Zim Online
Saturday 16 December
2006
GOROMONZI - Zimbabwe's Chiefs Council,
grouping the country's
traditional leaders, on Friday urged an ongoing
conference of the ruling
ZANU PF party to extend President Robert Mugabe's
term for life.
Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira
in an address to the party
conference outside Harare said Mugabe should be
succeeded only at his death
just the same way traditional chiefs are
replaced.
Charumbira, who claimed to be speaking on behalf
of ordinary
Zimbabweans at the grassroots who are represented by chiefs,
said: "We are
not for succession as long as one who holds that position is
still alive."
His call however received a lukewarm response
from delegates who did
not appear too keen on the succession issue following
Mugabe's angry tirade
on the eve of the conference against unnamed party
officials he accused of
canvassing even when there were no
vacancies.
Charumbira, who is also a Member of Parliament,
is the second
legislator to declare Mugabe should be President for life
after party
secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa made the same call
in an
interview with ZimOnline last week.
The
conference is expected to endorse amending Zimbabwe's Constitution
to
postpone a presidential election due in 2008, when Mugabe's term expires,
to
2010 to allow the 82-year old leader an additional two years in
office.
ZANU PF insiders however insist that any move to
openly make Mugabe
president for life would find few backers in the
party.
They also say that the two rival ZANU PF factions
vying to take over
control after Mugabe - one backing former parliamentary
speaker Emmerson
Mnangagwa and another Vice-President Joice Mujuru - could
even be forced to
unite in order to block moves to make the veteran leader
rule for life.
Charumbira, whose Chief's Council is
supposed to be neutral, said
traditional leaders would continue to make life
miserable for opposition
supporters in rural areas as punishment for not
backing the ruling party.
Rural areas have provided the
bulwark of support for ZANU PF with
chiefs, who wield immense influence in
rural areas, accused of using their
positions to intimidate their subjects
to back Mugabe's party. - ZimOnline
Monsters and Critics
Dec 15, 2006, 14:22 GMT
Harare - Zimbabwean
President Robert Mugabe has ordered senior members of
his ruling party to
stop fighting for the post of president as there are 'no
vacancies,' with
the veteran leader also telling the West on Friday to stop
interfering in
Zimbabwe's affairs.
Before the conference of his ruling ZANU-PF party got
underway, the
82-year-old leader told its central committee that some people
were so
ambitious that he had his doubts over whether the party would
survive in the
future.
'Let's not be overambitious, the time will
come when vacancies will exist,
but now there are no vacancies, none at
all,' he said.
Mugabe, in power for 26 years, has been angered by bitter
jostling within
the party over the succession issue.
He has already
indicated that he wanted presidential polls to be pushed back
from 2008 to
2010, giving him an extra two years as president.
That proposal is likely
to be endorsed this weekend at a ZANU-PF conference
at Goromonzi High
School, some 30 kilometres east of the capital Harare.
State radio said
Friday at least 3,500 delegates were expected to attend.
Mugabe and
senior ZANU-PF officials say pushing back the polls until 2010
and holding
them at the same time as parliamentary elections will save
money.
Analysts, however, suggest it is a way of buying time for the
ruling party
so that it can sort out its bitter succession
struggles.
At least four different candidates are reported to be already
vying for
Mugabe's post: Vice President Joyce Mujuru, former parliamentary
speaker
Emmerson Mnangagwa; current parliamentary speaker John Nkomo; and
possibly
(though he denies this) Reserve Bank Governor Gideon
Gono.
In a 90-minute speech opening the party conference Friday, Mugabe
slammed
what he said were Western attempts to recolonise
Zimbabwe.
'Zimbabwe wants friends, not enemies. We're not in search of
masters, we're
our own masters,' Mugabe declared, amid
applause.
Dressed casually in a peaked cap and an open-necked shirt with
his own
portrait printed on it, Mugabe slammed what he said were attempts by
the
West to interfere in Zimbawwe's internal affairs.
'If you dont
want to be friends with us, stay aloof. Zimbabwe can never
belong to
Europe,' he said, adding that the country would not allow
outsiders to
interfere in its internal affairs.
Zimbabwe accuses Britain, the US and
its allies of wanting to effect regime
change in the country.
Posters
and placards in a giant white tent where the conference is being
held
denounced British Premier Tony Blair and US President George W Bush,
one of
the posters reading, 'Bush-Blair: War presidents.'
Earlier, traditional
dancers and musicians beat drums and danced before the
head table where
Mugabe and other senior officials were seated.
In a rambling speech
broadcast live on state radio and television, the
veteran Zimbabwean leader
talked about opening up the mining sector to
blacks and reviving firms
floundering under the country's worst economic
crisis since independence in
1980.
He also took a swipe at the country's private schools, which have
angered
the government by continually raising fees.
'The right of
education belongs to each and every child,' said Mugabe.
His government
has set fees at Zimbabwes 61 private schools, but they are
now challenging
the government in court.
'We've allowed them all the freedom they
require, but enough is enough,' he
said.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche
Presse-Agentur
Reuters
Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:17 PM GMT
By Cris Chinaka
GOROMONZI, Zimbabwe
(Reuters) - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Friday
accused Western
powers of trying to unseat him but vowed his government
would not collapse
under pressure.
Speaking at a party congress, the 82-year-old Mugabe made
no mention of
moves by his ZANU-PF party to extend his term in office by two
years to
2010, a step critics say will drive the country deeper into
crisis.
Instead, Mugabe took a jab at his favourite Western foes
including the
United States and Britain, accusing them of seeking "regime
change" in
Zimbabwe and contributing to the hardships of a people now in
their sixth
year of recession.
"I know we are in difficult times,
it's hard times that we are going
through. You are bearing a fair share of
the burden, we know that (but)
Zimbabwe will never collapse," Mugabe told
party supporters.
More than 3,000 ZANU-PF delegates sang and danced as
Mugabe took the floor,
saying he should rule indefinitely.
ZANU-PF is
expected to endorse a proposal to change the constitution to
allow the
two-year extension to Mugabe's term. The proposal has already been
adopted
by eight of the ruling party's 10 provincial executives, and is
almost
certain to be passed this weekend barring an unlikely challenge.
The main
opposition says this is the work of a dictatorship.
Critics say
prolonging Mugabe's rule will only compound the problems facing
Zimbabwe,
with his government isolated by key Western countries and the
economy on the
brink of collapse.
But on Friday Mugabe said none of this would have any
effect on Zimbabwe.
"We are not in search of masters, we are our own
masters," he said.
Looking relaxed and wearing a floral shirt imprinted
with his image,
occasionally raising fist in a 90 minute speech, Mugabe did
not touch on the
idea of extending his term, although he has in the past
said he suggested
it.
PARTY TENSIONS
Some ZANU-PF officials
are believed to be unhappy with the move to give
Mugabe an extra two years
in office when his six-year term ends in 2008. But
political analysts say
they are afraid to confront the veteran Zimbabwean
leader under whose
patronage they have prospered.
The ruling party has been hit with
divisions since Mugabe's decision in 2004
to appoint Joyce Mujuru as one of
his two deputies -- a move many saw as a
stepping stone for the top
job.
On Friday the official Herald newspaper quoted Mugabe as telling a
party
meeting the previous day that there were no vacancies for the party's
top
leadership posts.
"Succession issue ... what is the problem,
there are no vacancies, are they
there? Where are the vacancies?" Mugabe was
quoted as saying.
"We are beginning to have doubts on whether the party
will survive in
future," Mugabe said, indicating his leadership was holding
ZANU-PF
together.
The congress -- held in a sprawling white tent set
in a football field at a
boarding school in a rural district an hour's drive
from Harare -- has
attracted delegates from across the southern African
country.
Many have turned up in colourful dress with portraits of Mugabe,
singing
revolutionary songs and carrying banners declaring support for his
leadership, his controversial seizures of white-owned farms for blacks and
denouncing ZANU-PF critics.
Mugabe assumed power at independence from
Britain in 1980, and critics
accuse him of plunging one of Africa's most
promising nations into a severe
economic crisis through a series of
controversial policies.
International Herald Tribune
The Associated
PressPublished: December 15, 2006
HARARE, Zimbabwe: President
Robert Mugabe opened his ruling party's annual
convention Friday calling for
unity in the troubled southern African nation
which is facing its worst
economic crisis since independence from Britain in
1980.
Mugabe, 82, also
decried rivalry and divisions in the ruling party over
economic policies,
corruption and factions allegedly vying to succeed him.
