Zimbabwe passes law to monitor phones, mail

Reuters

Fri 3 Aug 2007, 14:57 GMT

By Nelson Banya

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has signed into law an
act enabling state security agents to monitor phone lines, mail and the
Internet, a government notice published on Friday said.

Officials have said the new law is designed to protect national security and
prevent crime, but human rights groups fear it will muzzle free speech under
a crackdown on dissent.

In the government notice, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet
Misheck Sibanda said Mugabe had agreed to the Interception of Communications
Act, which was approved by both houses of Zimbabwe's parliament in June.

The law gives police and the departments of national security, defence
intelligence and revenue powers to order the interception of communications
and provides for the creation of a monitoring centre.

Postal, telecommunications and internet service providers will be required
to ensure that their "systems are technically capable of supporting lawful
interceptions at all times".

Critics have said the law is a government ploy to keep tabs on the
opposition at a time when political tensions are mounting and Mugabe is
deflecting growing criticism from Western powers.

Zimbabwe is suffering a severe economic crisis, marked by the world's
highest inflation rate, 80 percent unemployment and persistent food, fuel
and foreign currency shortages.

The southern African country, once viewed as a regional bread basket, cannot
feed itself and faces severe shortages of basic consumer goods after a
government-ordered price freeze in June that has emptied shop shelves.

Mugabe -- Zimbabwe's ruler since independence from Britain in 1980 -- denies
controversial policies such as the seizure of white-owned farms to resettle
landless blacks have ruined the economy, and blames Western sanctions for
the economic turmoil.

Southern African nations deny Zimbabwe mediation failing

Reuters

Fri 3 Aug 2007, 5:24 GMT

By Moabi Phia

GABORONE (Reuters) - The Southern African Development Community (SADC)
denied on Thursday its efforts to end a political and economic crisis in
Zimbabwe were crumbling.

"This is a process and a very delicate one," SADC secretary general Tomaz
Salomao told a news conference in Botswana's capital. "If you have a problem
in one meeting, you cannot say that the whole process has failed."

Leaders of SADC's 14 nations delegated South African President Thabo Mbeki
in March to mediate talks between Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party and the
main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The move followed a crackdown on MDC activists which sparked international
outrage and renewed calls on African nations to pressure President Robert
Mugabe to agree to political reforms.

Despite a media blackout on the talks, there are reports that South African
negotiators have struggled to get ZANU-PF representatives and the MDC to
agree on anything of substance in the past five months.

Mbeki will report on the progress of the talks this month at a SADC summit
in Lusaka, South Africa's Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad told a separate
press conference in Pretoria.

Scrutiny of the talks has intensified in the wake of a growing refugee
crisis.

Thousands of Zimbabweans are crossing daily into South Africa, legally and
illegally, to buy food and look for work. The influx has raised fears that
South Africa, the continent's economic powerhouse, will be overwhelmed.

Zimbabwe is struggling with official inflation of about 5,000 percent,
soaring poverty, 80 percent unemployment and chronic shortages of food, fuel
and foreign exchange.

Salomao said SADC was preparing to recommend that fertiliser, fuel and other
energy supplies be supplied to the southern African nation to ease the
crisis. He did not give further details of the proposal.

Zimbabweans stockpile food ahead of new Mugabe clamp

Business Day

03 August 2007

John Kaninda

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Diplomatic Editor

THE panic buying of groceries by Zimbabweans has led to a drastic increase
in transactions in the past six weeks, as they continue filling up cars and
buses with basic products ahead of the introduction on Wednesday of new
import permits by President Robert Mugabe, according to food retailers at
the border town of Musina .

The new permit system will allow Zimbabweans shopping in SA to take with
them groceries worth not more than $300, the excess being subjected to
taxes. Apprehension has grown among Zimbabweans over the past few weeks as
many felt the new regulations would not allow them to buy as many groceries
as needed.

Pieter Koekemoer, manager of Musina Super Spar, said transactions had
increased more than 20% over the previous months and this was an indication
that "more people were coming through the border".

"The basket value of transactions per person - the amount people allocate to
the purchase of goods - has increased by about 50%, reaching between R67 to
R75 from previous levels of R45 to R50," he said. "Contrary to what one
might think, people just don't buy basic goods but purchase across a range
of products."

Koekemoer said the real effect of the import permits would be assessed this
weekend .

Meanwhile, the food crisis in Zimbabwe has caused a change in purchasing
patterns among Zimbabweans and that has hurt household appliances
wholesalers. Businessman Jason Rana said those retailers had seen their
turnover plummet as much as 40%.

" The only ones benefiting from the Zimbabwean crisis are filling stations
and supermarkets. Who would buy appliances or luxury items in a time like
this?" He also blamed the price blitz launched recently for the reluctance
by Zimbabwean traders to buy stock . "This caused a negative chain reaction
from (Zimbabwean) wholesalers to (South African) suppliers," Rana said.

At the border post of Beit Bridge, one Zimbabwean trader told Business Day
that people were afraid to take too many goods across the border and that
they were prepared to wait and see how the implementation of the new import
regulations would be handled before risking resuming business .

Bulawayo runs dry amid fears of disease outbreak

By Tichaona Sibanda
3 August

The former governor of Matebeleland north Welshman Mabhena has described the
critical water situation in Bulawayo as 'dangerous' and potentially
catastrophic.

Some parts of Bulawayo, the country's second largest city, have been without
water for the last five days. Authorities in the city on Thursday issued a
warning of a serious potential outbreak of disease after a week without a
drop of water. This is the first time in the city's history that such a
health warning has been issued.

Mabhena said ever since he was born 80 years ago he has never experienced
such a serious water shortage as that currently sweeping through the city.
In other areas of Bulawayo, residents are getting water for only seven
hours, after every two days. The city council has been advising people to
fill their containers and cover them up. Most of the city's major dams have
dried up.

'We are living in fear because if there is any disease that breaks out now,
we will all die like flies. Ever since government took over the running of
water from city councils, everything just started crumbling,' Mabhena said.

When the last of the five dams was completed in the city in 1979, Bulawayo
had a population of around 250,000 and the City Council could manage the
needs of residents and factories. Now the city has a population of 1,5
million people and the same five dams cannot cope with the requirements of
the residents. Mabhena put the blame squarely on the Zanu (PF) led
government.

'In the next coming months Mugabe and his ministers will come and lie to us
that plans are at an advanced stage to draw water from the Matebeleland
Zambezi Water Project to alleviate the water shortages in the city. These
people have been lying to us since Independence,' said Mabhena.

The project, a long held plan to tap water from the Zambezi River, was
mooted way back in 1912. It involves the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani
dam and a 450-kilometre pipeline from the Zambezi River to bring water to
Bulawayo and surrounding areas.

In Harare there are many reports of taps running dry, even though the city's
main supply dams are more than 60 percent full, according to figures from
the Zimbabwe National Water Authority.

With more than half of Harare's three million inhabitants now experiencing
water shortages, residents were resorting to desperate measures to find
supplies. The capital city has experienced intermittent water shortages for
the last two years, due mainly to poor management and ageing infrastructure.

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news

"Overzealous" police impound food aid

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs -
Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)

Date: 03 Aug 2007

HARARE, 3 August 2007 (IRIN) - Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
distributing food aid are being forced to negotiate with the Zimbabwean
government after "sporadic" incidents in which security forces impounded
relief destined for drought-stricken areas.

"So far, incidents of the interception of food aid being distributed by NGOs
can be described as 'sporadic', and we will become more worried if they
become persistent," Cephas Zinhumwe, chief executive officer of the National
Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO), told IRIN.

"Individual NGOs such as Care International and NANGO have been, and are
still, engaged in initiatives to rectify the issue with the government, to
facilitate the uninterrupted activities of relief agencies," he said.

Zinhumwe cited two recent incidents in Masvingo Province, in the south, and
the Rushinga district of Mashonaland Central Province, in the north, where
the police intercepted relief shipments being transported by NGOs. The names
of the affected NGOs were not disclosed.

He said the police had accused the NGOs of attempting to use relief
consignments as a way of influencing voters against President Robert
Mugabe's ZANU-PF government ahead of next year's presidential and
parliamentary elections.

Mashonaland Central is a ZANU-PF stronghold, where party militias regard
strangers with suspicion and police allegedly turn a blind eye to complaints
of harassment by party loyalists.

The police were overzealous in impounding relief supplies, Zinhumwe said,
"but we were heartened by the intervention of the local members of
parliament", who, after being approached by NGOs for assistance, ensured
that the aid was released.

