Police assault street theatre artists for "inciting revolt" against president

IFEX

  Date: 20 December 2006
  Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

  (MISA/IFEX) - On 28 November 2006, police in Bulawayo severely assaulted
four street theatre artists for satirising Zimbabwe's worsening
socio-economic crisis following the staging of a play dubbed "Indhlala"
(Hunger).

The four members of Umkhula theatre group who were assaulted with batons and
planks and ordered to roll on the tarmac, were only released the next day
without charges after being accused of staging a play aimed at inciting
people to revolt against President Robert Mugabe.

The police also accused them of being agents of the opposition Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC). Police in Bulawayo confirmed the arrests but denied
assaulting the artists, saying they were arrested for "blocking the
pavement".

Similary, on 13 September 2006, the police brutally assaulted leaders of the
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) ahead of planned nationwide
demonstrations to protest against the worsening economic hardships. ZCTU
Secretary-General Wellington Chibhebhe was hospitalised after sustaining
serious head injuries following the brutal assaults in condemned cells at
Matapi Police Station in Harare (see IFEX alerts of 2 October, 29 and 18
September 2006).

In an interview with "ZimOnline", one of the artists reportedly said: "But
we are just actors, with nothing to do with politics. We live on acting by
capturing what is relevant to people's lives - and currently, hunger and
long queues are the main theme."

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is greatly concerned about
ongoing harassment and detentions in Zimbabwe targeting human rights
activists, minority community activists and others peacefully exercising
their rights to freedom of expression and association.

MISA is calling on the Zimbabwean authorities to immediately cease arrests
and harassment of those peacefully exercising their rights, and to ensure
that all persons in detention are protected from torture or other
ill-treatment.

MORE INFORMATION:

For further information, contact Zoé Titus, Programme Specialist, Media
Freedom Monitoring, MISA, Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61
232 975, fax: +264 61 248 016, e-mail: research@misa.org, Internet:
http://www.misa.org

Ziscogate - Sekeramayi leads committee to probe Mpofu

zimbabwejournalists.com

      By a Correspondent

      HARARE - Parliamentary Speaker, John Nkomo, has appointed defence
minister Sydney Sekeramayi to lead a six-member Parliamentary Privileges
Committee that will investigate colleague Obert Mpofu over attempts to cover
up corruption at Zisco.

      Mpofu, the minister for industry and international trade, is facing
contempt of Parliament charges after he told a parliamentary portfolio
committee in September there was a "shocking" report that showed Zisco had
been massively looted by colleagues in Zanu PF. He then backtracked in what
many believe to be one of the greatest cover-ups by the ruling party of
corruption involving senior government and Zanu PF officials.

      The Zimbabwe government has been scrambling to bury the report to hide
its disclosures while ministers have been trying to obfuscate the issue
resulting in Mpofu allegedly having to lie under oath to cover the truth.

      He was not in the House when the committee was announced. The
privileges committee, established by the Standing Orders and Rules Committee
of Parliament, is expected to report back to the House when it resumes
sitting next year.

      In announcing the committee, Nkomo said: "Pursuant to the chair's
ruling that there exists a prima facie case against Minister of Industry and
International Trade, Honourable Mpofu, the Standing Orders and Rules
Committee met and appointed a Privileges Committee which consists of
Honourable Sydney Sekeramayi as chair."

      Other members are Webster Shamu, the policy implementation minister,
Mufakose MP Paurina Mpariwa (MDC), Gokwe-Kana MP Jaison Machaya (Zanu-PF),
Zaka West MP Marble Mawere (Zanu-PF) and Bulawayo North East MP Professor
Welshman Ncube (MDC).

      Before President Mugabe announced his intentions to stay in power for
an extra two years, many believed probing Mpofu was a way of trying to do
down the Joice Mujuru camp in the succession battle but Sekeramayi's
appointment to lead the committee may now mean the minister maybe absolved
of any wrong-doing. Sekeramayi belongs to the powerful Mujuru camp in Zanu
PF.

      The industry minister gave Parliament conflicting statements on a deal
that saw an Indian firm, Global Steel Holdings, assuming control of
Ziscosteel without any contractual agreement or injecting working capital
into the State-owned firm.

      The portfolio committee, led by Zanu PF's own Enock Porusingazi then
pushed for Mpofu to be charged with contempt of Parliament. The committee
believes he is shielding senior Zanu PF officials who have been fingered in
the report. Vice President Joice Mujuru and a few others have been
reportedly accused of dipping their fingers into Zisco's coffers.

      Nkomo said he had taken into consideration that Mpofu's evidence was
given under oath and contained unsolicited or voluntary statements when he
reached his decision to have Mpofu probed.

      He said Mpofu conducted himself in a manner that would lead a
reasonable person to conclude that he was prevaricating with the intention
to mislead the committee or that he presented to the committee false,
untrue, fabricated or falsified evidence with the intention to deceive the
committee.

      The Privileges, Immunities and Powers of Parliament Act provides that
any person who commits any act specified in the schedule shall be guilty of
an offence and liable to a fine of up to Zd$4 000 or imprisonment for a
period not exceeding two years or both such fine and imprisonment.