"That's what we
must get over. It destroys us," he told some 4,000 delegates
at the
convention at a school at Goromonzi, about 30 kilometers (18 miles)
east of
Harare.
"Our togetherness is the greatest weapon we can use" against the
nation's
enemies and detractors, he said in an address broadcast on state
television.
There was a tendency for the party to break up into regional
blocs, Mugabe
said.
"That has got to go. Once we are impartial
and objective, we will gain much
more ground in the unity of the people," he
said.
Zimbabwe has become increasingly isolated since Western aid and
investment
dried up in the wake of the often violent seizures of thousands
of
white-owned commercial farms since 2000 that disrupted the
agriculture-based
economy.
Mugabe has repeatedly accused Britain, the
former colonial power, and the
United States of backing his political
opponents in Zimbabwe to protest the
land seizures and alleged democratic
and human rights violations his
government denies.
"What do we want
to achieve by the West's way of doing things? We will
recognize any country,
whether it be in Europe, the United States or Asia,
on the basis of
noninterference in our domestic affairs," he said. "Who
gives whites the
power to determine what black and nonwhite countries do?
Who has authority
in Europe over us?" he said.
Mugabe wore a colorful smock and black and
red baseball cap as he addressed
delegates, including traditional tribal
chiefs in colonial-style pith
helmets symbolizing the seniority of their
office.
Ruling party administration secretary Didymus Mutasa led
delegates in
chanting political slogans against opponents.
"Pasi ne
Bush, Pasi ne Blair," he shouted - in the local Shona language:
Down with
President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Ruling
party chairman John Nkomo acknowledged the Zimbabwe African National
Union-Patriotic Front party "should not gloss over our
difficulties."
But "the party is bigger than its divisions," he
said.
Earlier Friday, state radio reported that Mugabe had castigated
colleagues
at a meeting Thursday of the party's Soviet-style central
committee, saying
they should stop jockeying for posts in the party
presidium, its top
policy-making body, including his job in the
presidency.
"Stop it. The time will come when vacancies exist but now
there are no
vacancies, none at all," he said, according to the
radio.
Mugabe indicated Thursday that he was considering extending his
office by
two years to 2010 to head off a succession struggle.
In
excerpts from an interview with visiting Canadian journalists released by
the government, Mugabe said he backed calls by his ruling party to hold the
next presidential elections in 2010, when parliamentary elections are
scheduled. That would mean skipping a presidential race now scheduled for
2008.
Parliament members are elected every five years, while the
presidential term
is six years.
Eight of the 10 ruling party regional
provinces have voted in favor of
postponing the presidential poll. The
proposal is expected to be endorsed at
the annual convention which ends
Sunday and then put to the ruling
party-dominated parliament in Harare for a
constitutional amendment to
electoral laws.
The opposition Movement
for Democratic Change said in a statement Friday it
opposes the postponement
which would make Mugabe an "illegitimate and
unelected president for an
extra two years."
Zimbabwe is facing 1,090 percent inflation, the highest
in the world, and
acute shortages of gasoline, hard currency, food and
essential imports.
VOA
By Peta
Thornycroft
Marange, Zimbabwe
15 December
2006
A week after winning a court order to be allowed to continue
mining, a
British mining company has been denied permission to return to its
claim in
the Marange Communal lands in Manicaland province where a diamond
rush began
three months ago. Peta Thornycroft reports for VOA, this is the
first time
the government has sought to expropriate a mine.
The
British mining company, African Consolidated Resources, began a trial
mining
operation at one of its two claims in Marange Communal lands in
Manicaland
province last week. A day after the work began, Assistant Police
Commissioner Olbert Denge ordered the company to shut down and told
employees of the company to leave immediately.
The company then went
to court in Mutare, provincial capital of Manicaland,
about 250 kilometers
east of Harare, to seek permission to be allowed to
continue to mine. It won
the court case, but so far, the police have not
permitted it to resume
operations.
Reports of diamond findings in Manicaland started in
September. Soon people
were pouring onto the claims owned by African
Consolidated Resources from
all over Zimbabwe, as well as from neighboring
countries. Some say it was
the largest diamond rush in Africa in the last
100 years.
Dirk Benade, a veteran geologist, says world class mining
machinery could
not have moved as much earth as the poor, first time miners
who within a
month had manually dug out a million tons of dirt. He describes
the
conditions they worked under as appalling.
"It was terrible, it
was shocking, 10,000 people digging within two meters
of each other; there
were no toilet facilities; there was no water; in fact,
you could buy
diamonds with water," he said. "A lot of local tribeswomen
were coming here
with water and buying diamonds with water. So it was
terrible, nowhere to
sleep, they all slept huddled in gullies, or wherever
they were, and the
flies just became a huge, huge, huge problem. It was
absolutely
terrible."
At first, the surface mining was encouraged by the government.
The mine
ministry, however, ordered the diggers to sell their stones, mostly
industrial diamonds, to the government.
But the new miners say the
government was offering far lower prices than
private gem traders who
traveled to Manicaland from around the region,
particularly South
Africa.
One of those who dug for stones and then became a trader himself
is Sabo
Sauke, a peasant farmer, who longs for a regular job.
Unlike
most of those who rushed to the diamond fields, he lives close by. He
said
it was hard work, but he made money - about $10 million Zimbabwe, which
was
enough to buy roofing materials for his house, some chickens and other
items, now considered luxuries, for his new wife.
He said after he
and thousands of other diggers were chased away by the
police late November
he had hoped the British mining company would give him
a job. But now that
prospect is doubtful since the government order closing
the company's
operations.
Sauke was skeptical the Zimbabwe government would be able to
mine nearly as
effectively as the mining company.
"I don't think the
government has money to operate this area, because
sometimes there is no
petrol, no food in the country, some prices are going
higher and higher,
there is no foreign currency, to operate this one. I
don't think so," said
Sauke.
Andrew Cranswick, a Zimbabwean and the chief executive of African
Consolidated Resources, said he believes the government will eventually let
the company return and begin mining its claims.
Cranswick said
minerals were, for some years to come, the answer to
Zimbabwe's failing
economy. He said even though four-thousand white farmers
had their land
expropriated, he did not believe his company would suffer the
same
fate.
"There is a lot of political background to the land issue that does
not
historically apply to mineral rights," he said. "We are a Zimbabwean led
and
founded and managed company, but registered in Britain. We have brought
in a
large amount of foreign investment into the country into mining
exploration,
and we intend to bring a lot more, we have projects in a number
of minerals
not just diamonds, are doing a lot for the development of the
country, I
think the Zimbabwe government would never allow illegal seizure
of claims
without due process."
Officials from the Ministry of Mines
declined to comment on the diamond
field in Marange. The state press, which
usually reflects government
opinion, maintains that the land is owned by the
state, and that African
Consolidated Resources has no legal claim to the
diamond fields.
IOL
December 15
2006 at 03:08PM
Harare - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said on
Friday his
government would not allow land-grab style seizures of mines by
top
officials as it moves to open up the sector to the majority
blacks.
Mining has overtaken agriculture as the top foreign
currency earner in
the crisis-hit southern African country, now in its
eighth year of
recession.
Mugabe's government earlier this year
circulated proposals to make
changes to the mining law in a bid "to
indiginise 51 percent in some
instances of all foreign
owned-companies".
On Thursday Mugabe said the country continued to
discover minerals,
including diamonds in eastern Zimbabwe, which had seen
thousands of
villagers flocking to the area to illegally mine the precious
mineral.
"Now as leaders do we have to rush and
claim all these minerals? There
shall not be any racing allowed in opening
up the mining sector to our
people," Mugabe said in a live television
broadcast to delegates at a
conference of his ruling Zanu-FP
party.
"This time we cannot do that, it happened during the land
reforms
(and) we were embarrassed. We need to plan this properly," Mugabe
said in a
speech in the local Shona language and English.
He
said locals would have to form companies to seek equity in foreign
firms or
start their own wholly-owned firms to prospect and mine minerals.
Critics says Mugabe's land seizures of white-owned commercial farms
for
blacks have worsened the country's economic crisis, adding that senior
his
senior officials have mostly benefited from the reforms. Mugabe denies
the
charges.
Zimbabwe has the world's second richest platinum deposits
after South
Africa and holds vast gold, ferrochrome, coal, nickel reserves.
But analysts
say this could come to nought if they are not fully exploited
to benefit the
economy.
The government has forecast a 4,9
percent growth in the sector next
year after a 14,4 percent decline in 2006.