Zinhumwe said NANGO had dispatched a monitoring team to observe the
conditions NGOs were working under, and were awaiting a report on whether
other humanitarian organisations had been constrained from operating freely.

"It would be wrong to intercept food aid, considering that the country is
currently reeling under poverty and most areas that were affected by last
year's poor harvests are facing starvation," he said.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP)
issued a joint report on Zimbabwe's food security in June, in which they
predicted that "people at risk will peak at 4.1 million in the first three
months of 2008 - more than a third of Zimbabwe's estimated population of
11.8 million."

The WFP assists about 300,000 people a month with food aid, and made an
urgent appeal on Wednesday for a further US$118 million to provide 3.3
million people with food assistance from November 2007 to March 2008.

Food aid has been a contentious issue in Zimbabwe for a number of years. The
government has accused humanitarian organisations of collaborating with
local opposition parties and of being the intermediaries of Western
countries opposed to ZANU-PF policies, particularly the former colonial
power, Britain, while NGOs and government critics have retorted that ZANU-PF
has used food aid as blackmail to extort votes from the electorate.

Lovemore Matombo, president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU),
told IRIN, "It is immoral for the government to force NGOs to be accountable
to it when distributing much-needed relief. The government is incapable of
feeding its own people, and what legitimate role does it have in presiding
over the work of professional NGOs?"

[END]

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or
its agencies.

Senior Army Officers Causing Havoc On Farms

SW Radio Africa (London)

3 August 2007
Posted to the web 3 August 2007

Lance Guma

The unbalanced wife of the army general, Jocelyn Chiwenga, on Wednesday
revealed in an outburst what many in Mugabe's regime are unwilling to admit
publicly - the army is in charge. Remaining white commercial farmers are
learning this the hard way, with official after official from the army
abusing their position and harassing several who have braved the chaos to
remain on their farms.

In Manicaland province, soldiers allegedly taking orders from a
brigadier-general who illegally grabbed a farm there in February, are
defying an order from Vice President Joseph Msika to vacate a property. The
farm owner Charles Lock secured a High Court order in his favour but the
police who went to effect it were sent packing by the soldiers who are now
guarding the farm. So Karoi Farm in Headlands is now occupied by Brigadier
General Mujaji.

The farmer has sought intervention from his MP and security Minister Didymus
Mutasa. All Mutasa did was refer the matter to Provincial Governor Tinaye
Chigudu, who simply forwarded it to Msika. All this has come to nothing
since the soldiers have stayed put. Court documents show that the Brigadier
has 'cocked his weapon' each time the police have come. The Vice President
has contradicted his counterparts by saying 'The policy document (on land)
didn't say all white farmers should be chased out. I am not a racist and I
refuse to be racist.'

In another farming area an army general has also decided to take the law
into his own hands, ordering the white farms owners out while personally
throwing out their furniture from the house. The terrified family were held
hostage for nearly an hour before being allowed to pack their things using a
friend's truck. Its thought Mugabe is trying to involve the army as part of
a 'command agriculture' programme. Inspiration for the idea is thought to
have come from China where the army plays a major role in agriculture and
industry. Another possible motive is the consolidation of power through
rewarding his cronies in the military and security services.

In the ongoing pricing crackdown on the business community soldiers are
being deployed as enforcers, with some accused of buying goods themselves
and hoarding them. Senior army personnel are milking the chaos and making a
fortune. A price monitoring team last month bumped into a 30 tonne
consignment of cement being hoarded by former army general Vitalis
Zvinavashe in Harare. Reports say they were simply told to leave, which they
did. Police spokesman Oliver Mandipaka tried to gloss over the embarrassing
double standards by claiming everything regarding the cement incident was in
order.

MDC 'petrol bombers' to sue Zimbabwe police

Zim Online

Saturday 04 August 2007

By Patricia Mpofu

HARARE - Lawyers representing opposition Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) activists who were accused of petrol bombing police stations earlier
this year will next week file a Z$500 billion lawsuit against the police for
wrongful arrest and detention, ZimOnline has learnt.

Alec Muchadehama, who is representing the MDC activists, told ZimOnline
yesterday that they had already set in motion the process to sue the police
over the illegal detention.

The MDC activists were arrested last March for allegedly spearheading the
petrol bombing of police stations and other state institutions. All but two
of the activists have since been set free.

The state case against the opposition activists collapsed in dramatic
fashion last month after High Court judge Lawrence Kamocha released 13 of
the MDC activists who included Glen View legislator Paul Madzore.

Kamocha accused the police of fabricating an elaborate story about a
non-existent South African farm where the MDC had been trained for
insurgency purposes.

The MDC had denied that its activists were involved in acts of terrorism
insisting that the Harare authorities had made up the charges to crack down
on the resurgent opposition.

In setting free 13 of the MDC activists, Kamocha also accused the police of
creating fictional witnesses in a desperate attempt to link the MDC
activists to terrorism.

Part of the judgment read: "The police had alleged that the applicants had
trained at a farm known a Lala Bundu Farm. When challenged to show on the
map where Lala Bundu Farm was, they failed to do so. It turned out to be a
non-existent farm."

Muchadehama said it was on the basis of Kamocha's judgment that some of his
clients had instructed him to sue the police.

"We are working on suing the police," said Muchadehama.

"There is a strong case of wrongful arrest and detention. Some of the guys
spent more than 60 days in custody for crimes they did not commit.

"We are currently working on the figures and by the present calculations the
lawsuit will be in the region of over $500 billion," he added.

Muchadehama said they had intended to lodge the papers with the High Court
on Friday but could not do so due to the massive paperwork involved in the
case.

The lawsuit would be the second multi-billion lawsuit filed by the MDC after
the party earlier this filed a Z$504 billion suit against the police for
disrupting a High Court sanctioned-opposition party's rally in Highfield
last February. - ZimOnline

Weep for Zimbabwe

New Vision, Uganda

Friday, 3rd August, 2007

By John Nagenda

WHAT is going on inside President Robert Mugabe's head, he of the destroyed
nation of Zimbabwe, with himself, of course, as Destroyer in Chief? I have
spent countless hours of agonised argument on this one; some people saying
he is bad, others that he is mad, yet others that he is both and more.

You approach the subject invariably with a sinking feeling, and fully aware
that nothing about this poor country will currently make your spirits rise.

And if this is the case a thousand and more miles from the eye of the storm,
you can only weep for those on the spot. And how are they to be rid of this
baleful Presence which plays so capriciously and recklessly with their very
lives? It is deeply depressing to revisit this subject, of which I have
written so many times, and to know how to pitch it.

For a start I am not even Zimbabwean, nor have I ever visited that by all
accounts beautiful country; nor will I go during this cruel man's demonic
rule. So, what right do I have to pontificate about it? The still, sad music
of humanity, as the poet Wordsworth put it. Second, I hate undressing a
fellow African in front of outsiders who will as usual jump at the slightest
chance to show that Africans, Blacks, are in every way short of the full
packet. I can imagine, for example, ex-Rhodesian Premier Ian Smith letting
out a demented cackle and saying to the world: "Didn't I tell you so?"

Ouch! And, shame on him, Mugabe has mistreated his own Black brothers and
sisters far more than, for example, the more publicised White farmers. For
this he deserves, ironically, the fervent praise of the old racists like Ian
Smith. (Not that Mugabe was right to persecute the Whites!) Hang your head,
Robert Mugabe!

Of course, like the rest of humanity, Brother Mugabe is a creature of
history: he is who he is because of what happened before. But unlike the
huge majority of mankind, he has been in the Number One position to better
Zimbabwe's lot.

He had played a major part in ridding his country of its rabid
pre-independence bigots. He was rightly an African hero; perhaps a degree
below the biggest, such as Mandela, Nkrumah, Kenyatta, Nyerere and, in a
different fashion, Senghor. Now Mugabe has all but squandered that legacy.

It must amaze those who were not around at his greatest hours that he can
even be mentioned in the same breath as those giants. Of course he and
Zimbabwe were badly let down by their British ex-Masters; of that there
cannot be the slightest doubt. They promised funds for buying out those
foreign farmers who preferred to leave, and sometimes even those who didn't.
For from the time the Whiteman had first stepped on Zimbabwe soil, the huge
bulk of it had been denied to the African.

It was Mugabe's duty and stated promise to rectify this wrong-in-the-bone
issue expeditiously. This was well known, and "Great" Britain, following its
own plans, duly did its dirty deed. It put Mugabe in an extremely difficult
position, and certainly accelerated his moral decay.