Fuel squeeze cripples

The Zimbabwean

HARARE - The fuel shortage in Zimbabwe has plunged the economy deeper into
crisis and heightened political anger against President Robert Mugabe's
government, analysts and the opposition said this week.

The two-week shortage has nearly paralysed the country's public transport
system and forced many struggling companies to scale down operations at a
time when they normally cash in on festive season shoppers.

Diesel and paraffin, mainly used by poor urban families for cooking, had run
out at many service stations.

Motorists are spending nights in queues at the few service stations with
fuel.

News of the deepening fuel crisis coincided with an official release that
Zimbabwe's annual inflation has jumped to a record 1,090 percent, mainly
over increases in food prices.

"What is emerging all around us in this country is a picture of extreme
managerial incompetence, and the government must be extremely embarrassed by
what we are all seeing here," private economic consultant John Robertson
said.
Mugabe's government remained silent on the crisis despite opposition demands
for an explanation. But official sources said the president's advisers were
huddled in closed meetings during the Zanu (PF) conference to try to find a
solution to the fuel crisis that has left the public seething with anger.

"People are very angry with everything going on," Nelson Chamisa, spokesman
of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), told The Zimbabwean. "Zimbabwe
is now a nation where everything is in short supply except violence, misery,
disease and death."

Zimbabwe's efforts to clinch a fuel-supply deal with an Iranian company had
failed after a week of talks with the state-owned National Oil Company of
Zimbabwe (NOCZIM), the country's sole oil procurement agency.

NOCZIM officials have been accused of corruption and sabotage in their
handling of the fuel crisis. NOCZIM and ministry of energy officials have
not commented.
Fuel supplies have been erratic since 1999 due to a foreign currency
squeeze, which has also left the country short of other basic items such as
bread, cooking oil and sugar.

Mugabe blamed his problems on domestic and foreign opponents who he says are
trying to overthrow him for seizing white-owned farms for redistribution to
landless blacks. Mugabe has also accused foreign oil firms of profiteering
at the expense of the state by not importing their own fuel.

"Do the petroleum companies want to co-operate with us, or not?" Mugabe
warned during the ruling party's conference on Saturday.

Zimbabwe is grappling with its worst economic crisis since it gained
independence from Britain in 1980, including a severe food shortage that has
left nearly a quarter of its 12,5 million people facing starvation.

Threat to seize oil firms

The Zimbabwean

HARARE - President Robert Mugabe has threatened to seize the facilities of
leading oil companies operating in the country and use them to distribute
fuel, accusing them of refusing to cooperate with government.

At the annual conference of his ruling Zanu (PF) party held at Goromonzi
High School, Mugabe said that the Government could 'acquire' service
stations and storage facilities, compensate the companies to which they
belonged and dispense the fuel.

The 82-year old president accused the oil companies of selling petrol and
diesel at black market rates.

"Do the petroleum companies want to cooperate with us or not?" Mugabe asked.

There are five multinational oil firms with a presence in Zimbabwe - BP,
Shell, Mobil, Total and Caltex - and their assets are worth millions of
pounds.

Lawyers said that such a move would be illegal.

One lawyer, who did not wish to be named, said: "It would be patently
unconstitutional. Besides, most of the international oil companies are
covered by bilateral treaties from this kind of nationalisation."

The President's remarks came two weeks after the Government said that it was
drafting a new policy within its so-called 'indigenisation' programme to
prioritise fuel supplies to the 24 'independent' companies licensed to
retail fuel, nearly all of which are owned by senior Zanu (PF) officials.

Fuel reserves in the country have reached their lowest levels in seven
years, since leading oil companies cut off supplies to the state-owned
National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (NOCZIM) when the Government failed to pay
arrears for imports.

Mugabe told the conference that the oil companies were making huge profits
while the Government made losses from importing fuel via NOCZIM, which sells
it on - for just $325 a litre, making Zimbabwean fuel among the world's
cheapest - to the multinationals to distribute.
Economists say that total state control over fuel distribution would condemn
the industry to the same failures affecting much of the country's
agriculture, transport, mining, telecommunications, railways and power
industries.

"Mugabe's thinking is that taps make water," a Western diplomat said. "If he
goes ahead (with the takeover of multinational service stations), the
country will dry up far quicker than it is doing already."

In the past week, the queues of drivers have lengthened and more service
stations have been putting up 'no fuel' signs. Vehicles abandoned at the
roadside for lack of fuel have become commonplace.

In Marondera, a small town east of Goromonzi High School, the venue for the
ruling party conference, fuel was available only for party officials. This
reporter was told at a Mobil service station that he could buy petrol only
if he could prove that he was a delegate.

Harare supermarket prices, northern suburb(21-12-06)

Calendar marks days of suffering

The Zimbabwean

BY MAGUGU NYATHI IN JOHANNESBURG

The Crisis in Zimbabwe coalition has launched a 2007 calendar, a record that
speaks volumes about Zimbabweans' suffering under the regime.

On the cover is a poem by Zimbabwean-born Dennis Brutus, Somehow We Survive.
It describes how Zimbabweans toil each day through deprivation and loss, yet
somehow they survive.

The cover also shows how vendors survive, as they fend for their children,
constantly running because municipal police say they are not allowed to sell
their wares in certain places.

