurbishment of Hwange Power Station but the
deal failed to go through as the company was hit by the financial crisis.
Rafemoyo said that: "If a company comes on board to partner us by
advancing us cash for the work needed, Zesa guarantees uninterrupted supply
while discounting the bills from the advanced loan".
Rafemoyo said if properly constituted, the partnerships could lead to
improved power generation, adding that this was one of the quickest
solutions to power shortages than letting Zesa go at it alone.
In 2007 Zimbabwe entered into a deal with Nampower of Namibia
following an advancement of US$40 million for the refurbishment of two units
at Hwange Power Station.
A delegation from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) was
said to be currently negotiating with Zesa Holdings and the government on a
US$80 million loan.
Rafemoyo said he was "positive" the loan would be secured, although
there were still "some issues" to discuss.
The DBSA board representatives are set to meet financial technocrats
from Zesa Holdings and government to discuss the finer details of the loan.
Zesa is currently facing serious cashflow problems, limiting its
capacity to pay for coal from Hwange Colliery Company, prompting the latter
to withhold supplies.
With limited coal supplies, Zesa is failing to generate power at
consistent levels. Zesa has often resorted to indiscriminate rolling power
cuts to domestic and industrial consumers. - Staff Writer.

Inconsistent Statements Fuel Uncertainty Fears

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 20:17
ON a recent visit down south -- across the Limpopo -- it was hard to
miss the anxiety the citizens there seem to be under. For starters, the
swine flu virus has gotten everyone in somewhat of a panic.

While the traditional flu season is coming to a close, this global
phenomenon seems to be picking up momentum in South Africa. With the first
few cases of fatalities already recorded, anyone would start fearing for
their lives, their future and that of those around them.
Tragic as it has been, the threat posed by the flu is not the only
thing the people of Mzansi are worried about. A few months ago the country
went through an election in which the ruling party easily cruised to an
almost two thirds majority victory. With that came the uncertainty of a new
administration. Was it going to be extreme and radical in its attempts to
achieve some of its election promises? Prior to the election, a lot of hope
existed especially among the poor that significant changes would be brought
about to immediately lift them out of the ruthless cycle of poverty. It is
probably too early to tell if this will occur as some expected.
Ironically, some of the new administration's most vehement critics in
the run up to the election are beginning to warm to it and those who
supported it are becoming somewhat impatient with it. Critics have been
impressed by, for example, President Jacob Zuma's surprise visit to one of
the country's municipalities only to find the mayor "away sick". Generally,
this has been viewed as a step in the right direction to improve service
delivery.
On the other hand, the unions are taking turns to take to the streets
demanding better pay and working conditions. Workers from the
municipalities, the construction sector, the national broadcaster and more
recently from Eskom -- the Zesa equivalent -- have either taken part in
strikes or at least threatened to do so. Even kombi drivers felt they could
not be left out. Reasons often include trying to force the government's hand
to deliver on prior promises made.
Again, it is too early to tell but could this suggest that utterances
made by public officials must generally be taken with a pinch of salt?
By now, the general populace in Zimbabwe should be used to it. This
week alone we had one authority hinting at the reintroduction of the
Zimbabwe dollar and another suggesting otherwise. If press reports are
anything to go by then the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe would like to see the
use of the national currency restored but this time with its value backed by
gold or any other such measure. Then, at the other end of the spectrum, the
Ministry of Finance is considering the feasibility of joining the Rand
monetary area.
These inconsistent statements only fuel the uncertainty investors
already face. Contradictory pronouncements, especially from such high
authorities simply mean that whatever decisions they reach they can just as
easily be changed and without warning or consideration of their impact. It
is no wonder then that the billions of American dollars which were expected
to pour in after the formation of the national unity government are yet to
make their appearance. This column has oftentimes commented that it will
take more than just the signing of a piece of paper to get the economy up
and running again. Consistent and sound policies are what is required.
While unlikely, the reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar in the near
future is possible. However, it is hard to see what that would achieve.
Given the events of the last few years who would quickly gain confidence
from it? Despite promises of pegging it to the value of either another
currency or gold, it is its management and more importantly the
inconsistencies in policy application that an investor would be worried
about. Regaining confidence in a local currency will have to be a long and
patient process. If it is a matter of providing loose change for easier
transactions then the authorities can look at limiting the reintroduction to
just that of coins. Some countries that have dollarised have used this
alternative.
Adopting the rand does not necessarily present a foolproof alternative
either. Issues around the volatility of the rand against other major
currencies are of concern to some degree. Relinquishing control of the
monetary framework to a foreign authority also presents a few challenges.
While investigations can be done into the ideal monetary structure
this country can take, the first step should at least involve uniformity on
the part of the relevant authorities. Mixed signals hardly spell confidence
for anyone. Given the supposed disillusionment of the South African masses
with the status quo, perhaps it should just be accepted that public
utterances will not necessarily reflect the reality on the ground. After all
everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

By Tich Pasi

RTG packaged, ready for disposal

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 20:08
HAS Nicholas Van Hoogstraten given up on Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG)?

It appears the RTG majority shareholder has re-organised his
shareholding in the group, packaging it ready for disposal.
Van Hoogstraten held 463 million shares in RTG, representing 34% of
the total issued share capital of the company through Banhams Investments,
Messina Investments and Willoughby's Finance.
He has re-registered the shares from Messina to Les Nominees - now
with 18,23% and EFE Security Nominees 10,91%.
This is the route that Van Hoogstraten - the single largest investor
of the stock exchange - often takes when he is about dispose his shares in
companies.
Some analysts contend that Van Hoogstraten has restructured his
investments in such a way that he can dispose of the actual vehicles owning
the shares and not the actual shares themselves.
That way, he would be selling the company and not the shares and thus
enjoys the full value of the proceeds of the sale.
The local bourse has a higher transaction cost at 4,5% on selling
rather compared to a regional average of about 2%.
Using the current price of US$2,50, he would get US$11,6 million less
costs of US$520,875.
"The re-branding of his investments is a much smarter way of doing
 it," an analyst said yesterday.
But the question is why would he be selling after fighting so hard to
control the company? He has expended so much energy and resources on the
company.
Investors are curious as to why he would want to sell, particularly
after a large parcel, which is rumoured to have been under the control of
Herbert Nkala and which amounted to 7,34%, had changed hands.
Speculation was that it had been snapped up by Econet boss Strive
Masiyiwa and Afre executive chairman Patterson Timba alliance.
"Has Nick made a deal with the axis, or he is not willing to take on
the Strive and Patterson alliance head on? Is Nick saying he cannot go into
bed with Timba, as a co-investor? What does this say about Patterson and
Strive?" questioned an analyst this week.
Sources said Van Hoogstraten was monitoring the company's shares and
was prepared to sell when it surpasses US$4. RTG's share is trading between
US$2 and US$2,80.
Following the latest changes on RTG's shareholding, the top 10
shareholders by account names are Les Nominees 18,23%, National Social
Securities Authority (NSSA) 11,92%, EFE Securities 10,91%, Krumlov Estate
0,72% and Kingdom Nominees 7,32%.
Afre however holds about 13,83% in RTG when shares owned by companies
linked to the group are combined.
Insiders said Van Hoogstraten's decision to sell his shares emanates
from his failure to control the group the way he wanted due to differences
with other board members.
In a letter to RTG dated March 11 2009, he proposed that Grace
Muradzikwa be removed as non-executive chairperson of RTG. He also proposed
that seven directors be removed for "alleged incompetence". The seven are
Paschal Changunda (group finance director), Canaan Dube, Charmaine Rose
Daniels, Godfrey Manhambara, Yarden Mariuma, Elliot Nyoni and Chipo Mtasa,
the chief executive officer.
Muradzikwa has since been replaced by Timba after she did not offer
herself for re-election.
RTG, a former 100% government owned company, has gone through major
changes in shareholding over the past decade, beginning with privatisation
and listing on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange in November 1999.
At that stage the major shareholders to emerge were Accor Afrique, a
French hospitality group (35%); the government of Zimbabwe through the
Ministry of Mines, Environment and Tourism (30%); the National Investment
Trust (10%); RTG Employee Share Ownership Scheme (5%); NSSA (18%) and the
public (18%).
In 2002, in an effort to raise finance for the procurement of fuel
from Libya, government sold 14% of its stake in RTG to the Libya Arab
Investment Company (LAAICO), reducing its shareholding to 16%.
In 2004, RTG found itself saddled with a heavy foreign currency debt
and bleak prospects of short-term recovery due to the prevailing business
environment.
It went to the shareholders to raise funds through a rights issue. At
this point two significant shareholders, Accor (35%) and LAAICO (14%) were
not in a position to support the rights issue.
Government got NSSA to support the rights issue through a warehousing
arrangement.
The rights issue brought in a new dominant shareholder, Van
Hoogstraten, who since then has been in dispute with the RTG board demanding
control of more than the 34% he managed to acquire of the RTG shareholding.
As RTG searched in its shareholder register for shareholders who could
provide it with a confirmation in support of its rights issue as part of the
underwriting requirement by the bankers, the name Messina Investments
cropped up.
The owner/director of Messina Investments was Van Hoogstraten, with
extensive business interests in Zimbabwe.
He was approached to give his written support for the rights issue
whereupon he insisted that he would not do free work for the banks. He said
he would support the rights issue to the tune of US$25 billion out of the
US$80 billion required.
However, he could only give his support through an underwriting
agreement where he could at least earn a fee for his services.
When the US$25 billion was still not enough for the RTG bankers (ZB
Bank) to grant the global underwriting, Van Hoogstraten was persuaded to
increase his underwriting to $40 billion.
The new agreement was then ceded to CBZ Bank who had by that time
agreed to be co-underwriters.
The rights issue circular then had two underwriters, namely CBZ
Holdings (which was backed by the Messina Investments agreement) and ZB
Bank. The two banks shared the underwriting in equal proportions.
At the close of the rights issue, the shares not taken up were split
equally between CBZ Holdings for onward submission to Messina Investments or
any other company under Van Hoogstraten, and Zimbank which was then taken up
by Terra Partners through a Barclays Bank nominee vehicle.
This resulted in the following shareholdings structure - Messina and
Other Companies (Banhams, Edwards Nominees) (34%), Terra Partners (a
UK-based investment fund) (28%), NSSA (12%), Accor Afrique - South Africa
(10%), Ministry of Mines, Environment and Tourism (4%), LAAICO (4%), RTG
Employee Share Ownership Scheme (2%) and the public (6%).
According to documents to hand it was the split of the rights issue
shares that angered Van Hoogstraten.
He alleged massive fraud by RTG directors and demanded that the board
step down en masse.
Since the underwriting agreement entitled both parties to arbitration
in the event of a dispute, the matter went for arbitration in 2006 before
retired Justice McNally.
The arbitration ruled in favour of the RTG board.
In 2007 Van Hoogstraten attended the RTG AGM and demanded a poll vote
of all the resolutions including the approval of accounts, appointment of
directors and auditors.
Van Hoogstraten lost on this issue with 60% votes against his 34%.
In 2008, the RTG issued the AGM notice with a special resolution for
approval of a share option scheme. Van Hoogstraten was against this motion
and wrote to express his disapproval and threatened to sue the company if
the scheme was implemented.
The shareholders present, voted unanimously in favour of the scheme.
However, management has not implemented the scheme as it was hoped that Van
Hoogstraten could be positively engaged on the issue.