But industry officials say this
is unlikely, pointing to rising costs, power
cuts and skills shortages as
workers seek better paying jobs
abroad.
Zimbabwe's mining sector has been hit by mine closures in
the last
five years, including dozens of small mines, as operating costs
spiralled in
a recession marked by four-digit inflation, shortages of fuel
and foreign
currency.
By Tichaona Sibanda
15 December 2006
Zapu leader Paul
Siwela said on Friday Zanu (PF) will never be
defeated in any election and
the only way of forcing them out is to make
'things difficult for
them.'
In his party's end of year message Siwela anticipated a much
harder
year for Zimbabweans next year, but said the suffering masses can
help
extricate themselves from the 'mess' by forcing Mugabe to respect
opposing
views.
'The electoral process will not change anything
in Zimbabwe. Forget
it. never. If there is anyone who thinks he's going into
an election and
remove Zanu (PF) then he is day-dreaming. That will never
happen, this is
the time people should be thinking of other ideas like a
revolt, I don't
know but yes it is possible,' Siwela said.
The
outspoken and fearless Siwela said it appears the opposition and
all
progressive forces in the country had been subdued by the regime to a
point
where no-one now has a clue as to how to remove Mugabe.
'As it is
there is not a single attempt being made to remove the
present government.
To do so you need to be daring or match their every
move. All we have are
opposition figures projecting and sending a lot of
information to the public
that they are doing something when there is
nothing happening on the
ground,' he said.
Siwela said anyone fighting against Mugabe should
desist from making
wild statements that create an impression something is
being done because it
gives people a false sense of hope. He believes people
should be open and
frank about their shortcomings.
'Let's tell
the people of Zimbabwe and the outside world that we have
failed to get rid
of Mugabe because we have run out of resources, we have
run out of money. By
doing so, people will understand why Mugabe is still in
power and not to lie
to them and say he would be gone by this time next
year,' said
Siwela.
He said such a strategy will get the population moving and
participate
in all efforts to free themselves from the
tyranny.
SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe
news
The Telegraph
By Peta
Thornycroft in Johannesburg
Last Updated: 4:50pm GMT
15/12/2006
Zimbabwe's exhausted population will have to put
up with another two
years of Robert Mugabe's autocratic rule under plans to
change the
constitution and give the president two more years in
power.
The ruling Zanu PF, at its annual conference today will
endorse a
proposal to extend Mr Mugabe's present six year term, which should
end in
March 2008, for a further two years.
Mr Mugabe, who has
systematically bankrupted Zimbabwe over the last
six years, and forced
unimagined poverty on the people, says he will take
this route to
"harmonise" parliamentary and presidential polls.
His decision,
published in yesterday's state controlled Herald
newspaper, is supported by
eight out of ten of Zanu PF's provincial
executive committees.
Not all in the party, which Mr Mugabe admits is in a "shambles",
support
delaying his retirement.
Vice president Joyce Mujuru, hoping to
succeed him, and supported by
her powerful husband, retired general Solomon
Mujuru, has so far not yet
thrown her province's support behind the majority
decision.
Two weeks ago, one of Zanu PF's most outspoken zealots,
security
minister Didymus Mutasa, suggested that Mr Mugabe could remain in
power for
the rest of his life: "He has done so many wonderful things for
this country
and its majority population and he is not showing any signs of
tiredness.
So...why not (make him life president)?"
Mr Mugabe,
who is in robust health, told Canadian journalists: "I will
retire, of
course, someday, but it all depends on the circumstances. I can't
retire if
my party is going to be in shambles."
As the race to succeed Mr
Mugabe hotted up within Zanu PF this year,
several financial and political
scandals involving senior Zanu PF leaders
were leaked to small privately
owned domestic newspapers.
They have been accused of plotting
against Mr Mugabe, stealing money
from various state institutions, and of
accumulating funds overseas.
Zimbabwe economist Peter Robinson said
yesterday any extension to Mr
Mugabe's term would further hurt the shrinking
economy and deepen levels of
poverty. He said the International Monetary
Fund Zimbabwe team was in Harare
at present and its officials were "very
depressed" with the economic
outlook, "and they have more access to
government than most of us.
"Mugabe is the problem. Any attempts to
move things in the right
direction are always thwarted by him."
He said even if Mr Mugabe stepped down immediately it would take 15
years
for the economy to recover to where it was in 1996.
Mr Mugabe's
police force, once the most professional in Africa, has
descended into his
private army.
Emboldened and ever more brazen, the Zimbabwe
Republic Police were
accused by the Human Rights Forum in Harare last week
of torturing thousands
of ordinary people who opposed Zanu
PF.
Mail and Guardian
Godwin Gandu
15 December 2006 09:09
People on antiretroviral treatment in Zimbabwe are struggling
with the price
of the drugs having risen by 60% over the past year.
"We are
suffering, unemployed and desperate. I can't buy drugs
or feed my four
children. Christmas doesn't mean anything to me and my
family," says Irene
Kumbirai (34), a HIV-positive widow from Highfields
township near Harare.
"After my husband's death a few years ago, my life
went from bad to worse.
I'm sick, can no longer afford drugs or even basics
from
shops."
Bianca Seremani (28) works for a food outlet in
Harare's CBD
where she says business has deteriorated over the years. She
won't be doing
any Christmas shopping this year because it is something that
has become a
luxury that few can afford. "I will be home with my sister and
daughter,"
she says. "There is nothing to celebrate. Where is the money or
the
commodities?" The food outlet where she works sports mostly empty
shelves,
with only a few meat pies and bread, reflecting the scarcity of
basic
commodities in most supermarkets.
"Even if some of
the basics were there, we have no money to buy
groceries," says Portia
Chikandavhara (39), a mother of four. Chikandavhara
is a newspaper vendor in
Harare's busy main street. Even rice is now a
luxury, she says - its price
having risen by 120% from Z$3 500 in less than
a week.
"In the past, we enjoyed Christmas to the full. We would eat and
drink until
we dropped dead. But these days there are no parties. This
festive season
will just come and go, just like any other ordinary day,"
says Trust Tanga
(21).
"I have come from my rural home to enjoy Christmas in
Harare,"
says Witness Matando (18). Matando has just completed his ordinal
levels and
looks forward to going for his lower sixth studies before he
graduates for
university. His rural home, Zaka, about 400km south of Harare,
is dry and he
hopes his relatives are able to "produce enough from the
fields to survive".
Given that "school fees, bread and maize-meal prices
have all gone up .
people there are battling to make ends meet," he
says.
Tucked in a corner along Harare's first street is a
paint shop
owned by Martin Marwick (70). Business might have slowed, but the
shop
manager is soldiering on, even without the finances to paint the town
red.
The economy has hit his pocket so hard that he can't afford tickets to
visit
his two children in the United States and Canada. "I will just spend
Christmas with my wife at home," he says. "What can we do? The situation is
getting worse. It's not improving, we are not seeing signs of
recovery."
Alex Nyamupusa (25) is wondering where he can get
the money to
buy his daughter and pregnant wife goodies for Christmas. "I'm
saving the
little I have to visit my relatives in the countryside," he says.
While
relatives and friends will be expecting a lot from those living in
towns,
Nyamupusa says he will try to make them understand "it's now tough
out here".
New Zimbabwe
By
Staff Reporter
Last updated: 12/15/2006 19:17:06
ZIMBABWE'S Registrar
General's office owes over US$17 million to external
creditors, a report by
a parliamentary committee reveals.
The RG's office stopped issuing
passports last week because it has no money
to buy the special paper used on
passports.
There is a current passport backlog of 300 000 and it takes 19
months on
average to process a single travel document, the Parliamentary
Portfolio
Committee on Defence and Home Affarirs said in a report seen
Friday.
Before last week's closure, the AG's office produced 20 passports
on average
a day.
In the national budget announced early this month,
the AG's office requested
over $75 billion but was only allocated $21,7
billion -- just 29 percent of
its financial requirements.
Independent
analysts estimate that Zimbabwe's industrial sector has
contracted by a
third since 2000, while the farming sector, previously one
of the country's
main foreign currency earners, has shrunk by 65 percent
during the same
period.
A serious foreign currency shortage has crippled most public
services, while
inflation has been driven up to 1070 percent -- the highest
in the world.
Unemployment is above 70 percent and shortages of food, fuel,
clean water
and electricity are commonplace.
Marriage certificates
could become the next scarce commodity. According to
local media reports,
the Bulawayo magistrate's courts have run out of
marriage certificates and
are desperately seeking more.