Like all Zimbabwean-action organisations, Crisis believes another Zimbabwe
is possible. "Zimbabwe has the unfortunate distinction of having the highest
rate of inflation (over 1000%) and the lowest life expectancy (34 years for
women and 37 for men). The vast majority of Zimbabweans are poorer today
than they were a decade ago. The speed with which the Zimbabwean economy has
declined in the last five years is unheard of outside a war situation.

"In fact, there is a war against the people - the government's operation
Murambatsvina destroyed the homes of over 700 000 people. With a
"militarised government that rules through repressive laws, violence,
silencing of the media and the denial of people's rights to protest,
Zimbabwe is indeed a country in crisis. but somehow we survive," reads the
statement on the calendar.

The calendar depicts the difficulties Zimbabweans are forced to endure. The
month of June shows Zimbabweans alighting from a bus at a bus rank in South
Africa, where a large number of the country's population have been forced to
travel either to trade or to seek refuge.

The month of September shows that although South Africa's freedom has been
achieved, Zimbabweans are not yet free. The picture shows the living
conditions of Zimbabweans in the Methodist Church - the only church that has
tried to accommodate the homeless Zimbabweans.

Launching the calendar, Elinor Sisulu (media manager of Crisis) said her
organisation was prepared to use all platforms to fight for democracy in
Zimbabwe.

"Zimbabwe is burning and as Crisis we will fight for democracy on all
fronts. We will use artist and poet to speak more firmly and clearly to the
Mugabe government. This calendar tells clearly the story of Zimbabwe and the
need for democracy."

Shamed official back

The Zimbabwean

 HARARE - President Robert Mugabe has overturned the dismissal of Simon
Pazvakavambwa and reassigned him as a secretary without portfolio in the
President's Office.
Pazvakavambwa was relieved of his post as Agricultural Ministry permanent
secretary by chief secretary to Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda last month after a
damaging scandal in which sub-standard fertilizer was imported into the
country from South Africa.

The Zimbabwean heard that after a three-hour stormy meeting at Zimbabwe
House last week, in which dossiers were produced, Mugabe reassigned
Pazvakavambwa to his office amid reports he could appoint him secretary of a
new ministry he intends to create through a cabinet reshuffle in January.

Pazvakavambwa, who is a cousin to Retired General Solomon Mujuru, reportedly
told Mugabe that he was a victim of internal squabbling between himself and
agriculture minister Joseph Made, and that the fertilizer scandal could have
been 'a trap'.

Official sources said Pazvakavambwa produced documents detailing the entire
transaction. The documents also revealed that he had not botched the deal as
he had only approved it after a due diligence exercise carried out by the
government laboratory.

The documents reportedly absolved him, and included supporting documents
prepared by government agricultural experts who had inspected the fertilizer
and certified its quality.

The government is believed to be our of pocket of US$300,000 in the deal
that saw the importation of 70,000 tonnes of fake Compound D fertilizer from
Intshona Agricultural Products of South Africa.

The same company has been contracted to supply 600,000 tonnes of wheat to
Zimbabwe amid reports the grain was only fit for  stockfeed, not for human
consumption.

New constitution is key

The Zimbabwean

BY MUTSA MURENJE

I never partook in the struggle for independence in Zimbabwe - not because I
didn't want to, but because I was born three years after Zimbabwe became
independent. But I know what people fought for in that struggle.

The struggle for independence from colonial rule in Zimbabwe (and Africa at
large) was a struggle to realise freedom, equality, individual liberties and
democracy.

Zimbabwe urgently requires a new, democratic, people-centred and
people-driven constitution.

That phrase is a clear indication that Zimbabwe already has a constitution
but that this constitution is old, undemocratic, not people-centred and not
people-driven.

Dissatisfaction with the provisions of the Lancaster House Constitution,
particularly Constitutional Amendment Number 7 of 1987, has led to the
struggle for a new democratic dispensation.

Constitutional Amendment Number 7 created the position of Executive
President and the most serious problem in our constitution is an
all-powerful president with all sorts of powers. Our president wields almost
total power in the land. Why? Because our bad constitution gives it to him.

Some fundamental rights and freedoms are conspicuous by their absence in the
current constitution - for instance, the freedom of the press, the right to
education, the right to food, the right to shelter, to mention just a few.

The government has a panoply of coercive tools such as the military, police,
CIO, war veterans and youth militia. The draconian pieces of legislation
POSA and AIPPA have also prevented a smooth transition from authoritarianism
to democracy since these curtail, among others, the rights to freedom of
association, assembly, movement, media freedom and freedom of expression.

A new constitution is the key. According to the late Professor Masipula
Sithole, "the constitution is the basic or fundamental framework upon which
all else, including the economy ensues". Without a sound constitutional
framework all else comes to nought. A sound constitution is requisite in
that it regulates the conduct of politics, which in turn regulates or
influences the economy.

Our diabetic economy largely stems from bad governance. Good governance,
democracy and development all emanate from a new, democratic, people-centred
and people-driven constitution.

Bringing about a new, democratic, people-centred and people-driven
constitution requires civil disobedience. According to Mahatma Gandhi, civil
disobedience is "the assertion of a right which law should give but which it
denies". Unjust laws are bound to be broken.