Paul Nyakazeya

Comesa to take up RCTG system

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 19:48
IN an attempt to smoothen movement of goods in Southern and East
African regions, members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern
Africa (Comesa) began talks to adopt Regional Customs Transit Guarantee
(RCTG) system.
The scheme will result in a single bond recognisable in the region
being issued to exporters from the country of origin.
Members of Comesa are meeting in Harare to discuss the adoption of the
guarantee system aimed at smoothening the movement of goods in the region.
Road transit fees, combined with national bonds, have resulted in the
transportation costs rising in Africa, taking up 14 to 17% of the value of
exports compared to 8,6% for developed countries.
Transportation costs are even higher in many Comesa member. The
northern corridor countries in the Comesa region that include Kenya, Uganda,
Rwanda and Burundi have already finalised the preparations for the scheme
and would fully implement the scheme by September.
Zimbabwe, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Malawi and Sudan would come up with a
date by which they would also implement it.
The scheme will result in a single bond recognisable in the region
being issued to exporters from the country of origin.
Under the proposed scheme, insurance companies and banks will issue
bonds that cover the rest of the Comesa region as opposed to the current
regime where bonds for goods are paid in each and every country that the
goods pass through.
Analysts said all means of facilitating trade were critical to the
economic development of the region. The issue of trade facilitation is an
important tool of economic development for developing countries, they added.
The commencement of RCTG scheme is expected to reduce costs of freight
and accelerate regional economic development through the expansion of trade.
The current system of national bonds was impacting on the viability of
businesses in the region as it had tied up colossal sums of money belonging
to importers, clearing and forwarding agents and transporters. -- Staff
Writer.

Coltart Wrong on Minority President

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 19:01
I WAS dismayed by Education minister David Coltart's interview on SW
Radio Africa.

When asked by reporter Violet Gonda whether Arthur Mutambara was
invited to lead the MDC because "Welshman Ncube and others had accepted that
no Ndebele person could ever lead Zimbabwe", Coltart responded:

".One of the realities is that it would be entirely inappropriate to
have a white person, so soon after Independence, run for the presidency of
this country. Whilst that may seem a racist statement, it is still too soon
after the end of colonialism for this country to contemplate having a white
ruler. That is just a political reality.

"And sadly, whilst it is not as strong a political reality as for
example having a white leader, it remains a reality that the vast majority
of Zimbabweans do not have Ndebele as their mother tongue and will gravitate
towards a Shona speaking leader. That is a political reality that we simply
cannot ignore and if that was the calculation, well it was a reasonable
calculation but it wasn't as if anyone was selected."

I find such a comment offensive. It is a sad reality to know that an
elected public official 29 years after Independence still harbours such
stereotypes that are not based on reality.

Zimbabwean people are politically mature and given the circumstances
they find themselves in right now, they would not choose a leader solely
based on what language he or she speaks. There is a lot to consider when
choosing a leader besides language.

A stringent analysis would suggest that the minister was endorsing a
stereotype that no Ndebele, Tonga, Venda or Kalanga would ever rule
Zimbabwe. That's political nonsense at its best.

Such an assertion coming from a publicly elected official is not only
confused and confusing, but also seriously misleading and dangerous. As
Minister of Education espousing such unfortunate statements, Coltart does
not know that it kills the dreams of students from other non-Shona speaking
ethnicities who might be thinking big to do something for the country.

Zimbabwe is developing into a great democracy, (because of the GPA, if
it works), and its leaders should not be selected or elected based on the
tribe they come from or the language they speak. It should be based on the
person's political maturity and ability to execute the responsibilities
given to them. Leaders should be unifiers of the people and be servants to
the population that elected them to power.

There should be no immature distinction between a Shona, Venda, Tonga,
Kalanga or Ndebele leader because we are essentially one people, Zimbabweans
working together for the betterment of our country.

Leaders are not judged by the language they speak but by their ability
to improve people's lives. Such an assertion that leaders from a certain
ethnic group cannot rule is really criminal.

Around the world, we have many presidents leading prosperous countries
who come from minority groups within their countries. That proves that
anyone can be a leader as long as they are given an opportunity to lead or
to actualise their potential.

There is more to leadership that someone's language and tribe, and the
honourable minister should the one teaching us this.

I have seen a lot of good leaders from our ethnicities - Shona,
Ndebele, Tonga, Kalanga, Venda - who have done great things in the corporate
sector, in private small businesses, non-governmental organisations etc.
Their success has not been due to the language they speak. It has been due
to their ability to exercise their God-given talents or gifts.

Anyone can lead Zimbabwe - even a white Zimbabwean because they are
essentially Zimbabweans too, that's why Coltart is a cabinet minister. We
are not a racist country and we should not be seen to be clandestinely
promoting such divisive concepts that marginalise fellow Zimbabweans.

We are living in the digital age and we expect much more political
maturity from our leaders than what I read in Coltart's comments. Coltart is
not a bad minister, but it is disappointing that his choice of words was
poor enough to cement a stereotype that is not based on objective reality.

If one considers the example of the US in electing Barak Obama as
president, it destroys the minister's theory about minorities. President
Obama is from a minority (African American) ethnic group  yet he was elected
to be president, the highest office on earth, based on his God-given
abilities.

Obama was not elected simply because he is black, but because he has
unique talents and abilities to bring change to the US. The American people
chose him based on that, not any other criteria.

If such a reality is possible in the USA, why should some Zimbabweans
still think that leadership should be confined to one ethnic group that
speaks a particular language, and ignore people from other ethnic or tribal
groups who have unique talents and abilities who can also be instrumental in
the development the country?

Ndebeles, Shonas, Tongas, Vendas and Kalangas are all Zimbabweans.
There is no one tribe inferior to the other. All have unique abilities and
God-given talents that can be of help to our country. There is, therefore,
no room for sectional prejudices.

With proper voter education and empowerment, people won't gravitate
towards a Shona speaking leader as David Coltart asserts but will gravitate
towards a Zimbabwean, a mature leader who will listen to their needs and
guarantee their freedoms.

I guess I have a dream for Zimbabwe, where leaders will not be judged
or elected based on the language they speak but based on their ability to
deliver for our great nation.

Brighton Ncube is a political analyst. He can be contacted on:
bncube@msn.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need
JavaScript enabled to view it

Brighton Ncube

Eric Bloch: Self-destruction and Destruction of all

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 17:46
ZIMBABWEANS have a remarkable knack of shooting themselves in the foot
and, concurrently with injuring themselves, injuring the nation as a whole.

Examples of their doing so are many, and in the last fortnight there
have been numerous examples of that destructive drive.

One of the many was the horrendous, inhumane strike by government
doctors in hospitals throughout the country.

It cannot be denied that they have been, and continue to be, the
victims of untenable hardship, with their gross income being a very
niggardly US$ 170 per month.

However, their withholding of their critically needed skills and
services not only cannot resolve their poverty stricken circumstances and is
not only a contemptuous disregard for the Hippocratic Oath sworn by the
medical profession, but is also economically destructive.

The strike is an exercise in the near pointless, for it is
incontrovertible that the doctors' employer, being the government of
Zimbabwe, is bankrupt, as publicly admitted by Prime Minister Tsvangirai.

It is striving to redress its insufficiency of funds to meet its costs
(inclusive of those of the health services), but until it succeeds in doing
so, it cannot meet the doctors' demands - as justifiable as they are -
irrespective of whether or not the doctors withhold their services by
resorting to strike action.

Therefore, the strike action is wholly futile, but the consequences
are grievous. Zimbabweans in critical need of medical attention are dying,
and others are being motivated more and more to join the already immense
"brain drain" from Zimbabwe.

More than four million Zimbabweans have sought new pastures, driven by
the disastrous economic circumstances of 2000-2008, by the collapsing
infrastructure and attendant discomforts and hardships, and developments
such as the doctors' strike exacerbate and intensify intents to do so.

In consequence, the economy is more and more deprived of essential
skills, impeding its recovery, and could well revert into the devastating
recession which has been an all-too-long characteristic. Concurrently, the
on-going exodus further contracts the Zimbabwean consumer base, diminishing
the market demand essential for the economy's viability and growth.

The doctors, through their ill-considered, even if understandably
motivated, actions are to all intents and purposes killing their patients,
and possibly doing likewise to the economy. (And this is not exclusive to
the doctors, but also to many hospitals - including some of those in the
private sector espousing Christian standards - which are denying patient
admissions in the absence of up-front payments of very considerable
deposits, even in cases where the admissions are required into intensive
care units, the patients being in critical, near-death circumstances).

The recourse to strikes and like actions, with irrational disregard
for practicalities and realities, is not exclusive to the medical
profession.

Zimbabwe's trade unions are, with very rare exception, becoming more
and more demanding, and even more militant and confrontational.

It cannot be denied that most workers are earning wages considerably
lower that the Poverty Datum Line (PDL), and battle to meet absolutely basic
costs of survival for their families and dependents.