For that's what it is. Now even the most flawed of individuals from that
brutal time when extreme racism was at the head of affairs will turn round
and say that no matter how much funding would have been given, Mugabe would
have squandered it on frolics of his own. And the shame of it is that he can't
prove otherwise.

And who would easily believe him anyway, having seen the despotic way in
which he has treated, and continues to treat, and will do so to his dying
day, his own people? In whose interest he is demented enough to insultingly
say he is acting!

Some years ago, this column, on its bended knee, prayed to Almighty God to
take Mugabe to His better chambers. Or, in plainer words, to remove him from
the scene of his crimes! It can be put plainer still, but this is a family
paper! In any event God in "His mysterious ways His wonders to perform" did
not succumb to the prayer.

Perhaps He thought it wiser that Zimbabweans of conviction should do what it
takes; the better to sustain the result. Hunters enjoy even more the meat
they have killed by the strength of their arm. However done, "'t were better
it were done quickly". Zimbabweans and their country deserve nothing less.
Their Man of Tyranny deserves what Fate will bring!
**************
Elsewhere in our troubled continent (but of which region worldwide cannot
the same be said) it was interesting to hear that African states had
promised to form the majority of the 26,000-strong joint AU-UN peace force
to Darfur. Wry smiles are in order when recalling that of the 8,000 promised
for Mogadishu, only Uganda's 1,600 are in place. Heigh ho!

The composition of the Darfur force will also be interesting: it might well
come face to face with pro-Khartoum Arab militias accused of war crimes
against Black Africans in the region. Somehow it seems unlikely that Arabic
states will form part of the Darfur effort! But let us end upbeat.

Yesterday's picture of President Binaisa's warm and warming smile as he sat
in his new limo, no less than a super-duper Landcruiser VX, courtesy of the
Uganda government, will be my happy image of the week. Now, how does your
humble columnist wrangle a ride?

Assault of journalist

Crisis Coalition deplores the assault of Journalist by Amry Commander's
Wife!

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition deplores the assault of Tsvangirai Mukwazhi at
Macro Wholesalers by the Jocelyn Chivengwa, the wife of the Zimbabwe Defence
forces (ZDF) Commander, Constantine Chiwenga on flimsy accusations that the
journalist was working in cahoots with the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) president Morgan Tsvangirai and the west to author a regime change
agenda in the country.
Mukwazhi's was assaulted while covering the tour by the MDC president who
was assessing the impact of the state declared warfare on the business
community, which started in July 2007. President Robert Mugabe stated the
government's declaration of intent at hero's acre, which was picked up by
the cabinet and turned into policy. The government went on to slash prices
by 75% which became unviable for the business to cobntinue production at
lose making margins. This led to the shortage of basic commodities in the
retail and wholesale shops which the MDC leader was assessing.

The MDC leaders also received a barrage of verbal insults. He was being
accused of working with the west in crafting the hardships bedeviling the
country. Chiwenga also accused Tsvangirai of creating the incumbent
shortages which have engulfed the nation. She also threatened to beat up the
opposition leader.
Mkwazhi was slapped countless times by the marauding Mrs Chiwenga,
threatening that she was going to invite trucks of soldiers to siege the
building and unleash terror. In 2003, the militant Jocelyn run berserk in
the high density suburb of Budiriro when she thumped Gugulethu Moyo and
Philemon Bulawayo Legal advisor and photographer of the banned The Daily
News respectively. She beat them up severely that they had to seek medical
attention. "Your paper wants to encourage anarchy in this country," the
ambitious Chiwenga shouted as she punched and slapped them.

The Coalition calls upon the government to respect the rights of Journalists
and the media whose duties include performing the fourth estate function in
any given state. Moreso, Chiwenga's wings must be clipped and refrained from
inflicting terror to civilians with impunity. Everyone must be equal under
the law irrespective of their social, political and economic standing in the
society.

We therefore call upon the police to execute their professional duties and
arrest Chiwenga on charges of public violence. The police have got a
constitutional duty to protect civilians from law breakers like Jocelyn
Chiwenga.

In solidarity with The Save Zimbabwe Campaign

".We will not brook any protests , any attempt to cause problems. those who
want to rebel and cause lawlessness will be beaten to the ground like they
have never been beaten. if that is Hitler, then let me be Hitler tenfold.
Ten times. That's what we stand for."

Robert Mugabe 2002 cited in Martin Meredith (2006)

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition celebrates the first anniversary of The
Save Zimbabwe Campaign (SZC). The campaign remains a fundamental and
critical platform in the fight for democracy in Zimbabwe. It is with this in
mind that we join SZC in commemorating the tremendous work by the campaign
in the past year.

Since the historic July 29, 2006 inaugural convention, the campaign has
worked tirelessly in providing a unified platform towards the confrontation
of the deep rooted national crisis which is by and large attributed to the
crisis of governance and legitimacy.

The SZC has withered the suffocating environment Zimbabweans are operating
under. It has never been easy to operationalise its activities under a legal
framework being sustained by nefarious legislative pieces such as the Access
to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA); the Public Order and
Security Act (POSA) among others.

The road has been punctuated by abductions, detentions and torture on the
leaders of the campaign as happened on the March 11, 2007 prayer rally which
turned out to be bloody. It was on that fateful day that the nation lost a
national hero, Gift Tandare, who was shot by the police in Highfields.

The work of the SZC is commendable, especially when dealing with a
government which is afraid of its shadows, more so when operating in an
environment that is littered with skeletons of banned newspapers, the
rampant torture of human rights activists and the murder of those perceived
to be critical to the establishment.

Irrespective of the state brutality against The Save Zimbabwe Campaigners on
the 11th of March 2007, the campaign has soldiered and continues to display
a spirited fight towards ending repressive rule in the country.

We call upon the Save Zimbabwe Campaigners to remain resolute and bold in
their effort to address the national crisis. We maintain that the trenches
have failed to turn into graves for the campaign, but rather have
strengthened the campaign's resolve.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition is a conglomeration of civil society
organizations whose vision is a democratic Zimbabwe. Email:
info@crisis.co.zw Website: www.crisis.org.zw

Portugal looking for London-Harare compromise

Portugal News online

4/8/2007
Britain is the only European partner objecting to the possible presence of
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe at the planned Europe-Africa summit in
Lisbon and the Portuguese EU presidency is working to find a "comfortable"
solution for the controversy, says a senior Portuguese diplomat.

"The United Kingdom has raised the issue in one way or another and we are
trying to find a solution that can satisfy the parties involved and overcome
this question", Lisbon's state secretary for foreign affairs, Manuel Lobo
Antunes, said last week, after talks in London with his British counterpart,
Jim Murphy.
"We are making every effort, taking every diplomatic action possible, to
answer the concerns that are involved with this issue", Lobo Antunes told
Lusa, adding that as far as he knew London was the only EU capital objecting
to Mugabe's eventual participation in the two-continent summit planned for
December in the Portuguese capital.
The African Union's official stance has been that the EU can not determine
Africa's participation at the event.
Lobo Antunes said the Lisbon EU presidency maintained a "very frequent and
constructive dialogue" over the matter that threatens to overshadow "such
and important and ambitious" initiative.
Britain's refusal to lift EU travel sanctions against Mugabe temporarily in
2003 aborted Portugal's last attempt to host an EU-African Union summit.
As EU president in 2000, Portugal sponsored the first such summit in Cairo
in 2000.
Earlier, Lobo Antunes referred to the summit controversy involving the
Harare regime in a speech at London's Chatham House international relations
think-tank.
Arguing that Europe needed regular, institutionalized relations with Africa,
as it has with Latin America, he said the EU lacked a global strategy for
ties to Africa, one that would involve a "global agenda", including
cooperation on pandemics, security, terrorism, immigration, energy, climate
change and agriculture.
Lamenting the fact seven years had passed since a follow-up Europe-Africa
summit, Lobo Antunes appealed for "creative diplomacy" to resolve obstacles
over Zimbabwe's participation with a view to finding a "comfortable solution
for all".
The recently renewed years-old EU sanctions against the Mugabe regime were
imposed in reaction to Harare's deteriorating record on human and political
rights.
In a related story, it has been revealed that the editor of the internet
news agency ZimOnline, Abel Mutsakani, is in a serious condition after being
shot execution-style outside his house in Johannesburg.
The 41-year old Zimbabwean journalist was director of the Daily News, which
was banned in 2003 by President Mugabe.