The African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights Article 20 (2)
states that colonised or oppressed peoples shall have the right to free
themselves from the bonds of domination by resorting to any means recognised
by the international community.

Which path do we have to follow as Zimbabweans? The ball is in our hands. We
are the authors of our own destiny. The struggle continues unabated!

State bullying will not serve Harare

The Zimbabwean

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

Service provision in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate, and residents fear
that a serious outbreak of disease cannot be far off. For the past two
weeks, Glen Norah residents have been exposed to raw sewage flowing through
their suburb's streets. The Combined Harare Residents Association expressed
their concern, especially about the health of children playing in the
vicinity. City officials had been alerted to the hazard but had not
responded.

BY PRECIOUS SHUMBA

The recent announcement by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works
and Urban Development, Ignatius Chiminya Chombo, has confirmed what we have
all along known - that the Zanu (PF) government of Robert Mugabe is not
prepared to swallow defeat at the hands of the residents of Harare.

They would prefer a spineless commission comprising political rejects to run
the affairs of the capital, rather than a council elected by popular vote.
Such political rejects cannot even win within the ruling party's structures.

Cases pointing to institutionalised bullying of the masses include: the
recent announcement that the term of the illegal commission running the
affairs of the capital will be renewed despite its apparent record of
incompetence and illegality; the refusal by the authorities to acknowledges
a crisis of governance in Harare; and the hostile takeover of residents'
water infrastructure, supply and billing without consultation of the
residents by the state-controlled Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).

There is no Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Harare and ZINWA
on the takeover of our water infrastructure. ZINWA lacks capacity to run our
water business (front page, Herald 11 December 2006).

What is apparent is that the commission lacks both the capacity and the
legitimacy to run Harare. We, the residents of Harare are the owners of this
city and we deserve the right to elect our own councillors and mayor.

The commission's tenure has been renewed on four occasions, and when the
minister announces a new commission in the next few days, it will be the
fifth time its term has been renewed. Chombo and Zanu (PF) are fully aware
that their action would be wrong, legally and morally.

High Court judges Justices Charles Hungwe, Rita Makarau and Supreme Court
judge Justice Wilson Sandura have made substantive and insightful judgments
regarding the re-appointment of commissions to run a local authority.

In her judgment (in the case Number HC12862/00 of Christopher Magwenzi
Zvobgo versus the City of Harare) Justice Makarau ruled that the
re-appointments of commissioners remained unlawful, as was also ruled by
Justice Wilson Sandura in the case of Lottie Stevenson versus the Minister
of Local Government and others in case SC 38/02.

Chombo continues to misinterpret Section 80 (5) of the Urban Councils' Act
(Chapter 29:15). In the Supreme Court judgment, Justice Sandura said:
"Consequently, the Minister could not avoid having a general election of
councillors by continually re-appointing the commissioners. In my view,
section 80 (5) of the Urban Councils' Act was not enacted for that purpose.
The power given to the minister by that section was intended for use, as a
temporary measure, during the period preceding the holding of elections as
required by the Electoral Act. The re-appointments of the commissioners were
therefore illegal."

CHRA is also guided by previous judgment by High Court judge Justice Hungwe
in the case of CHRA and another versus the Registrar-General HH 210/2001. He
said: "The matter which gave urgency to the inception of this application at
least from the papers was that the term of office of the current
Commissioners expires at the end of December 2001. There is a real danger
that should there be no duly elected mayor in office by 31st December 2001,
then the City of Harare will grind to a halt as it will not be legally able
to expend any money for any purpose. This fear arises from the fact that the
Minister cannot lawfully re-appoint Commissioners ad infinitum. Any such
re-appointment is illegal."

Residents of Harare continue to pay for collapsed service delivery. Refuse
collection has ceased in 60 percent of Harare. Water shortages have crippled
household and industrial activities. City budgets have been imposed on
residents without following the due process of the law.

Although the legal processes are slow and frustrating, CHRA will pursue the
costly and time-consuming court processes.

The Association continues to urge residents to stop paying their rates and
rentals until there is a legitimate board of city fathers to run our
affairs. The illegal commission has failed to run the affairs of Harare and
should be removed before inflicting further misery to residents.

 That is why CHRA continues to demand:

? The holding of regular, free and fair Council and Mayoral Elections - 'No'
to the continued re-appointment of Commissions!

? Efficient service delivery; clean and safe drinking water, regular refuse
collection, and upgrading of sewer and water reticulation systems.

? The urgent restoration of sources of livelihood and housing for Operation
Murambatsvina victims.

? Constitutionalisation of Local Governance and reform of The Urban Councils
Act (Chapter 19:15).

? Transparent and accountable administration at Town House and in Local
Government.

? Respect for the Rule of Law.

? Greater involvement in City Budget formulation - 'No' to imposed City
Budgets!

?Precious Shumba is Information Officer of the CHRA.

Renounce your sins, Mugabe

The Zimbabwean

EDITOR - An Open Letter to Robert Mugabe: Dear Mr Mugabe, I refer to my
previous letter to you headed 'The lie of the land', telling you of the lies
that have been associated with the land issue over the last six years. I
told you of the consequences of your new 'gazetted land [consequential
provisions] bill' which at that stage you had not signed.