Their incomes do not suffice to meet food costs for themselves and
those reliant upon them, to pay rentals and for utilities, education,
transport and health care, let alone anything else. It is little wonder,
therefore, that the amount of pay packets is foremost in their minds at
almost all times.

However, the tragic circumstances, caused by excruciatingly high costs
of living created by years of hyperinflation, should neither blind the
workers (and the trade unions that represent them) to realities, nor to the
very negative consequences of unrealistic wage demands, of recurrent
recourse to productively destructive industrial actions, and to endless
confrontation with employers.

Demanding wages beyond the means of employers can only result in
business closures or, at best, downsizing of business operations, adding
more to the vast pool of unemployed already exceeding 90% of the employable
population.

That too is the result of wage demands at levels which render
production costs in excess of those sustained by competitors in other
countries, with resultant loss of product price competitiveness and,
therefore, contraction of demand.

Whilst living conditions are extraordinarily harsh for most workers
because of income insufficiency, they become even harsher if unemployment
becomes their lot. Trade unions and their members need, very belatedly, to
learn that having too little income is still better than having none at all.

Yet a third recurrent example of masochistic destruction impairing the
greatly needed economic recovery occurred once again last week when Zanu PF's
Politburo once again berated the so-called "illegal" international sanctions
applied against Zimbabwe, with a spokesman giving a prolonged,
television-transmitted diatribe against them, and demanding their cessation
forthwith.

Admittedly, those applying economic sanctions (or as the European
Union describes them, trade and finance restrictions) should aid Zimbabwean
political and economic transformation by terminating those sanctions.

The sanctions have little constraining impacts upon Zimbabwe's
political hierarchy, but they do have very negative repercussions upon an
economically embattled populace, being the very people that the imposers of
the sanctions wish to protect and assist.

However, the tirade against the sanctions did naught to motivate their
cessation. On the one hand, any potential goodwill to reverse the sanctions
is destroyed by the repeatedly fallacious contentions that the sanctions are
"illegal".

Any country has a right to determine whom it will finance, whom it
will trade with, and those with whom it will not transact. Therefore,
contentions of illegality are specious, devoid of foundation and merely
confrontational, with a potential result of entrenching more solidly a
determination to continue the sanctions.

Harmonious dialogues, and positive   actions, are more constructive
than confrontation, insults, contempt and misrepresentation.

Moreover, the television-transmitted berating of those applying the
sanctions placed primary emphasis upon the travel barriers upon Zanu PF's
hierarchy, alleging injustice as like constraints are not applied against
leaders of other political parties.

That was destructive naivety in the extreme, for the sanctioned are
the ones who have perpetrated, supported, or condoned blatant abuses of the
fundamental principles of justice, law and order, such as engaging in, or
making no endeavour to contain and halt, farm invasions.

They are the ones perceived by many of the international community as
initiators or supporters of undue violence on the part of the so-called
guardians of law and order, of unjustified arrests, prolonged detentions
without trial, and of corrupt practices.

Suggestions that the constraints upon travel are illegal, are unjust,
and are economically adverse, have no credibility in the eyes of those of
the international community applying the constraints. Such contentions only
motivate continuance of the constraints, intensifying the divide between
Zimbabwe and the world at large.

By the endlessly aggressive castigation of the international
community, those engaged in that castigation are only furthering
self-destruction, and the destruction of Zimbabwe and its people. Attempts
at cordial, harmonious reconciliation, reinforced by dynamic and just policy
changes, and implementation thereof, would aid the long awaited Zimbabwean
metamorphosis.

Muckraker: Duplicitous Zanu PF Plays Indignation Card

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 17:39
WE were delighted to hear of the "absolute anger and frustration" of
the Zanu PF politburo over the "non-placard disposition of the MDC regarding
outstanding issues".

This information comes to us courtesy of George Charamba who has
evidently reverted to his old job as party spokesman.

Key among the politburo's concerns, we are told, are the MDC
formations' "inaction over Western-imposed sanctions and the beaming of
anti-Zimbabwe messages by pirate radio stations".

Did Zanu PF really think it could get away with farm seizures and
vexatious prosecution of MPs while expecting the MDC to get it off the
international hook? And what "anti-Zimbabwe messages"? Holding Zanu PF
accountable for ongoing misrule?

As Nelson Chamisa rather nicely put it last weekend: "Sanctions are a
matter between Zanu PF and those who imposed them.Zanu PF should be grateful
that they are in power despite the fact that they were rejected by the
people in March last year."

As for the so-called "pirate" radio stations, why doesn't ZBC fulfil
its role as a professional public broadcaster instead of spewing partisan
venom every night, not to mention boring viewers to tears? People would not
then be obliged to pursue their profession in exile.

But we can see where all this is going. The politburo's contrived
indignation is clearly designed to outflank MDC complaints about outstanding
issues ahead of President Jacob Zuma's visit and the Kinshasa Sadc meeting.

This tactic dates back to 2007 when government produced "dossiers"
containing all sorts of invented charges against the MDC which were
presented to sceptical heads of state in Dar es Salaam as "evidence" of MDC
"terrorism".

Zanu PF is now behaving as if it has genuine grievances. And the MDC
formations' grievances are being made to disappear.

Did we miss something? Was Roy Bennett appointed? Were the MDC
principals consulted over Tomana and Gono as per the July 2008 MoU?

Was freedom of the media implemented as per the GPA?

Zanu PF is in denial and nobody buys their silly stories any more.

A good example of the unprofessional and partisan way in which Zanu PF
is managing the media was evident on Sunday in the Sunday Mail's report on
the Daily News. The story quickly became a weapon to bash the Voluntary
Media Council of Zimbabwe which, we were told, is "being accused of trying
to infiltrate the Zimbabwe Media Council".

Accused by whom? The Sunday Mail?

The paper injected into the story its gratuitous views on many of the
individuals who are members of the council. For instance, Justice George
Smith was described as "a retired judge who also served in Ian Smith's
government".

He also served in Robert Mugabe's government. In the cabinet office if
we remember correctly. And Mugabe recently praised his record. Why wasn't
that mentioned?

Irene Petras was listed as a member but her name was misspelt. So was
Father Oskar Wermter's. Geoff Feltoe was described as "a consultant for
Western-sponsored media lobbyists". Both of Cris Chinaka's names were
misspelt. His employer, Reuters, was a British news agency, we had to be
reminded.

Angus Shaw was listed as a "stringer" for AP. Chris Mhike is described
as an "activist lawyer". Bornwell Chakaodza was described as "an opposition
activist". Iden "Witherell", we were told, would be replacing "Jorum" Nyathi
on the council.

In fact Davison Maruziva will be replacing Nyathi. A quick phone call
could have established that.

The purpose of this heavily manipulated and tendentious roll-call soon
became evident. A "media lecturer at the Midlands State University" was
pressed into service to ask: "Who are all these whites in the council?

What we are seeing is a worrisome misgovernance of the media through
racially skewed institution-making. Zimbabwe in 2009 and you have this
all-white and all-Rhodesian outfit. God bless the country's media."

We think he meant "God save"! But it was useful to have this racist
hate speech on the record the next time we are told the media has been
"reformed". And Fr Wermter will be intrigued to know he is Rhodesian! Quite
how that happened we are not sure. We always thought he was German. And
Chinaka, Chakaodza, Edna Machirori, Bishop Sebastian Bakare, and Raphael
Khumalo have been classified as white for the purposes of the Sunday Mail's
hatchet job!

Every year the MSU begs the independent press to take their students
on attachment. Next time we will ask them first to disclose the names of
Zanu PF parrots on the media department staff masquerading as lecturers.

The MSU media department by the way advertises its membership of the
state-run Zimbabwe Association of Editors.

Perhaps one of them could explain what a "click" is? An "MDC click"
had emerged, we were told last Sunday, "which is believed to be angling to
turn the country's national healing process into a retributive pursuit".

Surely not. Giving them a taste of their own medicine? What a shocking
thought. Now they are squealing like a stuck pig as the day of reckoning
nears.

Michael Holman is a name familiar to seasoned journalists. He was a
student activist in the mid-1960s and was restricted to his parents'
Midlands farm under provisions of the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act.

Upon his release he pursued a career in journalism working in
Zimbabwe, South Africa and the UK on the staff of the Financial Times,
ending up as Africa editor. His work was always highly regarded.  But sadly,
he now appears to have lost his way.

In an article published by Baffour Ankomah's New African, suggesting
he couldn't find a home for it elsewhere, Holman declared Robert Mugabe the
winner in his campaign to retain power. Mugabe had won "the battle for
Zimbabwe", Holman declared, saying it was time Western governments swallowed
their pride and admitted defeat so they could "do business" with Mugabe and
thus save his people from starvation.

He had outwitted his enemies, defied democracy and retained the
presidency, Holman wrote. Now the West should supply medicines for clinics
and equipment for hospitals, he suggested - exactly what they are in fact
doing!

They should also supply inputs for Zimbabwe's farmers, he said.

Then came the bizarre proposal to address the land issue by creating
an agricultural scheme in Mozambique with the money Britain had pledged to
land reform. Donors should set up a land bank to provide capital and
guarantees for Zimbabwe's exiled or jobless commercial farmers, he said.

This is in many ways an admission of defeat. But not one Zimbabweans
will share. Holman appears to have jetted in from another planet. Yes,
Mugabe holds the nation in thrall. But is that "victory" when by Holman's
own admission the country is a disaster area?

Why should Zimbabweans surrender now when they have won democratic
elections and exposed to the world the face of the beast they are up
against? And why should they forego competent and stable economic management
which at last seems tangible but will never survive an extension of Mugabe's
reign.

Despite his credentials in financial journalism, Holman skips that
point.

And why should Zimbabweans ask their friends abroad to indulge Mugabe
after what he has done to them? Holman admits the country has paid a high
price for Mugabe's victory: "An economy ruined, human rights abused, a
generation without jobs, opponents tortured, and many thousands perished."

And he expects Western donors to cough up the cash - when the Chinese
and Russians won't?

He misses the point: It is not pique that prevents Britain and the US
from doing business with Mugabe. It is the British and US public who would
never allow their governments to do a deal with Mugabe. That's the trouble
with democratic societies. They get in the way of deals of this sort.

Michael Holman will be remembered for his integrity and truth in the
past. But his New African venture has sadly yielded little insight.