Zim Online
Saturday 16 December
2006
HARARE - Pushing presidential
elections to 2010 could prove costly for
Zimbabwe as it is certain to
increase negative publicity for a country that
will also be eyeing a share
of Africa's first World Cup hosting, analysts
warned
yesterday.
Synchronisation of presidential and parliamentary
elections is one of
the main proposals expected to be tabled and adopted at
the ongoing ZANU PF
annual conference that kicked off Friday at Goromonzi,
about 40 kilometres
north-east of Harare.
Presidential
elections are scheduled for 2008 but could be moved to
2010 to coincide with
parliamentary polls if the ZANU PF conference approves
the synchronisation
proposal from eight of its 10 provinces.
But analysts
yesterday questioned the wisdom of moving the
presidential polls to 2010,
saying political violence and human rights
abuses "usually pick up in
Zimbabwe around election time".
Zimbabwe was going to hold
general elections for Parliament in 2010
anyway. But analysts said topping
up the parliamentary poll with a
presidential ballot to decide who succeeds
Mugabe could only help lift
political violence - including possible
intra-party violence between rival
factions vying to control ZANU PF in the
post-Mugabe era - to unprecedented
levels.
"Tension and
violence usually reach fever-pitch during elections and
nobody in their
right mind would show their face in Zimbabwe during an
election year," said
University of Zimbabwe political scientist and Mugabe
critic John
Makumbe.
Makumbe said he was convinced soccer fans coming
for the World Cup
would certainly stay away from
Zimbabwe.
The last presidential poll in 2002 that was
controversially won by
Mugabe was marred by violence and gross human rights
abuses, including
several cases of political killings.
Local and international observers from the Commonwealth, Norway and
the
Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum described the
election as neither free, fair nor a true reflection of the will of the
electorate.
The analysts said timing of joint
presidential and parliamentary polls
was important as this had serious
repercussions on the economy.
"Knowing ZANU PF, they will
do anything possible to ensure a victory,
even at the expense of the economy
and the friendship of those few that have
stood by the country since this
crisis started six years ago," said an
economist with a Harare commercial
bank, who declined to be named for
professional
reasons.
He said presidential elections are normally a
high-stakes affair where
ZANU PF would "usually not do things according to
the book".
"ZANU PF is excellent at mistiming. That is
exactly what they want to
do when we should be making money out of this
international event," said
Makumbe.
The analysts said
the only options available to ZANU PF were to either
hold the joint polls in
2008 or after the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South
Africa.
Southern African countries are hoping to benefit from the influx of
visitors
who will come for the tournament. - ZimOnline
Zim Online
Saturday 16 December
2006
KWEKWE - Armed police on
Wednesday burned down dozens of homes
belonging to illegal gold miners near
the Midlands town of Kwekwe as the
government intensified a blitz against
illegal mining activities.
The police have over the past two
weeks been cracking down on illegal
gold miners in the country under an
operation code-named, Operation
Chikorokoza Chapera.
Illegal gold mining activities are rampant in Kwekwe which has some of
the
richest gold deposits in the country.
An illegal gold miner
who refused to be named told ZimOnline that
apart from losing his source of
livelihood, he had also lost property worth
thousands of dollars in the
blaze.
"We have lost our source of livelihood now it's
going to be difficult
for most of us to make ends meet in this tough
economic environment," he
said.
The police confiscated
mining tools such as shovels, axes, picks and
panning dishes as the illegal
miners fled the police operation.
As part of the crackdown,
the police also mounted roadblocks along the
Bulawayo-Harare highway where
they carried intensive searches for precious
minerals.
At least 9 000 illegal gold panners have been arrested since the start
of
the operation a fortnight ago.
The cash-strapped Zimbabwe
government says it has been prejudiced of
millions of dollars in foreign
currency over the past few years because of
illegal mining activities around
the country. - ZimOnline
VOA
By Ndimyake Mwakalyelye
Washington, DC
15
December 2006
A spokesman for the Zimbabwe national police
force Friday rebutted
accusations by a number of human rights advocacy
groups in Zimbabwe and the
region that police in the country are responsible
for abuses including
political arrests and torture.
Observances of
International Human Rights Day on Sunday, December 10,
brought a number of
reports from human rights groups critical of Zimbabwean
authorities.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum issued a report
describing a long
history of police violence from 2000 to the present. It
said the Zmbabwe
Republic Police was a leading offender and charged that the
ZRP suppresses
political opposition.
A report by the Solidarity Peace
Trust and the Institute of Justice and
Reconciliation said police have used
brutality against opposition parties
and civic groups.
ZRP Chief
Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka rejected all the charges in an
interview
with reporter Ndimyake Mwakalyele of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe.
VOA
By Blessing Zulu
Washington
15
December 2006
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
officially opened the annual conference
of his ruling ZANU-PF party on the
grounds of a high school in Goromonzi,
Mashonaland East, 40 kilometers east
of Harare. He denounced Britain and the
United States for allegedly
sabotaging the country's economy, and warned
party brass against a
minerals-sector grab that might be an embarrassment to
the
country.
Wearing party regalia imprinted with his own image, Mugabe
denounced the
West for allegedly working to bring about "regime change, "
blaming British,
U.S. and European targeted sanctions for the collapse of
Zimbabwe's economy
since 2000. His critics blame Mr. Mugabe's policies,
especially land reform,
for the six-year recession.
Though the top
item on the ruling party agenda was the so-called
"harmonization" of
presidential and general elections, the main effect of
which would be to
extend his term by two years, Mr. Mugabe made no reference
to it in his
speech. But delegates enthusiastically pushed the question from
the floor
led by the ZANU-PF women's league, which sang songs of praise and
urged him
to rule indefinitely.
Considering the rush by Zanu-PF to "harmonize"
elections, National
Constitutional Assembly chairman Lovemore Madhuku told
reporter Blessing
Zulu of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that harmonization
should not mean
extending a presidential term.
Madhuku said
opposition parties and civic groups would meet on Monday to map
the way
forward should ZANU-PF resolve in favor of a so-called
harmonization.
But Eddisson Zvobgo, Jr., legal secretary for the
ruling party in Masvingo
Province, argued in an interview with VOA reporter
Howard Lesser that term
extension is a cost effective, belt-tightening move
as the country struggles
to recover economically.
Party insiders said
Mr. Mugabe read the riot act to those jostling to
succeed him and indicated
he would not tolerate conference debate on the
subject. This came after it
emerged that loyalists of Mr. Mugabe's second
vice president, Joyce Mujuru,
backed by delegates from Harare province and
Mashonaland East province as
well as some veterans of the liberation war,
wanted to press Mr. Mugabe for
a retirement date.
But he pre-empted this, saying succession disputes
were breeding
factionalism in the party. Top party officials said Mugabe
ordered party
legal affairs secretary Emmerson Mnangagwa to drop a
defamation lawsuit
against chairman John Nkomo.
Analyst Glen Mpani of
Cape Town University told reporter Zulu that Mugabe
still plans to isolate
Mnangagwa, and that this is fueling divisions within
the party.
VOA
By Carole Gombakomba
Washington
15 December
2006
Both factions of Zimbabwe's divided opposition have
pledged to oppose the
move by President Robert Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF
party to extend his
term by two years under the guise of "harmonizing"
presidential and general
elections.
But the legal position of the
Movement for Democratic Change is relatively
weak and its options limited,
as ZANU-PF has amended the constitution more
or less at will since claiming
a two-thirds parliamentary majority in a
March 2005 general
election.
Harare North member of parliament Trudy Stevenson of the MDC
faction led by
Arthur Mutambara told reporter Carole Gombakomba of VOA's
Studio 7 for
Zimbabwe that her party is ready to unite with other opposition
forces to
keep the ruling party from "harmonizing" the elections so as to
keep Mr.
Mugabe in power until 2010.
Zimbabwe Election Support
Network Chairman Reginald Matchaba Hove said
public opinion must be brought
to bear as in 2000, when voters were called
to express their opinion on a
draft constitution. Voters rejected the
document 55% to
45%..
Kuwadzana legislator Nelson Chamisa, a spokesman for the MDC
faction of
Morgan Tsvangirai, said the political grouping will continue to
mobilize the
public and other stakeholders against a "harmonization" that
would extend
Mr. Mugabe's term.
VOA
By Jonga Kandemiiri
Washington
15 December
2006
Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube said the two MDC
factions need to
reunite to have a hope of bringing about democratic
change.