As you know, you have now signed it and a date for its commencement has been
set for 20 December. Forty-five days from that date, we who are left on the
land will face up to two years in prison for being in our homes and farming
crops and livestock during this summer season.

We, the white farmers who you say are your 'enemies', and all our workers
will be homeless and without income; or in prison if we do not comply with
your new law. After hearing of this development last week, I turned to my
Bible and the first verse I read was from Daniel chapter 4 verse 27. Daniel
said to the king of Babylon: "Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and
your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed".

When the king refused to do this and continued to walk in pride and
wickedness his "royal authority was taken from him" until he recognised that
"the most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men".

Your excellency, you can make unGodly laws. You can take what is not yours
and refuse to pay. You can expel the truth from the land and make the land
into the lie of desolation. You can oppress the poor. You can destroy the
successful. You can put me in prison for defying your unGodly laws and
staying in my home. You can do all this in the name of sovereignty. But what
you cannot do is defy the sovereign laws of the living God indefinitely
without severe consequences to yourself, your people, and our nation.

I ask you, like Daniel, to renounce this latest act of wickedness and
oppression that will put hundreds of thousands of people on the wrong side
of your law if they stay in their homes and continue farming.  Yours
Sincerely,

BEN FREETH, Chegutu

Dictatorship rules by extension

EDITOR - The NCA learnt with great shock the intention by the Zanu (PF)
elite to extend President Mugabe's term of office. We believe that extending
the current presidential term of office will be an insult and provocation to
peace-loving Zimbabwean citizens.

There is no need to overburden President Mugabe by giving him an extension
of office to be head of a government that is failing to manage the economy.
As NCA we believe that President Mugabe has nothing more to offer and the
most honourable thing is to leave in 2008.

We urge Zimbabweans to remain focused on constitutional reforms as a way of
getting out of the current crisis. Zanu (PF) wants people to divert their
focus from demanding a new constitution, to start debating the extension of
office.

As far as the NCA is concerned, the issue at stake is how the government
intends to run the presidential election. If the laws that govern the
running of elections are not changed it is abundantly clear that Zanu (PF)
will continue to manipulate the electoral system to its own advantage.

NCA believes that a presidential election in 2008, 2010 or 2030 under the
present constitution will not be won by anyone who is not Zanu (PF). The NCA
will be in the streets protesting against Zanu (PF)'s intention to
perpetuate dictatorship through dubious extension of the current
presidential term of office.

Unless we get a constitution that is democratic, Zanu (PF) will continue to
run this country as their personal tuck shop. Let's unite and resist
oppression as a way of liberating ourselves from this merciless regime that
is egocentric and set against the wishes of the majority of Zimbabweans who
are languishing in dire poverty.

The people of Zimbabwe should not fear threats from the police, army, CIO,
war veterans and any other state agents. State apparatus members are
experiencing the economic hardships just like any other citizen, and we know
that they cannot take it anymore.

The NCA will mobilize Zimbabweans to resist any presidential election that
is conducted under the current draconian laws. We call upon Zimbabweans to
come out clear in demanding constitutional reforms before the presidential
election and to reject the extension of President Mugabe's term of office.

MADOCK CHIVASA, (NCA Spokesperson), Zimbabwe

A Christmas like no other

The Zimbabwean

It's Christmas. For as long as most Zimbabweans can remember Christmas was a
time of fun, feasting and family. Most of us received new clothes, even
shoes, and only the poorest of the poor did not have mountains of chicken
and rice to eat, and beer and coke to drink.

This Christmas will be like no other. And we join millions of Zimbabweans
around the world in praying that there will never be another one like it.

Most families have been split up in one way or another - death, disease or
the diaspora has claimed everybody's mother or sister, husband, child or
cousin. Those still in the country have no fuel or bus fare with which to
bridge the urban-rural gap. Tables will be bare, bellies empty and throats
dry this festive season - in cities and villages alike.

Of course, not everybody will suffer in this way. The tiny Zanu (PF)
thievocracy, still clinging for dear life to political power, are at the top
of the food chain in more ways than one.  They will feast, and they will
drink. They will splurge on all that glitters. They will spoil their
children with fancy imported gadgets and snug, warm, new shoes.

But don't envy them, for they have sold their souls and the day of reckoning
is coming. Not only have they sold their own souls, they have caused
innocent ones to stumble and fall. They have forced them to betray their
beliefs, their morals, their culture, their families.  They have destroyed
lives, livelihoods, families and futures.

We receive countless stories of women and youngsters resorting to
prostitution and drug abuse and men resorting to theft, bribery, violence
and other crime in order to stave off the hunger pangs of their dependents.

Children can no longer be children in Zimbabwe.  Men and women no longer
grow old and become ambuyas and sekurus. Families no longer gather to
celebrate together. But Christmas is still Christmas.

And we trust that the people walking in such terrible darkness in our
beloved Zimbabwe this year will indeed be conscious of a great light, and of
an unseen source of comfort and joy that does not depend on material things.

Joke of the week

The Zimbabwean

Mugabe, Joyce Mujuru and Gono were flying together in the

President's jet.

 Mugabe suddenly said: "You know what. Ican throw $100,000 out of this
window and make someone happy.