While on the subject of deals with Mugabe, we were pleased to see ANC
secretary-general Gwede Mantashe's remarks recently, reported in the M&G. He
said the ANC was unhappy that the process of change in Zimbabwe was not
moving fast enough. But he added that the ANC was now more open and vocal in
its disagreements with Zimbabwe's leaders.

"We think that is comradely," he said.

Finally, we were amused that the Herald could publish a glowing review
of Ronald Suresh Roberts' biography of Thabo Mbeki, Fit to Govern, the
Native Intelligence of Thabo Mbeki, when the book has been panned by critics
in South Africa. Roberts took some of his critics to court and lost.

He has subsequently become something of a joke in the South African
media. His book was published over two years ago.

What is striking is that the reviewer appeared blissfully ignorant of
all this! And he made no reference to Mark Gevisser's biography of Mbeki,
published last year, which provides far more detail and insight, including
on the Zimbabwe dimension.

Gono Should be Condemned for his Bankrupt Policy

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 17:19
IN the Zanu PF controlled Herald newspaper,  Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
(RBZ) Governor Gideon Gono is reported to have proposed the reintroduction
of the Zimbabwe dollar anchored on gold. He said this last Monday while
giving oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Natural
Resources, Hospitality and Tourism.

The committee had ill-advisedly invited the central bank governor for
it wanted to know the financial sector's preparedness in terms of
introducing plastic money ahead of 2010 World Soccer Cup Finals to be held
in South Africa.

Also invited was the Bankers' Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ), led by
its president John Mangudya. Imagine a committee full of serious people
sitting down to discuss about plastic money, yet it was reported more than
two months ago that the Minister of Finance Tendai Biti has engaged the
bankers about the same issue amongst other concerns.

Gono had adequately dealt with it in his latest, modestly delivered
mid-year Monetary Policy Statement (MPS), paragraphs 85-92, which is
available on the RBZ website.

Characteristic of himself during the "Gonomics era" from 2004-2008,
Gono proffered an array of advice beyond his call of duty that included the
need for political stability, addressing infrastructural issues like
availability of electricity, water, transport network, and the health
delivery system, among others.

One wonders if he had nothing else to do within his mandate when he
had the temerity to "proffer an array of advice." It is also worrisome that
the parliamentarians failed to stop him in his tracks so that he focused on
his mandate ONLY.

He called for gold to be valued by an independent body comprising all
stakeholders. Recalling what he referred to as "all stakeholders", this
would include his advisors in the mould of hoodlums like Joseph Chinotimba
and his business acolyte Jonathan Kadzura, who parades himself as an expert
in everything - politics, economics, business and rural development.

On July 30 Gono, without the usual pomp and ceremony and live
television coverage, delivered his mid-year MPS. While facing the banking
chiefs and executives only, he reasonably welcomed and applauded the
inclusive government's expression of full faith in the multiple currency
system.

"The benefits of this noble policy which was reconfirmed and fortified
in the Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme (Sterp) have been phenomenal
to the economy as a whole," he said. "Under this system, inflation
favourably responded very drastically, falling from the painful
multi-million percentage levels into the negative territories virtually
during the entire first half of 2009..."

He observed that capacity utilisation in companies moved upwards from
trough levels of around 10%, to current levels in the 34-45% range.

He expressed the desire that "continued policy consistency and better
institutional coordination should see the economy registering even better
levels of capacity utilisation levels...The hyperinflation that
characterised the economy over the past two years had adversely affected and
indeed severely constrained economic activity.

Against the background of widening parallel markets and speculative
activities, economic activity rapidly contracted and informalised. Capacity
utilisation across most sectors of the economy declined to levels below 20%,
resulting in severe shortage of goods and services.

"The cumulative effects of the hyperinflation led to the relegation of
the Zimbabwe dollar as a medium of exchange and store of value in the
economy. Subsequently and progressively economic transactions were conducted
in foreign currencies. The migration to the use of multiple currencies
adopted by government ended the hyperinflation immediately and set the
platform for enhanced formalisation of economic activity and recovery."

As a sign that Gono practises a well-grounded Orwellian "doublethink",
one has to read through the following paragraphs of the MPS:

"11. As Monetary Authorities, our views and advice on this matter are
anchored on the following 2 key principles:

a) That the existence and stability of a country's national currency
is defined and dictated by the barometer of real economic activity in the
economy. Accordingly, therefore, in as much as the loss of value of the
Zimbabwe dollar was a direct result of the near absolute stagnation in
Zimbabwe's productive systems, a quicker recovery and sustained growth in
the productive sectors of the economy will lay a solid foundation for the
return of the Zimbabwe dollar and this can be anytime depending on how
seriously we work as a nation to rebuild our economy.
To this end, therefore, there are no calendar time limits favouring or
barring the return of the Zimbabwe dollar, and as Monetary Authorities, we
will continue to carefully gauge the overall performance of the economy to
inform us on the appropriate decisions or courses of actions to take, in
close collaboration with our Principals in the Inclusive Government.

b) Our strong views and preference however are that as Zimbabweans we
must have our own currency and autonomy in formulating our fiscal and
monetary policies.

Whilst too much demand relative to supply has traditionally been
pointed out as the mother of inflation and its noxious spill-over effects to
society and the economy, too little demand can itself be an equally
deleterious vampire that can bring down the economy amidst plenty in
stockpiles and flooded stockrooms full of goods facing little or no demand.

This is a sign that the above quoted views in the MPS are in serious
conflict with his Zanu PF principals' desire to benefit from a freefalling
economy. His statements could have been reviewed and a notice was made that
he was seemingly becoming reasonable.

The statement made by Gono at the parliamentary committee deserves
condemnation by those most willing to see the economy recover. The Zimbabwe
local currency will be introduced when the economy has fully recovered. His
free hand on the tiller should never be allowed.

Gono has made his pitch for the Zimbabwe dollar and the media,
economic analysts and online chatrooms are mute! If ignored, Gono might
think that his bankrupt pronouncement was reasonable enough to merit
attention. Nobody challenged or critiqued the economically destructive
thinking during the Gonomics era.

The only voices we heard were those who praised and agreed with him.
Not surprising he called his views, as destructive as they are, "outside the
box" so that he can benefit out of his own generated chaos.

On a separate matter, much of what is in all his MPS is of research
nature, not a Monetary Policy Statement in the technical sense. The RBZ (not
the governor) should be publishing monthly, quarterly and annual bulletins
that we last saw during his predecessor (Leonard Tsumba)'s tenure. The
bulletins save us the pain of going through a "textbook" of the governor's
quarterly presentations, full of nothing but fiscal issues beyond his core
business.

Goodwill Mpofu writes from Harare.

Goodwill Mpofu

Comment: Only Reform will Bring Investment

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 18:18
PRESIDENT Mugabe this week took ministers and senior government
officials to Namibia to attend the launch of the Boundless Southern Africa
expedition, a regional initiative to promote tourism in transfrontier
conservation areas, and to talk about football in view of the upcoming two
major soccer tournaments - the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola, and
the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa.

Zimbabwe is at the core of this expedition route which stretches from
the Indian Ocean in the East to the Atlantic in the West.

Zimbabwe is also a vital component of the Trans-frontier conservation
initiative as its national parks are integral to the fulfilment of forming
the Kavango-Zambezi with Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia, the
Limpopo-Shashe with Botswana and South Africa, and the Greater Limpopo in
concert with Mozambique and South Africa.

The expedition is expected to attract investment in the transfrontier
parks and market the region as a tourist destination during the World Cup.
President Mugabe has over the years led Zimbabwean politicians and
businesspeople to religiously attend such regional shindigs meant to attract
investment in this country.

In Namibia this week he said "by creating the TFCAs we have moved a
step forward towards one of our cherished goals, namely the integration of
our economies. This progressive seamless movement is also supported by the
name of this expedition team, Boundless Southern Africa Expedition, which is
appropriate for our vision".

It is true that the region has indeed moved a step forward in
integrating economies but in Zimbabwe people are not really benefiting from
these initiatives because of the poor politics here.

The trip to the Namibian desert resort for Mugabe could be yet another
fulfillment of a diplomatic engagement with no tangible benefits to the
country.

For a long time, our leaders have cherished this romantic dream that
investment flows into the country are predicated on attending conferences
and signing documents. After each so-called regional investment meeting our
leader has often been quoted talking about empowering people through
economic expansion.

In Namibia on Wednesday Mugabe said the creation of transfrontier
conservation areas "is expected to improve the standards of living of our
people, particularly those communities living within and around them through
education, awareness and employment opportunities".

We would want to know at this stage what happened to the
much-advertised Campfire projects initiated 20 years ago. The projects were
meant to empower communities through conserving flora and fauna.

These have fallen away largely due to poor management and politics
which allowed people to settle in game parks.

Until today when our rulers are talking about the transfrontier parks,
villagers have been urged to occupy game areas while private conservancies
have been plundered through poaching and destruction of vegetation. What
kind of empowerment is that?

Investment in the tourism industry also to a large extent depends on
government's ability to safeguard property rights and ensure there is the
rule of law. The GNU has failed in this respect. There is now the shameful
dichotomy of government pushing for foreign investment when it cannot
guarantee the protection of foreign capital through bilateral agreements.

At a business investment conference in South Africa this week, it
emerged that South African companies are still not keen on Zimbabwe just
yet, given the country's recent past.

The delay in finalising the Bilateral Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreement between the two countries has not helped matters
either. The agreement will safeguard South African businesses in Zimbabwe
from government interference - especially nationalisation. South African
farmers who lost their properties during the land reform programme have not
been adequately compensated, nor have Dutch, German and French farmers.

This is one sticking point that has a huge bearing on our ability to
attract investment and raise finances to repair our crumbling
infrastructure.

Last week Zanu PF was in full voice condemning the MDC formations for
failing to meet their side of the bargain in the GNU; that is calling for
the removal of sanctions.

These are now being blamed for the stagnation around us. The sanctions
issue has nothing to do with the procrastination in the finalisation of
Bippas with South Africa.

We do not know whether Mugabe needs to set foot in London first before
there is a land audit and order is restored on the land to guarantee
productivity.  The same is true with reforms to media and security laws.
These are critical to restoring investor confidence and boosting tourism
arrivals and with it living standards of ordinary Zimbabweans.