Zimbabwe Private Sector Launches Intervention To Revive Health Care

VOA

By Ndimyake Mwakalyelye
Washington
03 August 2007

The virtual collapse of the health delivery care system in Zimbabwe has
prompted the private medical and corporate sectors to launch a trust to fill
the gap and help rebuild the country's strapped, understaffed and badly
dilapidated treatment system.

The Zimbabwe Health Access Trust, launched this week in Harare, aims to
raise funds from the diaspora in South Africa, the United Kingdom and other
countries to channel monies into bank accounts to ensure their families can
receive the care they need.

Trust members include Zimbabwe Medical Association President Paul Chimedza,
who is chairman of the organization, Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce
President Marah Hativagone, Zimbabwe Pharmaceutical Company Chief Joselyn
Chaibva and Mighty Movies Chief Executive Officer Supa Mandiwanzira.

Chimedza told reporter Ndimyake Mwakalyelye of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe
that after five years offering free treatment in community clinics with
donated drugs and facilities, he and colleagues realized that there were
major gaps to be filled.

Catholic Hospitals Burdened As Public Health Services Collapse

Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)

3 August 2007
Posted to the web 3 August 2007

Harare

The health situation in Zimbabwe is desperate, according to the Catholic
Health Association of Southern Africa, CATHCA.

The government health system has broken down, resulting in Church hospitals
and clinics being overburdened with patients.

There are problems of "very little electricity supply, little water, lack of
medicines, lack of staff, and lack of some of the basics such as bed linen,
gloves and syringes," the association said.

CATHCA director Tom Smith paid a brief visit to Zimbabwe July 25-27 to find
out the state of health care in the Catholic hospitals and clinics, given
the current economic and political crisis in the country.

He was hosted by the Zimbabwe Jesuits and by Sr. Yullita Chirawu, who
coordinates health for the Major Religious Superiors of Zimbabwe. The short
time did not allow for more than a brief visit to one hospital at Mt. St.
Mary's Mission in Wedza, and a meeting with the diocesan health coordinators
in Harare on Friday July, 27.

Smith also met Vuyelwa Chitimbire, Director of the Zimbabwe Association of
Church-related hospitals, or ZACH.

CATHCA said "in general the situation can be described as desperate, with
the government health system breaking down, and church hospitals and clinics
being overburdened with patients as a result."

The CATHCA director has pledged to initiate a publicity campaign with
requests for people to supply help in whatever way they can.

Meanwhile the United Nations World Food Programme on Wednesday appealed for
$118 million to assist over three million Zimbabweans facing severe food
shortages caused by a poor harvest and worsening economic turmoil in the
southern African nation.

"Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans are already starting to run out of
food and several million more will be reliant on humanitarian assistance by
the end of the year," stated WFP's Regional Director for Southern Africa,
Amir Abdulla.

Mugabe turns his fury on journalists

Zimbabwe Today

 Reporters who write for foreign media will be 'eliminated' says secret CIO
memo

A secret memo, emanating from Magnet House in Bulawayo, local office of the
feared Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), and seen by me this week,
states that 25 local journalists suspected of supplying stories to foreign
media will be 'eliminated' by the end of the year.

The three page memo, titled "25 journalists: Enemies of the State",  is
written by a CIO officer called Edward Chiromo, and is addressed to CIO
director general Happyton Bonyongwe.

Chiromo tells his boss: "Troublesome journalists should be dealt with before
the year ends. As per your instructions in June, we have managed to identify
25 Bulawayo based journalists who are corresponding with the international
press, particularly South Africa and United Kingdom media.

"The operatives on the ground are set to close in on the journalists soon
and eliminate them one by one without fail."

He goes on to say that a climate of fear should be instilled in every
journalists, until none will dare send their stories abroad when the
elections are held next March.

The memo makes clear that when it uses the word "eliminate" it means kill.
Already this year a television cameraman, Edwared Chikomba, is believed to
have been murdered by CIO operatives for supplying video clips of opposition
leader Morgan Tsvangirai being beaten to foreign media.

Last week Abel Mustakane, an on-line editor and a noted opponent of the
Mugabe regime, who is now based in South Africa, was shot outside his home
in Johannesburg.

Amongst the names of the 25 listed in the memo are, surprisingly, ten who
work in the state media.  Chiromo says the task of eliminating all 25 will
be easy, as "we have their home addresses and we know where each one of them
hangs out."

Asked for his reaction to the memo, Information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu
said he would have no regrets if "silly journalists are brought to book. We
have told you to be patriotic."

I also spoke to one of the journalists on the list. Gerald Dube told me he
is not scared. "There have been countless such lists in the past. The best
they have managed to do is beat us up. The only thing this list will do is
toughen us."

Brave words. Doubtless Dube, a dedicated man, means them. Nevertheless this
remains a time, perhaps, to pray for every free-thinking, free-reporting
journalist in Zimbabwe.

Posted on Friday, 03 August 2007

Zimbabwean musicians struggle to play on in face of political and economic crisis

Sign on San Diego

By Amy Jeffries
ASSOCIATED PRESS

7:36 a.m. August 3, 2007

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - Before the onset of Zimbabwe's economic
and political crisis, the southern African country was not only the regional
bread basket, but a cultural center that boasted a renowned literary
tradition and a vibrant music scene.
Now, many of its national treasures like author Chenjerai Hove and
chimurenga musician Thomas Mapfumo are now living abroad. Singer-songwriter
Oliver Mtukudzi still calls Zimbabwe home but his songs have been struck
from radio playlists and his production company cannot raise enough foreign
currency to release his latest album in the country.

 There are fears that if Zimbabwe's decline continues its great
cultural assets could disappear like bread from the shelves.
"I think that one day Zimbabwe will be considered a country without
musicians," says Martin Sibanda, the lead vocalist of the group Ndolwane
Supersounds.

Zimbabwe is a country facing economic and political ruin. It's crisis
began after President Robert Mugabe ordered the seizures of thousands of
white-owned farms in 2000, disrupting the agriculture-based economy. Now,
unemployment is around 80 percent, and political unrest is high. Foreign
investment, loans and development aid have dried up.

The nation has the highest inflation rate in the world, now officially
estimated at 4,500 percent, though unofficial estimates put it closer to
9,000 percent. Government ordered price cuts have seen basic staples
disappear from stores in the last several weeks. With bans on public
gatherings and demonstrations dissent has been all but outlawed.

Downtown Johannesburg is swollen with refugees fleeing the economic
collapse across the border. An estimated 2 million to 3 million Zimbabweans
have immigrated to South Africa since the downturn began.

The a capella group Abanqobi Bomhlaba, which sings in the style made
internationally famous by the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo,
came to South Africa with hopes of taking advantage of freedom of speech
here and preserving their music.

Back home in Zimbabwe, it won national competitions and all 11 members
were employed as full-time musicians.Here in South Africa, one is a chef,
one an electrician, another a gardener, another a security guard.

"We need to specialize (in music) from morning to sunset," says
Emmanuel Nkomo, who sings bass, leaning forward in his plastic chair. "We
need everybody to be here everyday. Now you see some of us coming late. That
thing drops us back."

They have maintained a reputation for performing songs with a
political message, including criticism of Mugabe's regime. They left
Zimbabwe after the secret agents in the country's Central Intelligence
Organization started trailing their director, Elijah Mbambo, members say.

One of the tracks on Abanqobi Bomhlaba's just released album,
"Isivumelwano-Tiripachirangano," accuses South African President Thabo Mbeki
of doing too little to resolve the crisis and the hardships of Zimbabwean
immigrants. Mbeki, now heading a regional effort to try to get Zimbabwean
politicians to agree on how to bring the country out of crisis, has long
advocated quiet diplomacy, while others have called for more forceful
action.

"Now here in South Africa it's better because we can say the truth
through our performance and no one can just take us to jail. But in
Zimbabwe, even if you see someone killing a baby, if you say ... the killer
is wrong, you can be arrested for that."

Even in South Africa, the group is careful, avoiding bars and clubs
and playing private functions put on by non-governmental organizations and
attended by handfuls of Zimbabweans and sympathetic South Africans.

They all pause when a police siren sounds outside the rehearsal space.
Four members of the group are illegal immigrants, one has already spent time
at Lindela, South Africa's infamous detention center, and they worry that
they could be arrested when they go on the stage.

Sibanda said he started to notice the police showing up at their gigs
about six or seven years ago. He says Supersounds was the first Zimbabwean
outfit to record in South Africa when they put together their debut album 10
years ago.

Sibanda says some fans are being scared away by the threat of arrest
and deportation, which has made it particularly difficult for young
Zimbabwean bands to start up in South Africa.