 Joyce Mujuru said: "I can throw 10 X $10,000 notes out of the window and I
still make 10 people unbelievably happy.

  Gono said : "I can throw 100 X $1000 notes out of the window and make 100
people very very happy.

 Then one pilot looks at the other and says: "Listen to those 3 showoffs at
the back...I can throw all 3 of them out of the window and

 I will make the whole country happy.

Tons of trash kill Sunshine City

The Zimbabwean

BY GIFT PHIRI

HARARE - Once lauded as the "Sunshine City," Harare is now the subject of
satire, derided by observers as a "dead city" because of its reeking mounds
of garbage, persistent water shortages, electricity blackouts and sanitation
problems.

The commission running the city, which is made up of handpicked cronies of
President Robert Mugabe's governing Zanu (PF) party, is struggling to
provide the most basic of services.

And it is not just the capital that is suffering. Uncollected refuse, for
example, has become one of the biggest environmental problems afflicting all
of Zimbabwe's urban centres.

Occasionally, the magnitude of the problem even usurps politics, Zimbabweans'
favourite topic, as the talk of town.

Harare's main streets are strewn with litter, its business and residential
areas full of huge heaps of garbage. It has all accumulated over the past
three years when an elected opposition Mayor was kicked out of office and
replaced with an inept commission of handpicked Zanu (PF) supporters run by
extravagance-loving Mayoress Sekesai Makwavarara.

Environment and Tourism Minister Francis Nhema last week led a delegation of
the commissioners to one of the city's commonplace dumpsites near Magaba
Flats - a densely populated slum.

The minister took one look at the massive eye-sore, turned his nose away
from the steamy stench, and immediately ordered the commissioners to
relocate the garbage dump to somewhere on the outskirts of town.

The Magaba Flats dump was actually condemned by the Environment Ministry two
years ago. It now holds over 1,3 million cubic metres of garbage, which is
spilling over a large part of the nearby Magaba slum.

Refuse from the lower side of the site flows into Mukuvisi River, creating
yet another environmental disaster. Elsewhere the story is all too similar.

In Chitungwiza, a satellite town of the capital, Harare, children play in
streets dotted with uncollected garbage. They ignore the stench of
overflowing sewerage and race little home-made boats in contaminated water.
"The problems in Chitungwiza are beyond the council's control," said former
Mayor Misheck Shoko, who has also been forced out of office because of
alleged inefficiency. "While I was at the helm of Chitungwiza, we could not
source donor funding on our own to upgrade the sewerage and water systems,
which are old and dilapidated, as the (central) government dictated that
such funding should be channelled through its coffers.
"Right now I am told the garbage collection vehicles are immobile due to
fuel shortages, but (central) government regulations stipulate that urban
councils can't procure fuel from abroad on their own," Shoko complained.
The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), which has been lobbying
for a rates boycott until local governance and service delivery improve,
says the responsibility for the current crisis should be laid squarely on
the shoulders of local government.

"We cannot pay rates when there is no water, refuse is not being collected
and street lights are not being repaired," said CHRA information officer
Precious Shumba.
In Harare uncollected rubbish continues to pile up in the central business
district. Environmentalists and health experts have warned that the city may
be sitting on a disease time bomb, as raw sewerage continues to spill into
Lake Chivero, the capital's main source of water.

Shumba said if the commission, and indeed Local Government minister Ignatius
Chombo, continue to fail their citizens they might find themselves in the
dock. Shumba said they can be taken to court and forced to perform their
duties.

"Infact, the commission running the city is illegal and this is why as CHRA
we are demanding that fresh elections be held immediately to deal with this
problem," Shumba said.

Three years ago, the central government appointed a commission to run
Harare, after Chombo dismissed its elected opposition Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) mayor, Engineer Elias Mudzuri, for alleged
inefficiency.
Shumba said local government officials should be arrested and taken to court
for failing to collect garbage and for failing to ensure cleanliness.

To counter the growing environmental threat posed by the city's spreading
rubbish, Harare residents have devised their own means of tackling the
problem by organising occasional strikes where they dump raw sewerage and
garbage at Town House.

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city, although relatively clean, is grappling
with an acute water crisis due to successive droughts, but Mayor Japhet
Ndabeni-Ncube's council does not have the authority to borrow funds, making
it difficult to maintain minimal services.
Francis Dhlakama, the mayor of Chegutu, 140 km southwest of Harare, said his
town was "as good as dead".

"While we need 30,000 megalitres of water a day, we are able to purify only
12,000 megalitres a day ... (and) some of it is lost through leakages," he
explained.
In smaller urban centres like Bindura and Shamva, north of Harare, ongoing
fuel shortages have forced councils to collect refuse using ox-drawn carts
hired from nearby farmers.
"We are trying to ration fuel so that we can attend to cases that require
immediate attention, like in the health sector. The (ox-drawn cart garbage
collection) programme will continue until the fuel situation in the country
improves," said the Shamva council chair, Sydney Chiwara.
In Marondera, southeast of the capital, schools closed early due to water
and electricity supply problems.
The CHRA blames government interference for the crisis that is gripping most
urban centres and claims that politics have taken precedence over good
governance and service delivery issues in many local authorities.
Morris Sakabuya, the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Public Works and
Urban Development, acknowledged that there were problems affecting service
delivery in urban centres, but blamed councils for operating without set
targets.
"The government cannot sit (idly by) while services go down, we (have to)
react to situations on the ground," Sakabuya commented. "If things go wrong,
people always ask: 'Where was the government?' If we intervene, they start
calling it interference."