To improve living standards of Zimbabweans we need to see real reform
here and not presidential delegations attending every little indaba in the
region when nothing is happening to prepare for the World Cup Finals which
are just nine months away.

What goals did we score by going to Oranjemund in Namibia? Not many,
but the state media tells us there was applause for Mugabe when he stood up
to speak. Was that it?

Candid Comment: Is Mugabe Concerned About Zuma?

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 18:03
DOES President Robert Mugabe regard President Jacob Zuma's state visit
to Angola this week with satisfaction or concern?

It would be revealing to know. Angolan President José Eduardo dos
Santos and Mugabe have so far been major allies in the same camp in the
Southern African Development Community (Sadc).

Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela fought bitterly with
Mugabe over the latter's determination to maintain his pre-1994 supremacy in
the region, by clinging on to control of Sadc's crucial security apparatus.

Mugabe was evidently trying to maintain his old Frontline States (FLS)
dominance in Sadc, which he was then losing to South Africa, especially to
Mandela. And Angola was with him while South Africa became the informal
leader of a progressive, democratic camp.

Meanwhile, South Africa and Angola fell out separately over several
other issues, including the ruling MPLA's feeling that the ANC had never
thanked it enough for its support during the liberation struggle, South
Africa's anger at Angolan military support to Laurent Kabila to help him
conquer President Mobutu Sese Seko (when South Africa was trying to get the
two to make peace), and Luanda's suspicions of South Africa's efforts to
persuade it to make peace with its own rebel enemy, Jonas Savimbi.

Although former South African President Thabo Mbeki warmed towards
Mugabe, South Africa's quarrel with Luanda remained unhealed; the two
biggest powers in the region were estranged.

This week Zuma will remedy that with his first state visit. It is
possible to speculate freely, along the lines of the infamous Browse Mole
Report by South African intelligence analysts that Zuma will be repaying Dos
Santos for the help he received in defeating Mbeki for the ANC leadership at
Polokwane.

But whether true or not, no such dramatic motive is really necessary
to explain the visit. It can be seen as merely rectifying a diplomatic
anomaly. And the visit is surely not mainly about Zimbabwe.

As Ayanda Ntsaluba, Director-General of the Department of
International Relations and Co-operation, has explained, it is largely about
building economic ties, and Zuma will be taking the largest business
delegation that South Africa has ever sent abroad. South Africa hopes to get
some of the major post-war economic reconstruction business under way in
Angola.

South Africa also hopes to persuade Angola to harness its military
prowess to Pretoria's own peacekeeping efforts on the continent (rather, it
remains unsaid, than Luanda using its military muscle on freelance
adventures).

But if Zimbabwe is not high on the agenda or even officially there at
all, it is hard to imagine that it will not be discussed during the visit.
Early next month Sadc will hold its annual summit, and reviewing the
progress of Zimbabwe's unity government will be a major item on the agenda.

On the face of it, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement
for Democratic Change might be alarmed by the rapprochement between South
Africa and Mugabe's erstwhile close ally Angola.

But that assumes Zuma will fall under Dos Santos's spell. What if the
opposite occurs? Zuma has made it clear in private in the past that he
disapproves of much of Mugabe's undemocratic behaviour, though he has so far
done nothing in office to confirm that.

Yet two weeks ago he told Tsvangirai that he would take up with Mugabe
Tsvangirai's complaints about Mugabe thwarting the full implementation of
the unity government agreement.

Then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton indicated, after meeting
Zuma, her satisfaction with the way the Zuma administration was handling
Zimbabwe, having said before that she would urge Zuma to curb Mugabe's
"negative influence" on the unity government.

This suggests that Zuma told her he intended taking a tough line with
Mugabe. One presumes he would not want to mess with Clinton by offering her
vague promises he did not intend to keep. Meanwhile, the Angolan government
itself broke ranks with Zimbabwe somewhat last year by criticising the way
Mugabe was re-elected. Perhaps Mugabe is also a little anxious about this
week's visit.

lPeter Fabricius is foreign editor of the Independent Newspapers group
in SA.

Peter Fabricius

Editor's Memo: Zanu PF Contemptuous of Sadc Resolutions

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/


Thursday, 20 August 2009 17:01
ZANU PF'S intransigence scaled new heights last Friday when its
politburo deputy secretary of information Ephraim Masawi told the world that
the party had been "compliant to the letter in fulfilling the requirements"
of the global political agreement (GPA) and, therefore, there was no longer
any outstanding issues besides the lifting of sanctions and an end to
"pirate" radio broadcasts.

What was laughable about this claim was that more than 50 politburo
members -- the bigwigs -- had met the previous day at the party's
headquarters in the capital and resolved to believe in their own lies that
Zanu PF had met its side of the inclusive government pact.
Masawi boisterously told the world that Zanu PF was baffled by the two
MDC formations' "constant reference" to outstanding matters because the
party had fulfilled, among other issues, the appointment of Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputies Arthur Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe,
ministers and deputies, permanent secretaries and ambassadors; and
facilitated the constitution of the National Security Council.
The party said the rehiring of central bank governor Gideon Gono and
Attorney-General Johannes Tomana and the appointment of provincial governors
were not outstanding issues because it was President Robert Mugabe's
constitutional prerogative to make those appointments.
"In appointing the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the
Attorney-General, the president exercised his constitutional right to do so
and no consultation in terms of the constitution was necessary," Masawi
said. With regard to the appointment of provincial governors, it is the
exclusive constitutional prerogative of the president to appoint 10
governors and resident ministers to represent him in the 10 provinces .
Besides, at the time of their appointment there was no prime minister and
deputy prime minister to consult."
This demonstrates that as far as Zanu PF is concerned, there were
never any outstanding issues. Zimbabweans must remember that Gono and Tomana
were appointed during the impasse over the formation of the unity
government.
Zanu PF knew exactly what it was doing and they were never going to
reverse these appointments.
I am quite convinced that even the two MDC formations knew this but
they had to demonstrate to their supporters that they would not accept the
appointments. It is a question of power, just as Ian Smith retained the key
ministries and positions during the period of the Internal Settlement in
1978-79, Mugabe has also retained the powerful posts in this marriage of
convenience. This is about power relations and showing who the top dog is.
By declaring that there are no outstanding issues, Zanu PF was simply
telling Sadc to go to hell because it was the regional bloc's extraordinary
summit held in Pretoria on January 26 that outlined the sticking points of
the pact, resulting in Tsvangirai agreeing to the formation of the inclusive
government in February. This summit set the timelines for the passing of
Constitutional Amendment No 19, which captured the GPA, the swearing in of
Tsvangirai, Mutambara and Khupe and cabinet ministers and their deputies and
the activation of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee.
A communiqué released on January 27 at the end of the summit clearly
stated, among other issues, that "the appointments of the Reserve Bank
governor and the Attorney-General will be dealt with by the inclusive
government after its formation" and that the negotiators of the parties
shall meet immediately to consider the National Security Bill submitted by
the MDCT-T as well as the formula for the distribution of governors".
So it was Sadc -- the facilitators of the GPA -- which outlined the
outstanding issues Zanu PF is saying do not exist. Mugabe has spoken on many
occasions thanking Sadc and the African Union for bringing peace to Zimbabwe
through the unity government and has lambasted the United States, Britain
and its Western allies for not respecting regional and continental bodies
for their stance on Zimbabwe. Is this not duplicity?
Clearly, Zanu PF is in contempt of Sadc.
It is also contemptuous for Zanu PF to claim that it has fulfilled its
commitment when we know that it is using its structural power to stand in
the way of constitutional reform, opening up of media space and legislative
reforms; harassing political opponents; and refusing to swear in MDC-T's Roy
Bennett as deputy Agriculture minister.
It is nonsense for Zanu PF to expect the MDC formations to cause the
lifting of sanctions on the country and put an end to "pirate" radio
broadcasts because the two parties did not impose the embargoes and they do
not own the radio stations. In any case ZBC is currently the main vector of
hate speech.
Sadc, the godfather of the GPA, if it was serious it would have great
effect in making sure all parties adhere to the GPA and fully implement it.
But this appearance is far removed from reality.
Sadc feels that it has done enough to halt the violence and turmoil in
Zimbabwe and quite frankly, even its chairperson Jacob Zuma's visit to
Harare next week, should not be expected to come with positive results. The
regional bloc succumbed to the political machinations of Zanu PF in 2008,
when things were really intense and so embarrassing that they had to do
something and I cannot see anything pushing them to do more than what they
have done already.  This is a body which says nothing when judgments of its
own tribunal are ignored and dismissed with contempt by a member state. What
more can you expect?

Constantine Chimakure

Zim Independent Letters

http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/

Replacement of Water Pipes Long Overdue
Thursday, 20 August 2009 17:54
HATS off to the responsible authorities who are replacing the worn out
water and sewer pipes in the city of Harare.

It seems that they have at last taken the issue of the city's
deteriorating health conditions into their hands and are now trying  to
solve the problem.

Whilst the generality of the residents may complain that roads are
being damaged through the trenches that are being dug where water and sewer
pipes are laid, it is ultimately  for the best. I believe that the measures
they are now taking have been long awaited.

A lot of lives have been lost, residents' health deteriorated and the
"Sunshine city" status of Harare gone due to the ever flowing water and
sewage.

I was amazed to discover that the pipes that are being replaced were
laid way before Independence whilst the city was relatively small and were
meant to cater for the infrastructure and amount of people that were there
at the time.

New houses and buildings were built as the years passed and these were
incorporated into the old pipe system which was expected to absorb the extra
volume without being upgraded.

The pipes that are now being replaced are battered and worn out --
evidence that the pipes could no longer cope with the demands of the growing
population. I wonder if the previous administrations were serious when they
were overlooking this problem.

It is true that when solving a problem another one is created, such as
in this case roads are being damaged while changing the pipes, and there are
now trenches all over which is a danger to motorists.

Hopefully the roads will be repaved as soon as they finish with the
refurbishment of the water and sewer pipes all around the city.

L C,
Harare.