"Our fans are being arrested. You feel bad. Every time you organize a
show you feel that I am putting some people's lives at risk, because when
they come trying to support me, (maybe) the police are going to arrest
 them."

Sibanda has watched some upcoming bands collapse because of a lack of
audience.

Paul Brickhill, a saxophonist and the creative director of the Book
Cafe arts center in Harare, Zimbabwe, said as many as a third of Zimbabwe's
musicians have fled, mainly for Europe, as well as the United States, South
Africa, and elsewhere.

Brickhill is now based in Johannesburg, where he is working to open a
second Book Cafe in part to subsidize his Harare operation. He says it has
been especially difficult and his monthly trips back are in jeopardy.

"All the inputs to running any kind of business. ... You don't know
where you're gonna get it," Brickhill says, exhaling deeply. "You can't plan
anything for a month. A week is planning for us, and sometimes just day to
day."

He says musicians still based in Zimbabwe piece together a living with
performances outside the country where they are paid in foreign currency. A
$2,000 or $3,000 performance fee can mean month of survival in Harare
"before the next gig comes up in London, or Zanzibar, or Durban," he says.

Remarkably, Book Cafe is still hosting two or three musical or
literary events everyday, which is about on par with the average over its
10-year history.

"It's amazing to us at Book Cafe how (after) a band will disappear,
three appear."

Buthelezi: Zim refugees threaten SA stability

Mail and Guardian

Cape Town, South Africa

03 August 2007 02:21

      The tens of thousands of Zimbabwean refugees streaming south are
a threat to South Africa's stability, says Inkatha Freedom Party leader
Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

      Their numbers had increased from 4 000 a month in 2004 to 20 000
a month, he said in his weekly newsletter on Friday.

      "The flood of refugees is. .. having an impact on South Africa's
economic and social stability.

      "Economists believe we have shed 3% of our annual GDP [gross
domestic product] because of the cost of taking care of [them]," he said.

      At the Musina border crossing, police believed illegal
immigrants were crossing at a rate of 3 000 a day.

      "They manage to intercept less than 200 of them," said
Buthelezi, who is a former minister of home affairs.

      He said South Africa had a moral obligation to help the
refugees, but Zimbabwe's crisis should not divert attention from those back
home who needed help in the face of acute poverty.

      He said strong and properly resourced local government was
needed to lead the fight against poverty.

      "Local government is closer to the hopes, needs and aspirations
of the people. It is also closer to practical solutions," he said.

      On Thursday, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said the influx
of Zimbabwean refugees was a "serious problem" requiring action. -- Sapa

Zambia worried of influx of Zimbabweans

      :: The Southern African
      Friday, 03 August 2007
      LUSAKA - The immigration department here is concerned over the
unprecedented increase in the number of Zimbabwean cross border traders
entering Zambia through the Livingstone border post.

      Immigration spokesperson, Mulako Mbangweta, feared yesterday that
Livingstone might experience a security problem if cross border traders from
Zimbabwe kept increasing. Hundreds of Zimbabwean traders have been crossing
into Zambia to sell all sorts of merchandise and raise money for their
upkeep back home where the economy has reached crisis levels.

New Zim union 'will make farms profitable'

IOL

     

          August 03 2007 at 01:18PM

      Harare/Johannesburg - The wife of Zimbabwe's powerful justice minister
has launched a new farmers' union she claims will turn former white-owned
farms into profitable business ventures, reports said on Friday.

      Monica Chinamasa, who is married to Patrick Chinamasa, is now the
president of the Zimbabwe National Farmers' Union (ZNFU), according to the
state-controlled Herald daily.

      Both Chinamasas have benefited under President Robert Mugabe's
controversial programme of white land seizures, launched to Western dismay
in 2000 when veterans of Zimbabwe's war for independence began invading
farms.

      Since then, agricultural production in what was once the breadbasket
of southern Africa has plummeted by at least 40 per cent.

      Reports Friday said production last year declined another 14 per cent
due to farm disruptions, shortages of inputs and poor rainfall. Mugabe's
government blames drought and what he says are Western sanctions for
worsening food shortages.

      At the launch this week, the justice minister's wife promised the ZNFU
wanted to guarantee food security for the whole nation.

      Zimbabwe already has three farmers' unions: the mainly white
Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU), the Indigenous Commercial Farmers' Union
(ICFU) and the Zimbabwe Farmers' Union (ZFU). - Sapa-DPA

Collapse of unity talks forced former MP and 21 others to defect

By Lance Guma
03 August 2007.

Political defections in Zimbabwe's muddied opposition waters continue to be
one-way traffic. On Thursday Silas Mangono, a former opposition legislator
for Masvingo, defected from the Mutambara MDC to rejoin the party led by
founding President Morgan Tsvangirai. He becomes one of dozens who have
jumped ship in the past 22 months. Mangono was the secretary for education
in the Mutambara camp. Also defecting was Shaky Matake, the chairman of the
party's Masvingo Province, who took 20 other executive committee members
with him.

Speaking to Newsreel on Friday Mangono said the collapse of unity talks
between the two sides forced him to quit the Mutambara MDC. 'I strongly
subscribe to the view that only a united front will be able to unseat Zanu
PF in the next general elections. The people speak everyday of the need for
unity,' he said. Mangono said a lot of party members took a grim view of the
decision to leave the Save Zimbabwe Campaign and go it alone in the 2008
elections and warned that many more were set to follow him. He said because
of logistical problems they could not bring everyone who defected to the
Harare reunion but that they would hold a rally in Masvingo to give a chance
for the many others who want to pledge their support for the party.

Speaking for the Mutambara MDC, Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga the deputy
secretary general said they would not lose sleep over those who had
defected. Acrimony over whether to participate in senate elections in
October 2005 led to the party splitting into two groups that are currently
using the same MDC name. Former party deputy secretary general Gift
Chimanikire, ANZ chairman Sam Sipepa Nkomo, Kwekwe legislator Blessing
Chebundo, the late party chairman Isaac Matongo and dozens other party
officials have jumped ship at different intervals.

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news

MDC Activist Refuses to Pay Fine Over Anti Mugabe Song

SW Radio Africa (London)

3 August 2007
Posted to the web 3 August 2007

Violet Gonda

Lloyd Mahute the provincial youth secretary for the Tsvangirai MDC is
spending another night in police custody after he refused to pay an
admission of guilt fine. The opposition party claims Mahute and seven other
MDC activists were arrested on Thursday for singing songs ridiculing and
mocking Robert Mugabe. The party's spokesperson for Manicaland province,
Pishai Muchauraya, said the other seven were released late Thursday and
charged with public nuisance.

He said they were forced to "buy their freedom because Zimbabwean prisons
are like hell-holes." They paid admission of guilt fines of Z$40 000 each.

But it's reported the provincial youth secretary refused to pay his fine
preferring to get his day in court. The police in Mutare refused to talk to
us but Muchauraya told us Mahute was thoroughly beaten by a Chief Inspector
Innocent Rigomeka of Chisamba Police Station and had been isolated from the
other activists when they were arrested on Thursday.

The eight activists were arrested after they had attended a remand hearing
at the Mutare magistrate's court for a separate case. Previously they had
been arrested on the 12th March after they attempted to hold a protest
demanding the release of opposition and civic leaders who had been arrested
the day before.

The Resident

CHRA
THE RESIDENT E-NEWSLETTER

Welcome to CHRA’s monthly E-Newsletter, provided by the Combined Harare Residents Association. To subscribe, please send an email written in the subject Subscribe, to unsubscribe, write the word Unsubscribe in the subject line.
                                                                                     01 August 2007

ZINWA EXTORTS RESIDENTS

ZINWA has maintained its criminal habit of extorting and robbing residents of their hard earned money by imposing unfair water charges on Harare residents.

Sunningdale residents are facing hell as they are being forced to buy new water meters for themselves since the old ones are no longer working. They are also being told to hire private plumbers to fix faulty water pipes because ZINWA cannot help them.

They are also being charged an average of $50 000 per household when they report burst sewerage and water pipes.

Residents in Sunningdale are disgruntled by what they call the ‘oppression and corruption of ZINWA’.

The water utility is charging exorbitant amounts in water rates and residents believe this money should be used to repair faulty pipes and replace stuck water meters.

Residents of Glen View, Budiriro and Kuwadzana Phase 3, Dzivarasekwa 3 continue to receive exorbitant bills from the water utility yet most of the time there is no water.

In various cases, residents have complained about ZINWA’s inconsistent billing system leading to cases of inflated meter readings, based on estimates.