Ncube, a critic of the present government, said the MDC has not
provided
visionary leadership, and blamed Morgan Tsvangirai for the
continued split
in the opposition.
He went on to call the split of
the MDC a stumbling block to change.
Ncube told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri
that if the factions cannot reunite,
Zimbabweans will have no choice but to
seek other leadership.
The Herald
(Harare)
December 14, 2006
Posted to the web December 15,
2006
Harare
The British Embassy in Harare was allegedly involved
in arranging for the
Channel 4 crew to slip out of Zimbabwe after its
sanctions mission was
exposed.
Although the British Embassy has
distanced itself from the actions of the
disgraced Channel 4 journalists,
authoritative sources said the embassy
arranged for the crew to flee
Zimbabwe. According to the sources, the
embassy facilitated for the Channel
4 team to drive out to one of the
neighbouring countries from where they are
understood to have flown out.
The sources also said the crew -- fearing
arrest -- had engaged the services
of Harare lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa.
Deputy head of mission and embassy
acting spokesperson Valerie Brownridge
said while the embassy provided the
journalists with the relevant consular
services, their visit was not in any
way related to the renewal of sanctions
imposed on Zimbabwe by the European
Union.
"A four-man team from a
Channel 4 Production Company came to Zimbabwe to
make a film about
investment in Zimbabwe and the role of Nicolas van
Hoogstraten.
"The
visit of the Channel 4 journalists was not made at the request of the
British government and is unrelated to the existence or renewal of the EU's
common position," Brownridge said in response to written
questions.
The Channel 4 team came at the invitation of business mogul Mr
van
Hoogstraten, who wanted them to cover his business activities as well as
produce a documentary portraying Zimbabwe positively.
But the British
took advantage to build a case against Zimbabwe to renew the
illegal
economic sanctions imposed on Harare at a time some European Union
members
want the embargo eased. The Channel 4 crew already had a script and
was in
Zimbabwe merely to look for footage to accompany the script.
It had lined
up interviews with arch critics of the Government such as Dr
John Makumbe
and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights in a bid to smear
Harare and give
the British basis to push for the renewal of the illegal
sanctions.
The sources said crew's anchorman was not a bona fide
journalist but a
lawyer, a move meant to give legal credence to the
falsehoods about human
rights abuses their documentary intended to
highlight.
The Channel 4 mission was exposed after they dropped a copy of
their script
in Mr van Hoogstraten's car.
The Herald
(Harare)
December 14, 2006
Posted to the web December 15,
2006
Harare
HARAMBE Bakeries is considering closing half of its
operations owing to
viability problems arising from its failure to get
adequate flour to service
its market mostly in rural areas.
Harambe
Holdings, which doubled its bread production capacity, after
Government
asked it to take over collapsed Continental Bakeries to save
jobs, says its
failure to secure adequate flour supplies had left the
country's rural
operations, which account for 60 percent of its operations,
marginalised.
The company's chief executive, Mr David Govere, said
some areas had gone for
four to six weeks without producing bread owing to
non-availability of
flour.
"While theoretically these operations can
consume 3 000 tonnes of flour per
week, however, because of market
conditions and depressed incomes, Harambe
needs only 1 000 tonnes of flour
per week. It is, however, only managing to
secure a paltry 400 tonnes per
week and has at best half of its bakeries
operating," said Mr Govere, who is
also vice-president of the Employers'
Confederation of
Zimbabwe.
"Harambe has in general adhered to Government policies by
charging fair
prices for its products and has demonstrated national
commitment by
resuscitating collapsed businesses without looking up to
Government for
financing. We now feel so let down because of the inadequate
supplies of
flour we are now considering closing some of the
operations."
He said while the company has continued receiving adequate
flour supplies
for its traditional Superbake operations, it was the
Continental Bakeries
brand that was failing to secure flour from their
original supplier.
"Several discussions have been held with millers and
GMB to try to restore
the flour supplies that used to come from Blue Ribbon
Foods to Continental
Bakeries with very little success," he
said.
"All players have cited the reduced and rationed wheat allocations
as the
cause of the inadequate supplies despite the fact that while Harambe
at best
runs on two to three days flour cover, other bakeries boast two to
three
weeks' stocks in good times," he said.
"Harambe has requested
the authorities to re-look at the wheat/flour
allocations for both fairness
and equitable distribution. An additional
allocation of 400 tonnes of flour
per week would be sufficient to help all
the operations to produce with
shortfalls being sourced from the market from
time to time," he
said.
He said the company's model would be replicated under its regional
expansion
programme in at least seven Sadc/Comesa countries in the next
three years as
the group diversified its investment portfolio within the
sub-Saharan
African region.
"Plans are already underway to create
strategic alliances within the region
and create partnerships along the
lines modelled in Zimbabwe," said Mr
Govere.
The country has been
experiencing shortages of wheat resulting in the
Government importing the
crop to augment what is already produced by local
farmers.
Farmers
have also been getting material and financial support from
Government to
produce wheat.
The Herald
(Harare)
December 14, 2006
Posted to the web December 15,
2006
Harare
GOVERNMENT should order an end to any farm
disruptions, illegal evictions
and general disturbances of farming
activities to avoid undermining the
99-year leases that have already started
to be issued, the Parliamentary
Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Water,
Lands and Land Reform has said.
Commenting on the 2007 national budget
statement in the House of Assembly
last week, chairman of the committee, Cde
Walter Mzembi said those farmers
who have been ordered to vacate farms
should do so to allow smooth transfer
of ownership.
"Government
should send one congruent message on farm disruptions, illegal
evictions and
general disturbances of farming operations by following up
genuine
complaints on the same," said Cde Mzembi, who is also Masvingo South
Member
of Parliament (Zanu-PF).
"Continued inaction on this will undermine the
validity and authenticity of
the 99-year leases. Equally, those farmers
served with genuine and authentic
documentation to vacate farms should do so
within the stipulated period to
avert friction and allow smooth transfer of
ownership."
The committee supported the proposed investigation of the
Agricultural Rural
Development Authority, saying it was necessary to
establish its operational
and viability constraints in order to enhance its
service delivery before
funds could be made available.
The committee
said the budget vote allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture
was a far cry
of what was required and said it only reflected the needs of
half a
year.
Cde Mzembi said Zimbabwe joined other heads of State and Government
and
adopted the Maputo Declaration in 2003 that sought, among other things,
to
oblige all signatories to allocate at least 10 percent of their national
budgets to agriculture and rural development.
"For this, and other
considerations, one anticipates that the national
budget will provide
allocations to agriculture in a manner that unlocks the
potential of this
strategic sector. However, all indications show that this
is not the
case."
The committee bemoaned the $10 billion allocated for compensation
against an
$18 billion bid. This, Cde Mzembi said, implied that the number
of farmers
to be compensated would be scaled down by 44 percent in light of
the reduced
allocation, hyperinflation and the increased valuation rates for
equipment
and farm improvements.
"Let us fund the policy position on
compensation adequately and send the
right signals to the international
community in terms of upholding the
principles of natural justice and
international property rights," he said.
Farm valuations were required to
be undertaken for 99-year leases to be
issued and of the $47 billion
requested only $5 billion was allocated, said
Cde Mzembi.
He said the
requirement of $47 billion included $10 billion for the
acquisition of
survey equipment.
"Given the reduced allocation of $5 billion instead of
$47 billion, it means
only 7 500 farms would be surveyed in contrast to 15
000 farms in 2007," he
said.
"In the same vein, a bid for $10 billion
for feasibility studies (planning
and re-planning of State land) was
tendered but only $600 million was
allocated. Your committee's view is that
this is insufficient to cater for
all planning activities. This may mean
that our sound policies will remain
on paper without implementation on the
ground."
Engineering News
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zimbabwe's leading construction companies are beginning to feel the
pinch of
a massive haemorrhaging of engineers and skilled artisans, who are
making
the great trek down south as the 2010 soccer World Cup draws near.
South African construction companies have embarked on a massive drive
to
recruit skilled personnel in a bid to meet their deadlines for World
Cup-related projects.
"We have noticed all disciplines of
artisans, engineers, quantity
surveyors and senior managers leaving the
country for South Africa and other
countries," says independent economist
Mguni Maenzanise.
In mid-November, a leading South African
recruitment agency,
Professional Career Services, flighted a big
advertisement in the weekly
Sunday Mail: "One of Southern Africa's leading
design and building
contractors has a number of positions available
throughout South Africa.
"The work is on both building and civil
projects, including shopping
centres, power stations, office buildings,
pipelines, roads, and so on.