---------
Let's not forget Zanu PF's handiwork
Thursday, 20 August 2009 16:57
THE just-ended Heroes and Defence Forces days were very historic in
that for the first time in 10 years, Robert Mugabe did not attack the MDC or
its president Morgan Tsvangirai as the stooges of the West.
It was also historic in that Tsvangirai attended both events as the
Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and some of the military generals showed that
they were also human and saluted him for attending the Defence Forces Day.
As we commemorate the death of our gallant Zimbabwean sons and
daughters who fought hard for the liberation of Zimbabwe, we should also
remember hundreds of other innocent Zimbabweans who were unfortunate to be
killed under ruthless circumstances by Zanu PF activists.
Some of the activists who come to mind are Gift Tandare who was shot
by the police in March 2007, Tichaona Chiminya and Talent Mabika who were
murdered by known state security agents in April 2000.
As we commemorate the death of the freedom fighters, we should also
remember the handiwork of Zanu PF, which has left thousands of children
orphans as Zanu PF went on an orgy of violence killing its opponents just to
keep its stranglehold on power.

Edna Musarurwa,
Harare.

----------
Leaders Should Embrace Servant Leadership
Thursday, 20 August 2009 16:35
I AM dismayed that endemic and debilitating corruption has plagued the
effectual and efficacious discharge of duties in our country.
It is no secret that our beloved country is faced with leadership
problems of monolithic proportions. It is equally true that poor people who
are no doubt the majority of the electorate are rational beings. We all know
that public officials are entrusted by the people to protect their
interests.
However, the majority of the people do not speak up or hold these
leaders to account. Weak, powerless and isolated, they are often reluctant
to push themselves forward. In Paul Devitt's words: "The poor are often
inconspicuous, inarticulate and unorganised. Their voices may not be heard
at public meetings in communities where it is customary for only the big men
to put their views.
It is rare to find a body or institution that adequately represents
the poor in a certain community or area. Outsiders and government officials
invariably find it more profitable and congenial to converse with local
influentials than with the uncommunicative poor".
The poor are residual, the last in the line, the most difficult to
find, and the hardest to learn from.
It is therefore because of this that I earnestly and sincerely ask our
leaders to embrace servant leadership for the sake of the poor.
Let's serve one another and stop thinking only about ourselves. True
fulfillment comes not through ego satisfaction but through service to
others. I hold that each person has an obligation to alleviate the pain of
other people.
The silent majority have, as a result, become a compost heap upon
which criminal tyranny flourishes. It is, therefore, my moral duty to Speak
up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who
are helpless. Speak for them and be a righteous judge. Protect the rights of
the poor and needy.
Jesus Christ, the outstanding personality of all time came not to be
served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. "A man who
was completely innocent offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of
others, including his enemies and became the ransom of the world. It was a
perfect act" (Mohandas K Gandhi, political and spiritual leader of India).

Mutsa Murenje,
Nairobi, Kenya.

----------
Doctors Strike Threatens Health System Recovery
Thursday, 20 August 2009 16:32
THE Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) deplores
the ongoing strike by junior doctors which threatens to damage efforts
underway to rebuild the country's health system. The health system is still
struggling to emerge from a crisis that left the country's major referral
hospitals unable to deliver services at the end of 2008.
Health professionals are entitled to adequate remuneration and
acceptable working conditions. However, this must also be balanced against
the wellbeing of patients. Unavailability of health services ultimately
results in increased morbidity and preventable deaths.
 At a time when all public service employees are struggling to survive
on the salaries and allowances they are receiving, the Human Resources for
Health taskforce is working to improve the salaries and working conditions
of health professionals. These efforts should not be undermined.
ZADHR calls for improved communication and cooperation between the
Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, the Health Services Board and the
health professionals concerned regarding efforts to retain and improve the
working conditions of human resources for health.
While it is the government's duty to ensure that Zimbabweans have
available, accessible and quality health care, doctors also have a
responsibility to contribute towards this realisation of the right to
health.

Zimbabwe Association of
Doctors for Human Rights,
zadhr@mweb.co.zw
-------------
      Improve Sports Commission

       Thursday, 20 August 2009 16:28
      THE Sports and Recreational Commission seems not to have the
capacity to run tennis in this country. At the recently held youth games the
respective provinces were asked to provide tennis balls and only a few of
them were able to meet that requirement.
      As a result all of the balls which were used for the games were
second hand. In any tennis event the world over and even locally
participants are never asked to provide balls.
      The way the match officials were treated also leaves a lot to be
desired as they waited for payment from morning until 1900hrs.
      The person authorised to release the money was nowhere to be
found but had told the officials to be at the finance office in the morning.
      They should set up proper structures administered by competent
officials so as to keep the commission's operational standards high.

       Mutape,
      Mutare.

-------------
      Gono, Tomana Must go
      Thursday, 20 August 2009 16:22
      MOST Zimbabweans deem the issue of the continued stay of Reserve
Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono and Attorney-General Johannes Tomana
to be critical issues that require urgent attention to be dealt with.

      To put it simply Gono and Tomana must go! Their openly partisan
nature is unacceptable to us. The sanctions imposed on Zanu PF officials
must stay until there is true change. We do not see that yet.

       Justice,
      Harare.

----------
      SMS The Zimbabwe Independent
      Thursday, 20 August 2009 16:58
      WE demand justice first before reconciliation! MDC must not
forget all the killings and beatings committed along with the suffering
orphans who were left behind. We want justice now.
      Magidiza S.

      THE challenge facing Zanu PF this year is that of renewal. If
they fail to do so then the party will die soon. The current leaders are
past their sale by date.
      Roy Mataya, Harare.

      ZBC can heap as many titles as they want on Robert Mugabe whom
they project as the people's presidential choice. Sadly their efforts will
not endear us to him and we will surely relieve him of them come election
time and give them to the one who truly deserves them.
      Givvie.

      AS long as we have people who believe diesel can be produced by
a witch doctor still in government, there is no development to talk about.
Furthermore we still have "leaders" and a "public" media whose priority is
to insult anyone who does not agree with their policies. No single country
in the world owes its success to insults. It also does not help matters
either to have people such as Joseph Chinotimba being advisors to the RBZ
governor. I am sure we can do better.
      Mr Abas.

      GIDEON Gono should not worry about the shortage of change for
the US dollars. We are managing well as it is. He has done enough harm to
the economy and should not try to experiment with the economy again. He
should never be allowed to print money again.
           Nyamasvisva.

      IT is very disappointing to see that the Harare City council and
the ZRP have totally lost control of Harare's streets to the commuter
omnibus drivers. It is a shocking disgrace to see how most of the streets in
the western CBD have been taken over by this unruly bunch that have
absolutely no regard for the law, other road users or ratepaying shop
owners. Are these drivers so powerful that they are above the law? Or are
the police and the council too afraid to enforce it.
      Weary ratepayer.

      IS it not a case of misplaced priorities on the part of the city
fathers of Harare to spend very scarce resources on the installation of
mayor Muchadeyi Masunda when there is a cry for lack of resources to return
the city to its former status of "Sunshine City"? God help this dear country
of my birth.
      Stanley Tapera, Highfield.
      APPARENTLY it's only in Zimbabwe where the H1n1 swine flu is not
prevalent. Let's hope that is true. In South Africa we hear that there are
five confirmed deaths and thousands of people infected with the flu. My
question is: What is the Minister of Health doing to prevent it? Where are
the prevention campaigns to combat this pandemic?
      Adrian Miller, Mutare.

      DOCTORS and other civil servants deserve to be paid better
salaries. MPs and other senior government officials are being given US$30
000 loans.
      S Mugidiza.

      THEY earned R50 and there was no food in the shops, but they
continued going to work. You now earn nearly US$400 and there is a lot of
food in the shops, then they go on strike. This is the warped mentality of
the junior doctor.
      Ngwenya, Bulawayo.

      WHY is it that a teacher who joined the civil service in 1986
and is now a supervisor gets the same salary as the one who came in 2007 and
is under supervision? The government should not expect any serious work from
us in the third term.
      Jaku.

      THE article by Ranga Makwata "We all need financial planners"
(Zimbabwe Independent August 14) makes a good read. Keep up the good work!
We need more information on the Prime Minister's deal with the army.
      SGH.

      ON Saturday I sent three text messages to South Africa. The
messages were not delivered but Econet went on to deduct US66 cents from my
account. Please Econet I want my refund.
      Unsatisfied customer.

       WHY does Econet steal from us by billing messages that have not
been delivered. They are now reducing their standards and sooner than later
they will be the same as these parastatals. You don't get rich by stealing.
      UBA.

      CAN cellphone network operators explain why they cannot bill
per-second? Imagine paying a flat amount for a full minute even if the call
lasts for a few seconds.
      Wise Manu.

      THE name Stanbic sounds good when you come across it in the
press. Go to its Gweru and Kwekwe branches and you will find that a
tuck-shop is much better. There is no quality service to talk about.
      Shayibu Chalamanda.

Harare plans to sell airline stake

http://www.busrep.co.za

August 21, 2009

Zimbabwe's state-owned airline is considering opening up to private
shareholders in exchange for a huge cash injection needed to avert its
collapse, and it plans to cut up to 500 jobs, according to chairman Jonathan
Kadzura.

Air Zimbabwe, which government officials say currently receives $2 million
(R16m) a week from state coffers, is a perennial loss maker weighed down by
an ageing fleet, debt and a severe economic crisis.

Kadzura said on Wednesday that Air Zimbabwe and the government were in talks
to find ways of urgently streamlining and recapitalising the business.

"It's either you adapt or die," Kadzura said.

An investor's prospectus says Air Zimbabwe requires $750m to renew its fleet
and to install a hangar fire protection system. The government would give up
a 60 percent stake in the airline in exchange for the funding. - Reuters

Kimberley Process team in Zimbabwe

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Hendricks Chizhanje Friday 21 August 2009

MUTARE - A four-member team from the Kimberly Process Certification
Scheme (KPSC) is touring Zimbabwe's Chiadzwa diamond field where the army
and state security agencies have been accused of committing gross human
rights violations and other illegal activities.

The visit by the Windhoek-based KPCS secretariat team headed by its
chairman and Namibia's Deputy Mines Minister Bernhard Esau follows another
visit by the KPSC last month to probe reports by human rights groups that
the country's military used brutal force to control access to Marange and to
take over unlicenced diamond mining and trading following discovery of the
gemstones there in June 2006.