CHRA reiterates its calls for the disbandment of ZINWA due to its incapacity to deliver on key result areas of water supply, billing, administration and sewerage reticulation. In most high-density suburbs, there are numerous reports of burst sewer and water pipes that are not being repaired in time.

CHRA CHAIRPERSON URGES MEMBERS TO UNITE

THE Chairperson of CHRA Michael Jeffrey Davies has called on members of the residents’ movement to unite and desist from backbiting and fighting petty wars as this compromised on the Association’s vision of becoming an effective watchdog and vehicle for good governance in Harare and model for advocacy.

Mr Davies was addressing delegates to a four-day organisational development workshop held from 18- 22 July 2007.

He said the membership Association should convert its challenges into opportunities for sustainable development. Chief among the challenges he highlighted were the absence of properly constituted ward committees, power struggles and opportunism by some members.

Mr Davies urged members of the General Council (GC), CHRA’s supreme decision-making body to remain focused and committed to the founding ideals of CHRA.

Among the key values of CHRA are transparency, integrity, innovation, accountability, good governance, principled leadership, effective participation, consistency and fairness.

SENIOR CITIZENS SET TO BENEFIT

ELDERLY residents of Harare have paid tribute to CHRA for its continued sourcing of helpful information on benefits that accrue to senior citizens.

Last month the Association sourced information that has been mostly welcomed by senior citizens who feel that they must not be paying the full cost of any service on offer in the country.

Commercial banks and building societies are offering tax-free accounts to senior citizens while OK Supermarket, ZUPCO, and the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) offer discounted or free transport to the elderly.

The City of Harare has also come up with a programme that will ultimately benefit the senior citizens in rates payment. Forms which cost $10 000 are on sale at all District Offices in your area.

CHRA continues to get more requests from residents who want to know the organisations that offer some exemptions to senior citizens.

State-run hospitals, ZINWA, ZESA and private transport operators will be approached to establish what kind of services they offer to Zimbabwe’s senior citizenry.

RESIDENTS WORRIED BY VOTER REGISTRATION

KUWADZANA residents have expressed concern at the way the Office of the Registrar General has set up voter registration centres in the whole constituency, creating a fertile ground for the marginalisation of the majority of eligible voters.

The Registrar General’s Office has always come under heavy criticism ahead of every major election for its alleged bias and manipulation of the voter registration exercise and the actual voting. 

Voter registration has been running from 18 June and will end on 17 August 2007.
Simon Phiri, the Ward 38 Coordinator told CHRA that residents in Kuwadzana had only two centres to register as voters.

These were Kuwadzana 8 Primary School and the District Office in Kuwadzana 2.
He said despite appeals to ZEC to increase the number of voter registration centres, they have not been successful, and it is feared more people have been unable to register as voters in next year’s crucial Parliamentary and Presidential Elections under the current exercise.

Monica Chokuwa, the Chairperson of the Information and Publicity Committee has urged members of the public to take time to visit the few voter registration points in their areas to see if their names appear on the voters’ roll.

“The main problem that residents face is that there are very few registration points in the suburbs, making it more difficult for those going to work to register as voters or to inspect the voters’ roll,” Mrs Chokuwa said. 

She said more voter registration points must be opened in Harare to ensure that more people become registered voters. 

ZANU PF ABUSES VENDORS

VENDORS in Harare are desperate for other interventionist strategies to save them from continued abuse by Zanu PF whenever the ruling party has a political rally in their neighbourhood.

There are widespread rumours among the vendors that those who do not attend Zanu PF meetings will be dealt with but no specific action has been disclosed.

It is also understood that in Mufakose, Zanu PF militants went from household to household allegedly registering people to become Zanu PF members.

Residents who were allocated vending places in Mufakose were in July forced to attend Zanu PF rallies in Kuwadzana and Dzivarasekwa.

ZUPCO buses were brought to ferry the vendors to a political rally in an attempt to counter another one held by the opposition MDC at Kuwadzana 4 grounds.

“They were ordered not to open their market places for business because of the rally,” Bake said. “This happened at Samuriwo, Mhishi and OK business centres in Mufakose. These people have families to look after and must not be forced to do things they do not want to do.”

Zanu PF resorts to violence against perceived opponents.

SERVICE DELIVERY REPORTS

Dzivarasekwa- Residents have endured flowing raw sewerage along Pasipanodya Street, Kaguvi Street and at Dzivarasekwa 2 bus terminus an insane person has piled refuse and metal rods in a public toilet, making it totally unusable. 

In ward 40, particularly Dzivarasekwa 3, some households can only access water at night, according to Rorani Muchiwa, the Ward Chairperson.

Mufakose- IT is reported that refuse has continued to pile near Mhishi Shopping Centre.
Warren Park- Blocked sewerage pipes have become a common sight in the area with most landlords castigating the City of Harare and ZINWA for their continued failure to address this menace.

In a visit to the area, CHRA witnessed raw sewerage gushing out of several houses along 27th Crescent.

Mbare- Raw sewerage continues to flow along 6th, 7th and eighth streets in Mbare National making the roads impassable. This matter was reported on five occasions at the District Office at Remembrance Drive but nothing had been done as at 31 July 2007. 

Health centres in the capital are severely depleted after the City of Harare failed for the third month running to resolve its dispute with striking health staff. Patients are no longer being treated. They are only being given medical prescriptions. The situation is so desperate that in the case of a severe disease outbreak, Harare would witness a health disaster of unimagined proportions.

Since the government’s crackdown on business and industry, shortages of basic goods have become a common experience.

Whenever people visit shops or any other business, there are long winding queues, also dominated by members of the uniformed forces.

Commuters have been forced to devise other ways of copying with fuel shortages like walking long distances to and from work.
                                                                            
KUWADZANA VICE CHAIRPERSON DIES

ELVIS Paradza, the Ward 44 Vice Chairperson is dead. He died on Saturday 16 June around 6pm at Parirenyatwa Hospital where he was admitted after being hit by a speeding vehicle along Bulawayo Road early June. He was 33 years. 

Paradza left behind wife Netsai Chemubvumo, and two daughters Panashe (4) and Ruvarashe (1).

NB: Any member of the public is welcome to write stories to The Resident
___________________________________________
Contact Numbers:
Landline: 04- 705114 Mobiles: 0912 924 151, 011 862 012, 011 443 578, 011 612 860, 011 612 811, 0912 869 291, 0912 638 401, Write to us on info@chra.co.zw or visit our website www.chra.co.zw  or call the above numbers.

 

Regards

Precious Shumba
Information Officer
Combined Harare Residents' Association
Mobile: 011 612 860 or 0912 869 294
Tel: 04-705114
Website: www.chra.co.zw

"Stand Firm. Be of Good Courage"
 

Full text of MDC Coalition Agreement as agreed by the two negotiating teams in April

Testimony of Major General Jonathan S. Gration - U.S. Senate Africom Hearing

United States Senate (Washington, DC)

DOCUMENT
3 August 2007
Posted to the web 3 August 2007

Washington, D.C.

Testimony of Major General Jonathan S. Gration, USAF (Ret.), Former
Director, Strategy, Policy, and Assessments, United States European Command
before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on
Africa, "Exploring the U.S. Africa Command and a New Strategic Relationship
with Africa" in Washington, DC, August 1, 2007:

Thank you for this opportunity to share some of my opinions about Africa and
how they might relate to the new Africa Command. As you are aware, I served
as the Director of Strategy, Policy, and Assessments at the European Command
and was deeply involved with US military activities in Africa. But my
interest in Africa goes back to 1952 when my parents moved to the Belgian
Congo when I was a year old. Learning Swahili along with English, I learned
quickly to communicate with Africans-they were my friends and playmates in
those early years. During the turbulent years after independence, we were
forced to evacuate to Uganda, then to Kenya where we lived until 1967. I
returned to Kenya after college to do three months of humanitarian work,
then again to Uganda in 1979 during the last days of Idi Amin. I later flew
as an F-5 instructor pilot for two years with the Kenya Air Force, and
served as an Africa Desk Officer in the Pentagon in the mid-80s. Throughout
my entire career, I've continued to have a deep interest in humanitarian
issues in Africa, especially with orphaned and disabled children.

Until recently, I served as the CEO of Millennium Villages, an organization
established to help end extreme poverty in Africa and to help developing
nations achieve the UN's Millennium Development Goals. During my frequent
visits to Africa, I became even more convinced that the continent's security
issues are linked to its significant stability challenges. Extreme poverty,
the youth bulge, insufficient job opportunities, corruption, and weak
governance continue to fuel feelings of hopelessness and despair. This is an
environment hostile to effective security programs and it limits Africa's
chances of achieving its enormous human and resource potential.