"We have the following building and
civil construction positions:
contracts managers, planners, quantity
surveyors, site agents, estimators,
site engineers, commercial managers,
land and engineering surveyors. We also
have the following design positions:
senior Cad operators and
draughtspersons, design engineers - in earthworks,
geotechnical, drainage,
structural, heavy civils and tunnels."
The thorny issue of work permits, usually the stumbling block for most
Zimbabweans intending to trek south, would be handled by the
company.
The South African World Cup organising committee expects
R17-billion
in new investments, which will lead to the creation of 123 000
new jobs in
the construction industry alone.
An official of the
Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe says
that, with the state of
affairs in the industry, "it is sad to say that some
companies are facing
imminent closure", as their human resource base has
been
depleted.
He adds that, ironically, Zimbabwe does not have jobs to
offer them
"because of what is happening in our economy".
Given
the skills flight that has hit the industry, he adds, it will be
impossible
for any local contractor, no matter how well established, to put
up a
high-rise building, such as Zimbabwe's tallest - the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe building.
No high-rise building has been built in
Zimbabwe during the last eight
years.
"As I speak, we no longer
have bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers or
even painters - the able ones
are all long gone. The only weapon that we
might have to make them stay is
to pay them in foreign currency, but we do
not have it and there is no way
that we, as an industry, can even try to
compete with South Africa," he
says.
The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has also
been hit
hard by the brain drain in the construction sector.
"A
number of projects that were being undertaken by the ministry have
since
been left uncompleted, as the professionals who were working on them
abandoned the ministry and moved, not to the private sector, but to South
Africa," says a ministry official.
"However, Murray &
Roberts Zimbabwe CEO Canada Malunga believes that
the developments in South
Africa are good for the region, in general, and
South Africa, in
particular.
But he is quick to admit that Zimbabwe's planned
infrastructure-rehabilitation programme, designed to accommodate the
anticipated visitors to the country before or after the World Cup
tournament, might be affected by the skills shortage.
"Our
infrastructure across the whole economy has deteriorated to
unprecedented
levels and is in dire need of reconstruction. This covers
roads and
transport, in general, water resources, telecommunications,
industrial and
commercial buildings and agriculture," says Maenzanise.
VOA
By Patience Rusere
Washington
15
December 2006
France has again stirred controversy by
extending an invitation to the
government of Zimbabwe - in effect, President
Robert Mugabe - to participate
in the France-Africa Summit to be held in
Cannes, France, in February.
An official at the French Embassy in
Washington said Zimbabwe had been
invited as a country and Mr. Mugabe as an
individual was not invited. The
spokeswoman declined to say what France
would do if President Mugabe
indicated he would attend.
The London
based anti-Mugabe activist group Zimbabwe Vigil said it would
mobilise
protests against French accommodation of Mr. Mugabe at the summit.
France
similarly stirred controversy in January 2003 when Paris invited Mr.
Mugabe
to the summit which brings together the former colonial power and
African
nations with which it maintains close ties. Mr. Mugabe attended the
summit,
to the chagrin of his Western critics. Would-be Zimbabwean
protesters were
denied entry to France.
European Union members including England and
Sweden sharply criticized the
French government for including Mr. Mugabe in
the proceedings.
Under targeted sanctions maintained by the European
Union and the United
States, Mr. Mugabe and 19 members of his cabinet are
banned from travel to
or through American or European territory. Reports
said Europe's sanctions
are expected to be renewed a few days before the
latest France-Africa summit
begins on Feb. 18.
Zimbabwe Vigil
coordinator Rose Benton told reporter Patience Rusere of
VOA's Studio 7 for
Zimbabwe that her group has sent a letter to French
President Jacques Chirac
and is lobbying trade unionists in France and the
United Kingdom.
By
Tererai Karimakwenda
15 December 2006
Members of the
Zimbabwe Vigil group in the UK have stepped up their
campaign to ensure that
the European Union (EU) renews targeted sanctions
aimed at the Mugabe regime
and associates. These very specific sanctions
that limit Mugabe and his
cronies from travelling abroad, as well as monitor
their assets, are due to
be renewed in February 2007.
Vigil officials say there are worrying
signs that the measures may all
fall apart before then. To maximise the
chances of a renewal, they have
organised a campaign that involves lobbying
British MPs and EU officials and
mobilise concerned individuals and groups
to take action. On many occasions
Mugabe has managed to travel outside
Zimbabwe with large delegations to
attend United Nations functions and other
events meant for heads of state.
Sometimes his presence sparked
demonstrations and strong criticism, and
other times there were no
disruptions.
In the UK Vigil coordinator Rose Benton said they had
written to the
French Embassy after discovering President Chirac was
considering inviting
Mugabe to a summit in Cannes in February. She said the
group urged the new
French Ambassador to Zimbabwe to do all he can to block
the invitation.
France has been under enormous pressure from Southern
African states that
have threatened to boycott the summit if Mugabe is not
invited. Benton said:
"In our letter we tell the French Ambassador to call
their bluff."
SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe
news
By
Lance Guma
15 December 2006
The embassies of several
Southern African states in London face an
early and probably unwanted
Christmas present in the form of demonstrations
by Free-Zim Youth UK. Alois
Mbawara who leads the group says they will be
targeting all 14 Southern
African Development Community (SADC) members'
states. On Friday 22nd
December the group launch their 'Long March' entitled
'Africa Liberate
Zimbabwe' and will target the embassies of Zimbabwe, South
Africa, Botswana,
Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.
Mbawara says because the embassies
are dispersed in different
locations of London they will be unable to cover
all 14 countries in one
day. The marches have been broken into two with the
remaining 8 embassies
set for January next year. The group says they welcome
an initiative by
World Alliance for Citizen Participation (CIVICUS) in
advocating for
regional civic societies and the international community to
offer solidarity
and sympathy with the people of Zimbabwe.
Wellington Chibanguza, one of the Free-Zim coordinators, said in a
statement
that their programme of action also comes in the wake of, 'the
initiative by
SADC to appoint a troika to assess the political crisis in
Zimbabwe and it
calls on us as young Africans to realise that the regional
influence is
absolutely imperative to any political or social aspect of any
nation.' The
group slammed what they called, 'the shackles of political
incompetence,'
which Free-Zim UK believe have chained the people of Zimbabwe
and the rest
of the African continent.
Mbawara says, 'regional civic societies
and institutes like SADC and
the AU have social, economic and political
responsibilities and should be
for the empowering of the African people in
advocating for political
consciousness and a democratic environment.' He
says while SADC was set up
to achieve economic development the Zimbabwean
crisis flew in the face of
all those objectives. They now want all SADC
member states to realise just
what Zimbabweans are going through and the
'Long March' as they call it, is
designed to achieve that
objective.
SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe
news
Please send any job opportunities for publication in this newsletter to:
JAG
Job Opportunities; jag@mango.zw or justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 24/11/06)
A Harare based property company requires a hands-on,
energetic and
disciplined individual, with a general basic knowledge of
plumbing,
electrics etc, to help with the supervision and maintenance of
existing
buildings. Package to be negotiated. If interested please send a one
page
synopsis of your career and attendant skills to Box 10149,
Harare
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 24/11/06)
A Country Club close to Harare is looking for the
following staff:
1) A general handyman preferably with some knowledge in
maintenance of golf
course fairways and greens, associated equipment, staff
management and
familiar with irrigation systems.
2) Someone with
experience in bar and restaurant management or
organisational
skills.
The above positions would ideally suit a couple. Accommodation,
medical aid
and negotiable salary are on offer. These positions are
available
immediately.
Please forward CV to kelara@mweb.co.zw.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 30/11/06)
Mornings only, term time only, lady wanted for Nursery
School in Avondale.
Preferably qualified or ex teacher but someone who enjoys
children and has
lots of patience can apply. The position is for our
3-year-old class and
would only suit someone who has an excellent command of
English. Lovely
working environment, excellent salary. To start 1st term
2007.Tel 884294 011
602 903 or e-mail me at gandami@mweb.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 30/11/06)
We are still in search of a manager to run our camp
and bar. We need someone
who...
* Is preferably single
* Is very
flexible...no set hours here.
* Can supervise competent (but sometimes dozy)
staff.
* Is a bit of a handyman...there's always something that needs
fixing.
* Can do maths and a bit of paperwork...computer literate is good but
pencil
and paper is also acceptable
* Has good social skills...there's
some funny folk around so polite
democracy is a valuable asset.