The team that was headed by Liberian deputy mines minister Kpandel
Fiya issued a damning report at the end of its visit calling for a temporary
ban on trade in diamonds from Zimbabwe's Marange fields until effective
security, internal control measures and resources were in place in a manner
that indicates that Zimbabwe has control and authority of the fields.

The KPCS is a joint government, industry and civil society initiative
to stop trade in conflict diamonds - rough diamonds used by rebel movements
and other rouge groups to finance wars against legitimate governments.

On Thursday the KPCS secretariat team toured the Chiadzwa diamond
fields where they visited the home of Newman Chiadzwa, whose houses were
reportedly destroyed by soldiers who ransacked his home some few weeks ago.

The team also visited Chiadzwa Police Post, where Newman's confiscated
equipment which includes a water tank, a front-end loader and an excavator
is being held.

"We went to show them Newman Chiadzwa's homestead and his equipment
which is at Chiadzwa Police Post," said Deputy Mines Minister Murisi Zwizwai
confirming the KPCS secretariat visit.

"We showed them everything that happened including to clear the air in
respect of his harassment. His home was not destroyed. His confiscated
mining equipment, which included diamond screening equipment was in a
restricted area," said Zwizwai.

Zwizwai has previously attracted criticism from his MDC party over his
denials of killings and human rights abuses in the notorious Chiadzwa
diamond field.

Newman who had fled his home was arrested last week by police for
allegedly contravening sections of the Precious Stones Trade Act. Newman,
who was recently granted bail had told The Standard, a local weekly that he
had been singled out for punishment for allegedly supplying the KPCS team
with damning information on the extent of human rights abuses by soldiers
and policemen.

Newman also alleged that he was being targeted for resisting a planned
relocation of villagers from the diamond-rich area to Transau, a farm owned
by the government-run Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA).

Observers last night feared that the government could be trying to
persuade and influence the KPCS secretariat to issue a fresh report
absolving it of any wrong doing as initially alleged by the KPCS.

Apart from the KPSC, the New York-based Human Rights Watch has also
accused Zimbabwe's military of conscripting villagers both adults and
children to mine diamonds at Marange.

However, Harare denies allegations of human rights abuses at Marange
and says calls to ban diamonds from the fields were unjustified because
Zimbabwe was not involved in a war or armed conflict.- ZimOnline

Transcript – Interview with Joseph Chinotimba

 

August 21, 2009

SW Radio Africa – Broadcast: 07 August 2009

VIOLET Gonda: On the programme Hot Seat, we normally bring serious guests on the show, but this week we decided to bring a taste of political humour by having self-styled war veteran Joseph Chinotimba as our guest. The Zanu-PF member is suing Thamsanqa Mahlangu, the MDC Deputy Youth Minister for 19.5 million US dollars for loss of business.

Joseph Chinotimba

The Deputy Minister who is out on bail was arrested on allegations of stealing a cell phone belonging to Chinotimba two weeks ago. Mahlangu’s lawyer, Charles Kwaramba told us that his client was issued with summons while in his prison cell and the lawyer confirmed that Chinotimba is claiming in excess of 19.5 million US dollars. He alleges that he lost business during the time that he was without his cell phone.

The war vet leader is credited with spearheading the violent invasions of commercial farms in 2000 in collaboration with the late Dr Chenjerai Hunzvi. I managed to get hold of Mr Chinotimba and first asked him to tell us about his lost cell phone.

Joseph Chinotimba: Haina kurashika asi yakabiva. It did not get lost; it was stolen.) If you say I lost it, it means that I didn’t know where. It was stolen. Bvunza wechiti wakabirwa here. (You should ask whether it was stolen.)

Gonda: So makabirwa nani? Can you tell us what happened?

Chinotimba: Very good. Ndiri kuda kuti ubvunze mubvunzo iweyo kuna Minister wangu – kuna Mahlangu. (You should put that question to my minister, to Mahlangu.) I don’t have a comment because if I comment, I’m comment against my Minister who will guide me in the Parliament. So I cannot have a comment just right now before the court are settled. I’m waiting for the court to settle the matter, then I’ll comment after that. If you want to ask you better asked Mr Mahlangu who is my Minister and I cannot comment anything till the court is settled.

Gonda: Now I did ask Mr Mahlangu’s lawyer and he said his PA had picked your phone which had been dropped, why do you think your phone was actually stolen?

Chinotimba: Right now I don’t know whether it was dropped and it was stolen and I’m only going to know what happened exactly in the court and right now I cannot empree (pre-empt) talk anything till the court is paralysed and I cannot disturb my evidence in any way, in any type of talking. So I’m waiting for the court so the court will decide whether the minister had picked up or whether he had been stolen it or not. So I cannot comment.

Gonda: OK. I hear you have served the deputy minister with a summons and you want 19.5 US dollars, you are suing for 19.5 ….

Chinotimba: You better ask him. If he is the one who told you that Mr Chinotimba is claiming for 19.5 million, he’s the one who knows that and how can I say something which is not in my heart? You better ask him. Asked Mr Mahlangu and tell him why is Mr Chinotimba’s claiming that. I cannot comment.

Gonda: Are you saying you haven’t filed a civil suit?

Chinotimba: You better ask Mr Mahlangu, not me!

Gonda: But I’m asking you since…

Chinotimba: No, why do you want, why do I want to talk things in the UK where the UK people doesn’t want to see me there? I don’t have a visa. If I was having a visa to come to the UK, the UK people banned me to come to the UK and you want me to talk things which is needed to be broadcast in the UK where the UK people doesn’t want to see me, why?

Gonda: What do you mean the UK people don’t want to see you? Did you apply for a visa to come to the UK?

Chinotimba: Yes because they banned me to come to UK and they want my voice to be broadcast in UK but they banned me to come to UK!

Gonda: Why were you banned Mr Chinotimba?

Chinotimba: Does it have a logic? You want someone’s voice in UK and you don’t want him personal to come to UK?

Gonda: Mr Chinotimba I can’t speak on behalf of the British government, I’m a Zimbabwean and we report to Zimbabwe.

Chinotimba: Yah, I hope if you are reporting while you are in Harare not in UK. You cannot enjoy a life which I cannot enjoy in UK.

Gonda: I spoke to Mahlangu’s …

Chinotimba: Unfortunately I say I cannot comment on behalf of Mr Mahlangu. Mr Mahlangu’s lawyer should comment everything and right now I cannot comment anything.

Gonda: I did speak to Mr Mahlangu’s lawyer and he confirmed that you are suing for $19.5 million so that’s why I’m asking you, why?

Chinotimba: If he is the one who says so what do you want me to say?

Gonda: Is it a lie?

Chinotimba: Maybe. You better ask him.

Gonda: But I’m asking you because you’re the one who’s suing.

Chinotimba: Why, why do you want to ask me? Why don’t you want to ask the person who is being sued? Why do you want to ask me?

Gonda: What sort of business are you doing that’s worth 19.5 million US dollars?

Chinotimba: I don’t have any business, I’m a farmer, where I take some land from your British people, I’m a farmer! I’m a farmer!

Gonda: Is this one of the farms that you grabbed?

Chinotimba: I’m a farmer! I am a farmer! What kind of business which I can do in Zimbabwe unless only to farm? Where the British people were there, eating, enjoying their life, a good life in our land.

Gonda: What are you farming?

Chinotimba: I’m farming people.

Gonda: (Laughs) What do you mean by that – you’re farming people?

Chinotimba: Yah. Are you not understanding what I am farming? I am farming people. Ndirikurima vanhu kana usingazivi pachirungu chandataura.

Gonda: Zvinoreveyi izvozvo? What does that mean?

Chinotimba: Zvinorewa kuti zvandiri kurima vanhu kwete mhunga kwete chibage. Ndiri kurima vanhu. (It means that I am farming people, not millet or maize. I am farming people.)

Gonda: Do you mean kuti (that) you are going around like what you did in the last few years, beating up people and terrorising people in the farming areas there?

Chinotimba: That’s what you know, that’s what you are being told, that’s what you go to Britain and learn. You learn to talk lies! Who was beating people? When you run away from Zimbabwe have you ever been beaten by Chinoz? Or either you went to go there and look for money to come and put your people or your family to eat? Do what your family can do and what your family can eat and I can do what my family can eat. Thank you.

Gonda: Mr Chinotimba, did you not destroy Admore Chibutu’s home and assaulted him on 11 May 2008?

Chinotimba: What you mean?

Gonda: Did you not destroy Admore Chibutu’s home and assaulted him on 11 May 2008.

Chinotimba: Who is Admore? Who is Admore? I don’t know that person.

Gonda: Didn’t you say that murikurima vanhu? (Didn’t you say that you farm people.)

Chinotimba: Ndati handizvizivi zvauri kutaura munhu anonzi Chimhunu ndiani? (I said I don’t understand what you are saying. Who is Chimunhu?)

Gonda: Vanhu veMDC. Manga musikuenda here, especially around 2008 beating up… (The MDC people – did you not go around, especially around 2008 beating up…)

Chinotimba: What do you mean beating up MDC? What do you mean by MDC? We don’t have MDC here in Zimbabwe, we don’t have Zanu-PF; we have now got inclusive government. What are you meaning about MDC?! You are talking about people who are united here and you are talking rubbish while you are in UK! Hey? We are having a very good government and you are talking nonsense! You are talking about 20 years ago, which have been never. You are talking about beating people, you are not talking about how people were killed by Smith. You are just asking things which are not possible to be answered.

Gonda: Because I am asking …(interrupted)

Chinotimba: I said we are now in a inclusive government, we are enjoying our country, it is all up to you to continue sitting there in Britain, not enjoying your homeland.

Gonda: But Mr Chinotimba, I’m asking about you and the things that you’ve done.

Chinotimba: Huh, what are you saying! Hey?

Gonda: I’m asking about you and the things that you’ve done. Granted there are a lot of things, a lot of bad things that happened during the Smith …(interrupted)

Chinotimba: No, no, no you were not in Zimbabwe, you cannot talk something which you were not there. How can you ask things which you were not there?

Gonda: But the people you have attacked in the past have complained.