Despite significant obstacles to sustained development, natural disasters
and poor leadership in some countries, we must continue to meet our
near-term challenges. We should try to collaborate on and compliment
activities of partners with similar objectives in Africa, particularly in
the context of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). We must
consult and cooperate with African and international partners to resolve the
situations in Darfur, Somalia, DRC, and the Western Sahara. We must help to
coordinate a plan to deal with countries like Zimbabwe, especially for the
post-Mugabe period. We must determine where the actions of other external
players (e.g., China, Russia, and Korea) compete or conflict with our
interests and take appropriate action promptly, while placing an emphasis on
how we can cooperate with external powers in Africa. We must confront
terrorist threats where we find them and help African countries eliminate
terrorist and criminal safe havens throughout the continent.

With this as background, let me state up front that I supported establishing
a separate command to deal with Africa when I was in the military and I'm
delighted to see it's becoming a reality. I believe we need one unified
command to coordinate and synchronize our military activities in Africa. We
will get an even greater benefit when this command is truly integrated with
all the other elements of US power and diplomacy. With US interests on this
continent clearly defined and a united voice in Washington to advocate for
requirement and resources, I believe we'll be able to advance America's
interests in Africa better and build strong partnerships with African
government to eliminate poverty and accelerate Africa's integration into the
global economy.

Over the years, I've learned a few lessons about dealing with Africa. It
might be useful for the new Africa Command to consider these lessons as it
establishes its capabilities and initiates its programs.

1. Proactive and preventative programs using all the elements of national
power are significantly cheaper and more effective than reactive and
corrective measures. Our experiences in countries like Liberia, Somalia, and
Sudan are obvious examples. We've got the Kofi Annan Center for
Peacekeeping. Maybe it's time for the United States to help Africans
establish the Nelson Mandela Center for Good Governance and the Julius
Nyerere Center for Political Leadership.

2. I believe we should focus on helping Africans help Africans. We must work
with the African Union, the five regional economic communities, and
individual countries to ensure our assistance meshes with their regional and
national programs. US initiatives must have the approval and support of our
African hosts if they are to work, if they are to last. Since we are the
guests, we must listen to our hosts and understand their views and
requirements. The United States must build relationships based on mutual
trust and respect. We must form strong partnerships based on shared
understanding of security requirements and a common vision for the future.

3. To the maximum extent possible, our assistance programs must be
sustainable, replicable, and scaleable. "Train the trainer" programs should
be a critical component of any initiative. We need to be working ourselves
out of a job; there should be a "sun-down" clause in our training and
assistance programs.

I believe Africa Command is off to a good start conceptually. I applaud DoD's
efforts to use an interagency model-to include other US government
departments' and agencies' inputs in its decision-making process. The
discussion about including personnel from other agencies as permanent
members of the headquarters staff is also very interesting. Our goal not
only should be to put a stronger hyphen between "mil-pol" or to make it more
"pol-mil." It should also be to create an organization that truly integrates
the unique strengths pol, mil, econ, and development.

Security cooperation at the AU and national level is extremely important and
the US military has made great strides in this area. This effort must be
matched by a similar interagency commitment to enhance and resource a more
robust "stability cooperation" program. Increased security depends on better
governance and plans for long-term stability that foster a believable hope
among Africans that tomorrow will be better. This means cleaner water,
adequate food, better schools, available and affordable healthcare, improved
infrastructure and communications, more employment opportunities, human
rights, and total gender equality.

I believe our ultimate success will stem from our attitude and approach as
we have a larger presence and footprint in Africa. AFRICOM must be perceived
by Africans as being a good and respectful guest, and a valued partner.
AFRICOM must be about Africans helping Africans.

In my view, AFRICOM is on track to be just that type of organization-a
significant improvement over the older versions of the Unified Command Plan.
Thank you.

JAG Job Opportunities dated 2 August 2007

Please send any job opportunities for publication in this newsletter to: JAG Job Opportunities; jag@mango.zw or justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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Skills required:
 
-          Typing
-          Minute Taking
-          Diary Management for CEO
-          Knowledge of all Microsoft Office Programs
-          Good PR skills
 
A competitive, inflation proofed remuneration package is offered plus a fuel allowance.
 
Interested applicants should contact the JAG Office on 04-799410 and furnish a written application with cv via email:  justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw and jag@mango.zw for the attention of the Trust’s CEO.
 
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(Ad inserted 5 July 2007)
Business for Sale - South West Queensland
 
Lucrative service station for sale $AU 300 000.00 - potential for a business migrant to Australia.
 
Listed on the internet at www.eldersre.com.au. internet id no serv4454
 
If you want to ask more questions about the business please contact kerry at sunnyholt2@bigpond.com
 
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(Ad inserted 19 July 2007)
 
ENGINEERING MANAGER - Swaziland
 
A large progressive farming estate in Swaziland has a vacancy for an Engineering Manager.
 
THE JOB
Reporting to the Estate Manager the successful applicant will be responsible for the management of all the engineering functions on the estate including vehicle, machinery, pump, electrical and building maintenance as well as monitoring capital projects.
 
He will be responsible for the maintenance of all aspects of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Company's adherence to the National and international standards.
 
THE PERSON
The ideal candidate will be suitably qualified with at least 5 years experience in a senior management position. He will have had at least 15 years work experience covering all aspects of the job. Computer skills are also essential.
 
THE PACKAGE OFFERED
-A highly competitive negotiable salary
-Free housing lights and water
-Assistance with children's education
-Generous leave
-Assistance with Medical Aid
-Group Life Insurance
-Vehicle Scheme
 
Interested persons should send their applications in writing to
 
STUMAC RECRUITING - PO Box 177, White River, 1240, RSA
Email to mac28@telkomsa.net giving full details of themselves.
 
Closing Date 31st July 2007
 
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(Ad inserted 19 July 2007)
 
HOUSEMAID/COOK REQUIRED
 
Anyone knowing of an experienced housemaid with a bit of cooking experience PLEASE send her my way.  I am desperate. Phone Mandy Gilmour 0912 409750 or 0912 570521 or 069 3878.  We live on a farm 40kms from town so accommodation is available with lights and water.
 
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(Ad inserted 19 July 2007)
 
Secretary – Morning’s Only
 
Morning’s only secretary required at small engineering company in Mt. Hampden.  Must be proficient in excel and word for low-key bookkeeping and typing etc.  Must have own transport.  Normal perks + fuel apply.  Start immediately. Please send CV's to dichwe@mweb.co.zw or dichwe@zol.co.zw
 
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(Ad inserted 19 July 2007)
 
Position for manager of Meat Factory in RSA

I hope and pray that you are well in these difficult times and
circumstances.

I have an opportunity for an honest hard working couple who is destitute
though unforeseen uncontrollable circumstances.

They would need to re-locate to De Aar where the wife can run a Guest
House/Bed & Breakfast and husband can run a Meat Processing facility/Biltong factory. I have everything re the business except the time to run it. I only need able; hard working honest people. Profit sharing is a possibility.

The success/failure will depend solely on the manager/s of these
businesses.

The position is available immediately and is rather URGENT.

Please reply to:  nigel.paul@mweb.co.za
 
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(Ad inserted 19 July 2007)
 
SA ORGANIC FARMING OPPORTUNITY
 
Organic/Bio-dynamic farmer or organic-oriented farmer with mechanical skills required to operate 26 hectare certified organic small-holding one hour east of Pretoria and Johannesburg. 8 hectares currently in production with another 8 hectares to be developed growing vegetables. Poultry for eggs in another opportunity. Would suit younger, energetic, hands-on, organized and business-oriented couple. Must have mind-set to take direction and regularly report to owner. House available. Profit sharing. References required. Non-organic farmers will be considered as organic conversion training available. Send details to e-mail: ged@africanorganics.org or fax: ++ 27 696 0750. Head responses: "SA ORGANIC FARMING OPPORTUNITY"
 
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(Ad inserted 26 July 2007)
 
Vacancies
 
We are seeking to fill two vacancies in our tourism related business in Kariba, these can be filled by individuals or by a couple.
 
Senior bookkeeper / Accounts department supervisor
This position requires an experienced Pastel bookkeeper to manage our accounts department that consists of 3 additional staff. The successful applicant will be required to supervise the entire accounting functions of the company including cash controls and preparation of monthly trial balances and management trading account reports. This is predominantly a female environment, but the position may suit a retired male accountant seeking a quieter lifestyle.
 