* Can make
a plan at short (no) notice and still smile.
* Has a driving licence.
*
Likes the bush...elephants and hippos abound.
* Does not drink much...this is
a holiday environment and if you can't be
disciplined it will ruin you.
*
Can cope with boys being boys and girls being girls.
* If you like doing a
bit of cooking that would be good.
We offer a reasonable salary (enhanced by
commission), accommodation, lights
and water on site (nothing fancy, but it
is comfortable), a varied job and a
social atmosphere.
Please send CV's to
relax@warthogs.co.zw
Warthogs
Bush Camp
112 Powerlines Rd, Kariba
P.O. Box 263,
Kariba
Zimbabwe
Cell: + 263 11 201 733 (Louisa)
Cell: + 263 91 201 048
(Ian)
Camp: + 263 61 2515
www.warthogs.co.zw
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 30/11/06)
A farm manager is needed to operate a 250 ha
irrigation seed maize farm in
Kenya. The operations involve Land preparation,
planting, de-tasselling,
harvesting, drying, processing, packaging and
storage. At least 8 years of
experience in efficiently operating a similar
operation of this size is
required with particular skills in plant
maintenance, repair and management.
Responsibility will include 24/7
management of labour, staff, budgets and
project accounts.
A basic
salary commensurate to experience and skill, housing, vehicle,
fuel,
amenities will be provided and an annual profit based bonus. An initial
2 yr
contract renewable for further 2 years will be made although the
project
life is at least 10 years. Applicants to respond with CV and
Photograph by
email to saleeme@gmail.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 30/11/06)
VACANCY EXISTS FOR AN ENERGETIC COUPLE TO MANAGE CAMP
ON A PROPERTY IN THE
SAVE VALLEY CONSERVANCY WHOSE MAINSTREAM BUSINESS IS
HUNTING.
REQUIRED SKILLS:
GENERAL RANCH CHORES
MANAGING LABOUR
FORCE OF 40 WORKERS
WATER
RETICULATION
ANTI-POACHING
MECHANICS
LIASING WITH HUNTING
STAFF
TAKING CARE OF HUNTING TROPHIES FOR DISPATCH
ORDERING SUPPLIES FOR
HUNTS & STAFF
CATERING FOR CLIENTS
MAINTENANCE OF LODGES &
STAFF
FOR FURTHER DETAILS, PLEASE CONTACT
JAG
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 07/12/06)
Mature management couple wanted for upmarket
photographic safari camp within
Hwange National Park . Preferably to have had
previous work experience in
the safari industry or a farming
background.
Please send CV to Ron@wilderness.co.zw or Courtney@wilderness.co.za
COURTENEY
JOHNSON courtney@wilderness.co.za
Wilderness
Safaris Zimbabwe
P O Box 288, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
366 Gibson Road,
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
T + 263 13 43371/2/3
F + 263 13 45942
C +
263 11 213 467
www.wilderness-safaris.com
www.north-island.com
www.childreninthewilderness.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 07/12/06)
Female Domestic / cook wanted with traceable
references. ASAP.
Contact: rsjsgardini@zol.co.zw or 011 604
084
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 07/12/06)
PA required:
Minimum qualification O levels +
secretarial/computer skills, plus
experience preferably. Government scale
salary. Suit school-leaver
resident of Mt Pleasant or nearby.
Start
immediately. mail trudys@zol.co.zw
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 07/12/06)
Vacancy exists for a Butchery supervisor; the main
duties being stocktaking
and ordering. This job, being very relaxed, would
suit semi-retired
ex-farmer living in the eastern suburbs of Harare.
Starting 20th January,
2007. Tel. 091
308509.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 15/12/06)
Bookkeeper/Administrator
A vacancy exists in
our Accounts Department. We are looking for a mature,
responsible and
trustworthy person, with a proven track record in accounts.
The candidate
shall be able to:
Work up to trial balance,
Have a good sense of attention
to detail, and being able to work on a number
of different issues at any one
time.
Preferably have worked in exports and imports before
Competent with
Excel, Word, Pastel
Knowledge of Belina Payroll
At least 5 years
experience
An excellent remuneration package is on offer.
Applications
with current CV and letters of reference can be -
Emailed to beck@africanencounter.org or fax
to 702814
Delivered in sealed envelope, addressed to -
Beck
Edwards
Vacancy - Accounts
11 Philips Ave, Corner 2nd St,
Belgravia.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
EMPLOYMENT
SOUGHT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 17/11/06)
I am a Bsc Hons In Agric (Crop science) graduate and
currently working on a
tobacco farm in Nyazura area as a Farm Manager, doing
mainly tobacco and
potatoes. I am looking for a similar placement elsewhere
in Zimbabwe or
Zambia. Available from 1December 2006. I have six years
experience in
agronomy and farm management with special skills in:
-
Planning cropping programmes, farm staff and general labour
management
drawing & implementing farm budgets general farm cost control
sourcing and
procurement of inputs marketing produce planning and directing
farm
operations providing expert advice in production of the following
crops;
tobacco, maize, potatoes, peas, baby corn, sweet corn, cabbages,
beans,
butternut.
For my detailed C.V e-mail imusiiwa@yahoo.com.
Or telephone
011433837
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 24/11/06)
Situation sought for a semi-retired male.
A
semi-retired male, single, seeks rewarding employment. It does
not
necessarily have to be in the scientific fields that he was trained, and
he
is desirous in being kept busy and not completely chair bound. He has
a
clean driver's license class 3, 4, and 5, and is relatively free to
travel.
His training was in the fields of telecommunications including
radio,
electromechanical equipment (instrumentation, including medical)
and
electronics.
He is employed at present but needs a change to be in
a situation where his
skills / experience and knowledge can be utilized to
the full for job
satisfaction.
Employment does not even have to be in
the formal sector and a flexi-time
position would be attractive. He is
prepared to talk to any one with ideas.
He is trustworthy having been
employed in a position of trust, handling
chequebook, cash, and stock since
his retirement.
Interested persons please reply to this email
address.
boaz@zol.co.zw and a CV will be
forwarded to you.
Alternatively telephone him direct on 04 487631
evenings and weekends or 04
703119 any time where a friend will take your
call and pass on your
contact
details.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 07/12/06)
A mature lady in position of a Diploma in Education
and has numerous years
experience in teaching and looking after kids, seeks a
suitable position.
The lady has had experience in looking after orphans
and is currently
working in a farm environment.
Please email : katanha@abington.co.zw
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ad
inserted 15/12/06)
Bookkeeper available to prepare your books
annually/monthly financial
reports,Balance sheets,Income
statements,Cashflows,Bank
reconciliations,budgets,payroll
adminstration,returns calculations(
Vat,Paye,Nssa,NEC,Medical aid etc) Pastel
& Belina installation,setting up
and training
Please contact andrew@guardtec.co.zw / musiiwamuza@yahoo.co.zw /
allanmakuzwa@yahoo.com or allan
091296134 Muza 011531107 / 04
740233
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For
the latest listings of accommodation available for farmers, contact
justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Please send any material for publication in the Open Letter Forum to
jag@mango.zw with "For Open Letter Forum" in the
subject
line.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter
1 - Cathy Buckle
Dear Family and Friends,
A shameful and very
distressing report has just been released in Zimbabwe.
This time it does not
come from the UN or any other international body, but
from Zimbabwe's own
Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare. Research
was undertaken and
statistics gathered right across the country and included
58 rural districts
and 27 urban areas.
The report says that living standards in Zimbabwe
have dropped by 150% in
the last ten years. Malnutrition in children under 5
has increased by 35%
and the number of people without access to health care
has increased by 48%.
Seeing the percentages in black and white is bad
enough but when you see for
yourself the evidence of this dramatic decline,
it is truly terrifying. In
the last month the basic cost of living in
Zimbabwe went up by 47% percent.
When you go shopping in a supermarket,
everywhere you look people are
carrying almost nothing. Finding sources of
affordable protein is almost
impossible. Meat is a luxury now - out of reach
for almost all Zimbabweans.
Long, long gone are the days when we would buy
strips of biltong to snack on
as we walked or when butchers would break off
pieces of beer sticks to
quieten niggling kids. Now people are buying scraps,
bones and something
called "shavings" which are the white crumbs which
accumulate under the
blade of the saws and butchery knives. Cheese is off the
menu permanently;
eggs and milk are very close behind. This week one single
egg is selling for
200 dollars and half a litre of milk for 600 dollars (add
3 zeroes for the
real cost). A cup of milk or an egg for breakfast is now the
height of
luxury and when you understand that, then you understand why
malnutrition
has increased by 35% in young children. It hardly bears thinking
how bad
nutrition levels must be in the vast majority of our adult
population.
Adults who, when you ask them if they have had breakfast say they
are not
hungry because they have had a "very big drink of water" to fill
their
stomachs - it will see them through till lunch time.
Outside the
supermarkets these days there are the usual swarm of street
children but if
you look a bit harder, in between the hordes, you see the
really desperate
ones. Old men, skin and bone, bare feet, shaking hands,
sunken eyes and it
makes you just weep to see the depths we have dropped to.
So very many people
need help now but so few are able to help anymore.
I end on a positive
note with congratulations for our rugby team. Its always
very dangerous for
me to write about sports because I know so little about
it - and understand
even less, however this is a story as much about
patriotism as of sports. A
friend wrote to say he had just watched the
Zimbabwean rugby team do a lap of
honour in the pouring rain at the end of a
tournament being played outside
the country. He said the team had lost in
the end but they had done Zimbabwe
proud. They were fine, upstanding men who
had given their all and were so
very obviously proud to be Zimbabweans. The
Zimbabweans in the crowd were
equally proud to stand and cheer the sportsmen
from the country that is in
such a mess, but that we all love so much. The
rugby pitch might be a million
miles away from the "shavings" in the
butchery but all tell the story of the
people in this wonderful country. As
hard as it is, we all try to carry on as
normal because we know that bad
times don't ever last.
Until next
week, with love, cathy Copyright cathy buckle 9 December
2006.
http:/africantears,netfirms.com
My books: "African Tears"
and "Beyond Tears" are available from:
orders@africabookcentre.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter
2 - Mrs S Oosthuysen
Dear JAG
I would like to advise your office
that there have been other farmers in the
Midlands affected in the same way
as mentioned in your communique.
We were evicted from our property on
13November, following the same
procedure and by the same people as before.
This time we were only given
4 hours to be off the property. The first time
was at the beginning of the
year just before Easter, and we were allowed to
return in July. A tatty
piece of paper was shown and when asked for a copy,
my husband was told to
get his own.
We have tried to reclaim some of
our private property, with endless delays
and hassles; no one is prepared to
help. Officials: firstly they will agree
that the whole episode is illegal,
only to change their tune the very next
day. As matters develop, we are not
allowed in, to salvage what we can, and
the idea behind it of course, so that
we cannot take note of every thing
that has disappeared and carried away. It
is just a case of plain day light
robbery.
On our second attempt our
truck and trailer was confiscated. I can report
however, that my husband
persevered and was allowed back on Monday 10th to
retrieve the truck and
trailer and move some of the items that were left.
Mrs S
Oosthuysen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter
3 - Eddie Cross
Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee
Sometimes the antics
of the Zimbabwe regime take on all the features of a
rollicking farce. We
have the Minister of Finance presenting what sounded
like a professional
review of the economy - except that not even he believed
half of what he had
to read and then the President makes a speech and slams
his economics,
defending practices that have landed us in the mess we are
all in
today.
There is no attempt to deal with the basics or the fundamentals
just more of
the same formula that have driven the economy and the welfare of
the people
straight into the ground. For a start, the overall spending
planned in the
budget vastly outstrips our capacity to support such
expenditure from our
shrinking economy and contains a basic budget deficit
that is equal to about
half the total expenditure planned and a third of our
GDP.
Add the combined losses of the State owned organisations (86 of
them) that
are also spending our money and the budget deficit goes ballistic
- probably
of the same order of magnitude as in 2005 when the IMF stated that
their
estimate was that our deficit was 63 per cent of GDP. For the
non-economists
among you, our sustainable deficit is probably about 3 per
cent. So the
printing presses run and our inflation gallops along at 2000 per
cent and
rising.
Unperturbed by this situation and knowing who is
responsible for inflation,
the regime attacks its business community. They
have launched an operation
they call "operation hurricane" and have hundreds
of police, Reserve Bank
and Ministry officials constantly visiting
manufacturers and retail
establishments to ensure that they do not exceed
"controlled prices". What
are these prices? Simply what the Minister or the
Ministry decides as being
a "reasonable" price for any given item or
commodity. So bread will be sold
at Z$295 a loaf (about 12 US cents) while
the bakers argue that given raw
material costs, the price should be over
Z$600 a loaf (a massive 24 US
cents!). No agreement and the largest bakery in
the country exceeds the
stated price by Z$5 a loaf and their MD is thrown
into jail for 6 months,
two months suspended.
Some 6000
businesspersons from all walks of life face court hearings and
imprisonment
at this moment and they include many of the largest business
operators and
managers in the country. Many firms have simply stopped
trading in controlled
products rather than face imprisonment or fines.
Then the regime decides
to buy aircraft from its remaining friends in the
world of aviation. They
start by buying two aircraft from China and in
return were given one for
"free". Only one remains flying - one is now
stripped down for spares and the
other is waiting for spares. It was
discovered they were not new when
purchased and no maintenance arrangements
were put in place. They are noisy
and uncomfortable.
Then it was the turn of the Russians. The Minister
responsible goes to
Moscow to negotiate the deal and the Governor of the
Reserve Bank is sent to
ensure the Russian mafia does not diddle him. They
get to the final stages
of the deal and are presented with a demand for a
US$25 million kickback.
No deal until this is paid, in cash up front. They
did not have that sort of
money - were hoping for a deal on credit, asked for
time to contact Harare
and then both of them fled back to the safety of their
Harare haven. Scared
to death that the Russian mafia would not take
non-performance very lightly.
Since Gono's main friend in Moscow was gunned
down by contract killer's just
months before, perhaps they had something to
fear. But whom were they
dealing with for heavens sake! Perhaps birds of a
feather!!
Then finally one of the many international court hearings on
Zimbabwe is
about to get under way in Paris. This case concerns a claim by 11
Dutch
nationals who had invested in Zimbabwe after 1980, protected by a
bilateral
investment protection agreement and bought farms with "certificates
of no
interest" from the Zimbabwe government saying that the land was not
required
for land reform. Then along came the "Fast Track Land Reform", in
reality
simply an exercise to loot the assets of the large-scale commercial
farmers
and to destroy their political influence, and they were forcibly
thrown off
their farms and lost their entire investments.
They were
not big players by any means - they are only claiming US$15
million, but it
is their unique position as investors that makes this case
so interesting.
They are going to win their case - the Zimbabwe government
has appointed top
lawyers to defend their position but they too must know
this is a lost cause.
When they win, three things will happen - every legal
firm in Europe will be
hunting for clients in a similar position with a
claim against the looters,
the potential fee income is huge! Thousands of
new cases will be forth coming
as farmers, now spread across the globe take
legal action to secure
compensation in the currencies of their choice, and
finally, no assets of the
Zimbabwe regime will be safe, aircraft, buildings
and even embassy motor
vehicles will be subject to legal attachment. It is a
nightmare.
I
have no idea how large the total liability will be but I am willing to bet
it
runs to many billions of US dollars and certainly exceeds our
present
international debt that we cannot service anyway! Nothing deterred,
Mutasa
and his pirates continue to loot farms and illegally seize assets from
local
investors - many also covered by bilateral investment agreements signed
by
the State before this madness.
The confirmation of title rights by
international courts will complicate the
situation in southern Africa as a
whole and even before the case is
finalized, is impacting on land and assets
values in Zimbabwe. The sale this
past week by Anglo American, of their last
pre 1980 assets in the form of
Hippo Valley Estates to Tongaat Huelett in
South Africa for 17 per cent of
its real value highlights this - it shows
that Tongaat believes, like
myself, that one day soon this long nightmare
will be over, asset values
will recover and we will be able to rebuild our
lives again. Hang onto your
title deeds guys; you may need them
soon.
Just to complicate their lives even further we have all the makings
of a
lousy wet season upon us. In the main cropping areas the rains are
already a
month late and this is a much worse start to the season than last
year.
Because of the poor harvest in 2005/06 we will have to import at least
1
million tonnes of maize as well as 300 000 tonnes of wheat and many
other
basic commodities to feed the country. It would appear that we will get
no
relief from the weather in the current season, even if we were prepared
for
a better harvest with all the required elements in place.
Eddie
Cross
Bulawayo, 11 December
2006
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
All
letters published on the open Letter Forum are the views and opinions of
the
submitters, and do not represent the official viewpoint of Justice
for
Agriculture.