Chinotimba: The people, which people? Who complainant of that? There’s no complainants. I’ve never been sued, I’ve never been taken to the police, I’ve never, if a person had been beaten then he was supposed to report that matter to the police. You want to be clever for nothing!

Gonda: Mr Chinotimba, did you not lead a violent land grab?

Chinotimba: Ya, thank you, bye bye.

Gonda: Hello Mr Chinotimba.

Chinotimba: Huh, land what?

Gonda: Did you not lead a violent land invasion campaign in 2000?

Chinotimba: Iwe wakapusa handizivi kuti unotaura chirudziyi. (You are very foolish. I don’t know what language you speak.) Invasion yakaitika kumunda kwababa vako? (Was your father’s land invaded?) Iwe baba vako vanga vaine munda here pakatorwa munda ipapo? (Did your father have any land when the land was seized?) Baba ako akakubereka handiti aigara mugomo? (Did your own father not live up in a mountain?) Hino zvikanzi baba vako vakatora munda zvinonzi pakaitika invasion? (So If you father takes some land will that be an invasion of land?) Haunyari? (Are you not ashamed of yourself?)

Gonda: Saka muri kuti hapana mainvasions akaitika kuZimbabwe? (Are you therefore suggesting that there were no land invasions in Zimbabwe?)

Chinotimba: Invasion yeyi? (What invasion?) Invasion yekutora chinhu chako? (Is it an invasion to take back what belongs to you?) Iwe ukarasa andapeni yako, iwe ukatorerwa andapeni yako nemunhu ukaenda kunoitora kune umwe munhu unoti iwewe waita invasion yeandapeni yako? (If you lose your underpant, if someone takes your underpant and you approach that person to recover your underpant will you be guilty of an invasion of your underpant?)

Gonda: Saka ndizvo zvamanga mechiita, manga murikutora…. (So this is what you were doing, you were taking…) (interrupted)

Chinotimba: Ndati unoti here iwewe vakatora andapeni yako iinvasion? (I said is it an invasion if you take your underpant back?)

Gonda: Mr Chinotimba, is this how things should be done?

Chinotimba: Ndataura nyaya yeandapeni kuti unyatso kunzwisisa handiti. (I referred to the underpant so that you would understand.)

Gonda: Is this how things should be done, that you just go and grab peoples’ properties without following the law?

Chinotimba: Is this how the people can do when they go to Iraq and invade Iraq, taking oyiris (oils) and fuwero (fuel) of the peoples of Iraq, going with it to the London-based people. Is this the way we can do? You are not talking about Iraq people!

Gonda: Mr Chinotimba…(interrupted)

Chinotimba: Hey, shut up. You can answer, don’t continue talking, can you answer my question?

Gonda: I do not speak on behalf of the British government. Handisi (I am not) British, I do not speak on behalf of their policies and we are talking about what is happening in Zimbabwe not what is happening in Iraq.

Chinotimba: I’m very, very, very glad if you can answer me because you are not in Zimbabwe, you are in UK, where you are always talking to the UK people or talking to the white people. Have you ever asked them why you go to Iraq and fight?

Gonda: Mr Chinotimba, why did you disrupt the constitution conference early this month?

Chinotimba: No, you are now talking about things to which I am not asking. I think you want me to provoke you? Ah, ah you are a mistaken lady. Thank you very much. See you in Zimbabwe.

Gonda: Do you think it’s mature for an adult to stand on a table and start singing and dancing while the Speaker of Parliament is trying to address delegates at a constitutional conference?

Chinotimba: Which Speaker of Parliament are you talking about hey? Have you ever seen me in the television talking about such things? Have you ever seen me pictures, no man, have you ever seen me, my pictures?

Gonda: You were seen by delegates, you were seen by delegates, even officials like Trudy Stevenson say they saw you dancing, leading the disruption at the constitutional conference.

Chinotimba: You heard by Stevenson?

Gonda: And many other delegates who were there.

Chinotimba: Where were she when I was dancing? Maybe we were dancing together because it’s a lady. If I was dancing, I cannot dance without a music then. If there was a music so we were dancing together with Stevenson. It is better if she was a good lady, maybe I was going to marry her because she was dancing also. Iko zvinoizvi takungoona mapounds ne maUS ari kuno. (Now we lots of British Pounds and US dollars here.)

Takungodya zvakanaka eating together with Tsvangirai and iwewe unongopembereka uri ikoko. (Now we are eating well, eating with Tsvangirai while you are in the wilderness there.) Why didn’t you ask kuti Tsvangirai why are you eating alongside Chinotimba? If I have done something bad, I’m eating together, drinking tea together, chatting together but you are still talking nonsense while you are in UK.

Gonda: That’s why muri kuwasuwa vanhu vacho vekwaTsvangirai $19.5m nekuti muri kufarirana? (So is that why are suing Tsvangirai’s people; because you are happy together?)

Chinotimba: Iwo havana kusuwa, zvevaka suwa nenyaya yejeri  yaJestina Mukoko tirikudawo 19.5, yakadini kuvabvunza kuti munovasuwireyi vanhu veZanu-PF? Zvarwadza iwewe nhasi? (Haven’t they also sued? When they sued for 19.5 over the detention of Jestina Mukoko why did you not ask why they were suing Zanu-PF. But today it is painful to you?)

Gonda: Saka ndizvo zvemurikuzviitira here kuti just because Jestina Mukoko ari kuita sue, mukati regayi muretaliate? (So is that why you are doing it? Just because Jestina is suing so you are now retaliating?)

Chinotimba: Aiwa kubvunza. (I am just asking.) Ndino bvunza iwe uri kongo taura nezveMDC kusisina zveMDC kune inclusive government. (I must ask why you keep on asking about the MDC when the MDC is no more; now we have the inclusive government.) Hameno hako urikubvudza ani. (I don’t know to whom your questions are directed.)

Gonda: Imimi ndimi mati did I ask them when Jestina Mukoko … (interrupted) (It is you who said did I ask when Jestina Mukoko…(Interrupted))

Chinotimba: Iwe ndiwe wati muri kusuwa vanhu ma$19.5 ndikati iyazve vakushamisika ne19.5 ko yemarimwe zuro wakambovabvunzawo here? (It is you who said we are suing people for $19.5 and I said, hold on, you are surprised by this 19.5, how about the 19.5 two days ago, did you ever ask them?)

Gonda: Ipi yacho? (Which one?) Is Jestina Mukoko …(interrupted)

Chinotimba: Ma19.5 yaslogan hausikuzviziya here? (Meaning not clear.)

Gonda: Is Jestina Mukoko MDC?

Chinotimba: Ya slogan ma19.5, ya slogan! (Meaning not clear.)

Gonda: You brought in issue yaJestina Mukoko, is she from the MDC?

Chinotimba: I slogan! I slogan! (It is a slogan. It is a slogan.( Yakangofanana nekuti Chinotimba mudenga mudenga bwaaa – mechisumudza Chinotimba muAIR whether Chinotimba is not there. (It is the same as throwing Chinotimba into the air, whether Chinotimba is not there.) It’s a slogan!

Gonda: Iyo icell-phone yepi inoita $19.5m? (What kind of cellphone would be valued at &19.5 million?)

Chinotimba: Serefoni ipi? Yaka kurwadzaka? Murume vako here aka suwiwa? Iwo vakasuwiwa igirlfriend yako, iboyfriend yako? (What cellphone? You are really upset over this cellphone, aren’t you? Is it your husband who was sued? Is he your girlfriend, is he your boyfriend?)

Gonda: Aiwaka, ndiri kubvunza kuti realistically do you think 19.5…(interrupted) (No, but I am asking realistically; do you think….)

Chinotimba: Aiwa ndiri kubvunza kuti iboyfriend yako here? (I am also asking whether he is your boyfriend.) Zvakakurwadza here? (It must have been painful to you.)

Gonda: Kutaura kwenyu kurinormal here? Zvekuti boyfriend zvabva nepi? (Is your language normal. How come you are now talking about boyfriends?) How can you say that?

Chinotimba: Aiwa, inini ndiri kubvunza kuti zvakakurwadza here. Asi iboyfriend yako here? (No, I am only merely asking whether you are upset. Is he your boyfriend?)  I’m not saying it’s your boyfriend.

Gonda: Mr Chinotimba, I’m a journalist.

Chinotimba: Matiyi? (Come again.)

Gonda: …this is my job, I ask such questions so you can’t say because I’m asking these questions then ‘is he my boyfriend?’

Chinotimba: You are asking me nonsense things. Ende iwewo futi ka…(And you…)

Gonda: Can I finish?

Chinotimba: Terera uoneka. Hauna rudo. Instead yekuti nemadambudziko ikoko kuZimbabwe Vice President Msika ashaya, you are talking nonsense. Hey? Indava usina kukwana iwewe usikazivi kubata maoko vanhu vekumusha kwako? (inaudible) (You listen. You have no love in your heart. Instead of paying condolences to us here back in Zimbabwe over the death of Vice President Msika, you are talking nonsense. There is something wrong with you, you don’t send a message of condolences to you people back at home.)

Gonda: VaChinotimba nematambudziko Vice President akashaika. (Mr Chinotimba, please accept on the passing away of the Vice President.)

Chinotimba: Ha, ha, ha. Thank you very much.

Gonda: OK, thank you very much Mr Chinotimba.

Chinotimba: Thank you Sisi, by the way, who am I speaking to, journalist who?

Gonda: Ah, after talking for 20 minutes, now you want to know my name? Why didn’t you ask that at the beginning?

Chinotimba: Definitely, because you know my name and you are laughing, you are also very happy to talk of me. Maybe you’d never talked with me?

Gonda: No. we’ve talked before.

Chinotimba: We’ve talked before?

Gonda: Yes.

Chinotimba: And you told me your name?

Gonda: Yes and even at the beginning of the interview I told you my name.

Chinotimba: (chuckles) Ha, ha, ha, ha, I forget anyway. Can you tell me?

Gonda: ( Laughs)I don’t think you’ve forgotten vaChinotimba munozviziwa. (You know that, Mr Chinotimba.)

Chinotimba: (laughing) Handizvizivi ,nditaurirewo kani. (I don’t know, please tell me.)

Feedback can be sent to violet@swradioafrica.com