A commissioner who spoke to The Zimbabwean on condition of anonymity
defended Harare's authorities, pointing out that Local Governments across
the country, especially Harare, were broke and that their tax revenue could
not pay for adequate services. He also stressed that local authorities had
additional problems to deal with, like ruined roads and unsafe drinking
water.

But Shumba insisted that the Harare council was badly managed and riddled
with corruption, citing Makwavarara's housing, DSTV and curtains scandals.

And until something is done to improve local government, there is little
chance of any progress on the streets.

In the meantime, Harare will be swamped by more rubbish, and the image of a
"Sunshine City" will become an ever more distant memory.

Daily bread a daily struggle

The Zimbabwean

By PAUL PALATI

BEITBRIDGE

Beitbridge residents face severe bread shortages as Zimbabwe's economy
continues to spiral into chronic instability. According to residents, the
problem began a few months ago when the government introduced price controls
on selected basic commodities as a means to slow down Zimbabwe's runaway
inflation.

Beitbridge residents say often bread can be found only at one shop in the
area, the Baobab Spar. This means they are forced to get up before 6am each
day to get a place in the queue at the Spar, which opens at 8am.

The area around Beitbridge is one of the most expensive in Zimbabwe because
of the thriving black market at the border post. Severe food shortages have
become a daily occurrence. The situation is made worse by Zimbabwe's rapidly
dwindling supply of foreign currency to pay for imported flour.

All these factors have contributed to the Baobab Spar establishing a
monopoly in the area and being able to raise the price of bread as they
choose. Recently, loaves of bread were being sold at double their normal
price, for Z$450, which is unaffordable for most citizens.

The dominant position of the supermarket in the area has created fertile
ground for corruption. Some of its employees regularly sell bread through
the back door at even higher prices. "Employees often tell us that the bread
is finished," said Peter Sibanda, a regular customer at the Spar. "However,
everyone knows these employees hide loaves by the dozen, to be sold at taxi
ranks by their friends at sky high prices ranging from Z$600 to Z$800."

Sibanda added: "If you ask the people at the taxi ranks where they got the
bread they answer you by saying you are asleep if you do not use the
opportunities that come your way. It's very discouraging."

The manager of the supermarket was unavailable for comment.

Residents say the rapidly worsening situation has affected the moral fibre
of the people. People no longer care for one another. Instead, the law of
the jungle prevails - survival of the fittest. Those who have, get more
through their corrupt dealings whilst those who have not become more
destitute.

Because of escalating hardships, the majority is now forced to invent
devious means to survive. Chipo Chikwavaire summed up the situation: "The
masters used to oppress the workers, now we deprive one another. The time
has come to benefit ourselves instead of the company while the company still
has money."

SA court victory for Zim exiles

The Zimbabwean

 BY NOWELL MARUFU

PRETORIA - The South Africa Home Affairs Department was forced into a
humiliating climb down after being ordered by the Pretoria High court to
speedily issue refugee status to Zimbabwean asylum seekers within a period
of three months.

The ruling was made last week in a South African High Court judgment, which
upheld the rights of asylum-seekers to an efficient and speedy determination
of their applications for asylum.

The judgment has been hailed by The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) as a step in
the right direction.
Justice Rabie of the High Court ruled last week in favour of seven
Zimbabwean asylum-seekers who took the current Home Affairs procedure to
court.

However, South Africa Home Affairs spokesperson, Jackie Sapula, said the
department's team of legal experts were studying the ruling with a view to
challenging it.

 "We are currently studying the ruling and we shall make an announcement
shortly," said Sapula.

Home Affairs Director-General, Sibusisiwe Sitshehle, confirmed that the
Zimbabwe refugees had won their case but declined to give further comments.

The High Court ruled that the process was highly inefficient and that the
lengthy delays in processing asylum applications hindered refugees from
accessing basic rights, such as the right to study and work.
The court appointed a curator to oversee and report back to the court on the
compliance of the Home Affairs Department. The order outlined certain
changes which should be made to improve its method of handling
asylum-applications.
The ZEF issued a statement applauding the high court for its ruling, arguing
that the ruling would go a long way towards improving the state of affairs
at the Department of Home Affairs.

"ZEF finds its own work vindicated by the High Court's decision," said
Gabriel Shumba , ZEF Human Rights Lawyer and Executive Director.
"It gives us great confidence in the South African judiciary's impartiality
and commitment for the upholding of human rights.
"International instruments, including the United Nations Refugee Convention
of 1951 together with its 1967 Protocol and the 1969 OAU Refugee
Convention - as well as the South African Constitution and the Refugee Act
as amended - recognize the rights of asylum applicants to basic rights, such
as the right to work and study," added Shumba.
Shumba pointed out that the speedy determination of asylum-applications in
an efficient and non-discriminatory manner was an integral prerequisite for
enjoyment of these rights by refugees.
He urged the Department of Home Affairs to revisit their policies and
procedures, as well as to put in place corresponding effective measures to
enable it to implement the provisions of the Refugee Act and international
Conventions in compliance with the High Court decision.
 "ZEF implored the South African government in particular and SADC leaders
in general to deal with the Zimbabwean crisis in an active and constructive
manner, as opposed to mass and often indiscriminate deportations of
Zimbabweans," said Shumba - CAJ News.

How the other half meets

The Zimbabwean

BY GIFT PHIRI

GOROMONZI

The ruling Zanu (PF)'s 9th national people's conference was a resplendent
affair where delegates were showered with food and luxuries, including ice
cream, amidst countrywide shortages and poverty.

In an apparent bid to distract the party faithful, bussed from the country's
10 provinces from the sad reality of the crippling shortages of the most
basic of commodities, the Zanu (PF) machinery made certain that at least for
the week of the conference there was maximum pomp and fanfare, with a
massive 80 beasts being slaughtered for the extravagant conference.

The conference, which ended on Sunday at Goromonzi High School in
Mashonaland East, turned out to be one huge feast for the party's
leadership.

Lunch comprised a plate of sadza or rice and a choice between goat meat,
lamb, beef or chicken. The sumptuous course was capped with ice cream and
two bananas.

Delegates were also served with a bottle of mineral water to wash down these
delectable delights. They chanted slogans with renewed vigour.

Goromonzi High School was an island of plenty far removed from the realities
of present-day Zimbabwe where people have to scrounge around for basics such
as bread, milk, sugar, mealie-meal and cooking oil.

As a further convenience for delegates and residents, fuel tankers were
commandeered to Goromonzi High School and Marondera at the expense of the
rest of the country where thousands of motorists had to endure endless hours
in long queues for petrol.

Shop owners at Majuru, a dusty growth point next to the school, reported a
boon in business from purchases made by delegates, mainly alcohol.

The high school, which was renovated for a massive $600 million by the
ruling party, resembled a motor mart where the latest vehicles, including
Mercedes Benz, BMWs and 4x4s surrounded the school.

The conference venue, which was dotted with huge white tents usually pitched
at State House during official functions, was emblazoned with hate-filled
and racist banners.
Security was unprecedented, and betrayed President Mugabe's growing
paranoia. There were at least three roadblocks between Harare and Goromonzi
High School where passengers were subjected to intrusive body searches by
gun-toting military intelligence officials.

Everyone visiting the school was expected to display their accreditation
card and had to go through three checking points manned by police officers
with metal detectors. Only those with accreditation cards for the conference
were at liberty to move as they wished.

As a result, nightlife was confined to Zanu (PF) delegates as they
patronised the nightclub at the nearby Majuru Growth Point where some chefs
were seen making off with commercial sex workers in their cars.

Residents of the growth point said that, apart from the amusement provided
by the 'latest cars' show, the Zanu (PF) Conference was of no relevance to
them.
Another resident who watched President Mugabe's speech on national
television at a local bottle-store said it was disappointing that the
president was harping on the past, encouraging division and threatening the
opposition at every given opportunity.

"It is becoming difficult to tell which is the real Mugabe, between the one
that spoke so admirably in 1980 and the promoter of hatred we are seeing
today," he said.

He said Mugabe's unrepentant, hate-filled and racist speech was the exact
antithesis of the kind of model non-tribal and non-racial society he told
the world he was creating when he first took office as head of government in
1980.

A sales lady at a supermarket at Majuru Growth Point said it was apparent
Mugabe had correctly read the mood of the nation and concluded that his
party stood no chance of winning in a fairly contested presidential election
in 2008 against the MDC, which he claimed was sponsored by Britain and the
US governments, hence the need to postpone presidential elections.

Economic laws are as inviolable as the law of gravity.

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Coltart"
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 4:24 PM
Subject: Economic laws are as inviolable as the law of gravity. Drop a
stone - it will hit the ground. Mess with basic economic rules and an
economy will collapse.

Friends,

Those of you who were present when I first spoke publicly after the 2002
election at a report back meeting I held at the Church of Ascension will
recall I said the following:

            “Economic laws are as inviolable as the law of gravity. Drop a
stone - it will hit the ground. Mess with basic economic rules and an
economy will collapse.”

Zimbabwe has a remarkably resilient economy and wonderful, resourceful
people – those 2 factors have resulted in the Zimbabwean economy being
stronger over the last 4 years than many expected it to be. However it was
always just a matter of time before the stone hit the ground. The attached
extract from a report in the Johannesburg Star yesterday says it all:

“Sources say the CIO's documents seem to make it clear that weary
Zimbabweans would rather have Mugabe go in 2008. If presidential elections
are to be delayed till 2010, then it might be easier to sell the project
with a new leader for both the ruling party and the country. A special
parliamentary committee on defence has warned that inadequate budgetary
allocations to the army would leave Zimbabwean soldiers earning wages below
the poverty datum line. The report is the clearest indication yet that
Zimbabwe's seven-year economic crisis is starting to cripple Mugabe's
ability to keep the armed forces happy.”

The last frontier is the support the military gives to the regime. That
frontier is looking increasingly fragile.

Regards,

David