Workshops Manager
 
This position will require a more mature person with considerable mechanical and maintenance experience as our workshop, with a staff compliment of 10 employees, not only maintains a fleet of speedboats and outboard motors, but also our property and buildings as well as all types of maintenance on houseboats. Experience of outboard motors, while not absolutely necessary, will be a distinct advantage.
Apply with CV to General Manager at dernat@zol.co.zw
 
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(Ad inserted 19 July 2007)
 
BUSINESS FOR SALE
 
4 year track record, ready for expansion with new market, and finance waiting.
 
Owners moving for personal reasons. Will provide all handover assistance to new owner. Opportunity for investor to set up in moz quickly.
 
Complete sales sought or would consider property in victoria falls.
For serious inquiries contact for further info. --   chicamba@yahoo.com
 
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(Ad inserted 19 July 2007)
 
Unique Own Business Opportunity
 
To the right person a rewarding opportunity exists to ‘operate your own business’ in partnership with Zimbabwe and UK based businesses and a Non-Profit Organisation.  No financial investment is required of you, HOWEVER, this opportunity has specific requirements which would be your contribution to the ‘partnership’.
 
Kindly Note:
This is not a ‘job’ - this is an opportunity to ‘operate your own business’
Self righteous religious zealots will not be considered
Timewasters will not be responded to
 
About Us:
We are a low-profile service orientated business (inc 1994) and organisation, providing commercial services to the business community, and strictly confidential services to private clients, and non-profit activities.
 
The Partners
The partners adopt a philosophical approach to Life, believing in the significance of an individual’s need to find their very own unique and special purpose, and to then live out their personal dream.
 
About You
Business skills:
Excellence & proficiency in: secretarial & office practises, written & spoken communication, computer skills (especially MSOutlook & File Management)
Working knowledge of Company formation procedures
Basic knowledge of computer hardware (you know what’s in the tower)
Basic accounting experience - accounts are contracted out
Willing to learn LINUX
 
Responsibilities:
As the successful ‘partner’ person you will be self-motivated, and competently & with dedication, carry out the daily activities, expand the market of our services in Zimbabwe and further develop, maintain & operate various Address Book data bases (Network Marketing).
 
Personal attributes:
You will possess and be able to practically demonstrate: personal responsibility, a high degree of personal integrity and trustworthiness, that you are a ‘people person’ with  compassion and empathy, emotional maturity and stability. Good health and bodily disposition. Be committed to staying....for the next year at least.  An added ‘feather in your cap’ will be that you subscribe to the philosophy as expounded in the movie and book - ‘The Secret”
 
Rewards
It goes without saying that you will be generously rewarded
 
Quo Vadis
Write an Email letter (attaching your Résumé) telling us sufficient about yourself that we would be wanting to meet with you for consideration as a ‘partner’ in Zimbabwe.
 
Thomas Vallance ACIArb, Executive Director, PARADiGM Trust(Pvt)Ltd
Trust Executives & Administrator, Para-Legal Advisory Services
POBox HG750, Highlands, Email: [paradigm@zol.co.zw]
 
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(Ad inserted 19 July 2007)
 
Accountant / Bookkeeper - at least 3 years experience required in the accounting field.
 
To work for a busy lodge, friendly environment, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.  Good package offered including fuel. Please forward your CV's and References to wgl@hms.co.zw or post to T J Cornish, Box BW198, Borrowdale, Harare.
 
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(Ad inserted 2 August 2007)
 
Cotton Production Specialist
 
A local cotton company is seeking the full time services of an experienced cotton consultant to work locally and in the region with contract growers.  Applicants to submit full C.V via email details of which are available through 0912233415.
 
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(Ad inserted 2 August 2007)
 
QUALIFIED MECHANIC
 
Required to run a workshop on a busy farm in Matabeleland North.
 
Applicants must have a sound knowledge and long-term, hands-on experience in the servicing, maintaining and repairing of a wide diversity of vehicles and equipment.
 
The incumbent will be responsible for the supervising and development of workshop  staff and tractor drivers.
 
Administrative work would include the timely procurement of inputs and spares, ensuring on-farm stocks and minimal downtime of vehicles and equipment.
 
The ability to operate a lathe would be an advantage.
 
The farm equipment consists of 15 tractors, a combine harvester, pickups, motor bikes, and general farm machinery and irrigation equipment.
 
The successful applicant will take up his post on 2nd January 2008.
 
Very competitive remuneration and fringe benefits are commensurate with the job.
 
If you feel that you meet the requirements, send your CV and traceable references to:
 
The Advertiser, Box 1288, Bulawayo or email: pevans@mweb.co.zw or Phone: 085-309.
 
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(Ad inserted 2 August 2007)
 
IT Technician
 
Wanted - IT Technician with standard hardware and network experience.
Papers not necessary but need somebody with reasonable common sense and motivation.  Contact Donald on 091 2 258159 or 771101/771097-9.
 
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(Ad inserted 2 August 2007)
 
BOOKKEEPER
 
Qualifications : Must have excellent qualifications in Pastel Vs 7, 8, 9 and be proficient in Excel & Word
                         
 
 
Duties :          Perform all basic tasks of data capturing into Pastel and interpreting into Excel & Word Spread Sheets
 
Balancing inter Company Accounts (no wages or salaries)
 
Produce monthly balances of Expense Accounts in Pastel
 
Responsibilities :    Ensuring daily sales are accurate
           
                                    Reporting to Financial Manager & carrying out duties allocated
 
                                    Supervising Accounts Clerk
 
Qualities :      Well organised & Punctual
 
                        Efficient & Dynamic
 
                        Must work well under pressure & in busy environment
 
                        Suit mature female/male
 
                        Be prepared to work 6 day week
 
Forward updated C.V. with contactable references to :
Glynis Wiley, ABC Auctions, Hatfield House, Seke road, Harare
 
Telephone: 751343 / 751498 or Email: auctions@yoafrica.com
 
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(Ad inserted 2 August 2007)
 
ACCOUNTS CLERK
 
Qualifications : Must be very proficient in Excel, Word, Pastel and have good working knowledge of VAT
 
 
 
Duties :  Data capture from departments and interpretation onto Spreadsheets
               RTGs applications
               Balancing spreadsheet to Pastel
               Produce cheques & write out orders
 
Responsibilities : Ensuring accurate daily data capture
                             Reporting to Financial Manager & carrying out duties allocated
 
Qualities :   Well organised & Punctual
 
                    Efficient & Dynamic
 
                    Must work well under pressure & in busy environment
 
                    Be prepared to work 6 day week
                       
                    Suite mature female/male
 
Forward updated C.V. with contactable references to :
Glynis Wiley, ABC Auctions, Hatfield House, Seke road, Harare
 
Telephone: 751343 / 751498 or Email: auctions@yoafrica.com
 
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(Ad inserted 2 August 2007)
 
Accountant / Bookkeeper
 
At least 3 years experience required in the accounting field.
 
To work for a busy lodge, friendly environment, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.  Good package offered including fuel. Please forward your CV's and References to wgl@hms.co.zw or post to T J Cornish, Box BW198, Borrowdale, Harare.
 
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EMPLOYMENT SOUGHT
 
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(Ad inserted 28 June 2007)
 
Mature Secretary/PA/Administrator
 
Available ASAP
Reliable
Able to Work without supervision
Can run an executive office
Computer literate
 
Phone 0912 425468 or E-mail: julietjokomo@yahoo.co.uk
 
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(Ad inserted 19 July 2007)
 
Employment Sought
 
I am an ex-Zimbabwean farm manager with 6 years experience in Horticulture and just recently established a 12.5 Ha project in Ethiopia working together with Richel and Netafim.  I also have 3 years experience in Dairy and Beef farming. I am looking for a vacancy in any of these fields.  My contact email is brianschee@yahoo.com
 
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(Ad inserted 2 August 2007)
 
Employment Sought
 
 
Position sought - Finance, Salaries and Administration.
 
Work experience
Currently serving as a Finance and Administration Officer for a regional organisation.
17 years solid work experience, 8 in the NGO sector.
NGOs, Embassies, Regional or International organisations preferred.
Current salary in foreign currency.
Clean class 4 driver s licence.
 
Qualifications
Diploma in Personnel Management.
Higher National Diploma in Accounting.
Bachelor of Commerce Degree majoring in Finance.
 
Contact details
Juliah Murima – 04-2920769 home, 0912699258 cell, 091405281 husband
Email murimao@yahoo.com or oliver@uz-ucsf.co.zw
 
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For the latest listings of accommodation available for farmers, contact justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw