The Zimbabwean
BY A CORRESPONDENT
JOHANNESBURG -
The Zimbabwe government's human rights abuses are under the
spotlight in the
Gambia this week.
At its 38th ordinary session, the African Commission is
debating the report
by it's fact-finding mission which exposes the
unwillingness of the
government and its agencies to comply with
recommendations, especially on
national dialogue and
reconciliation.
The report says it is manifestly evident that, instead of
attempting to
implement the recommendations in order to create an
environment conducive to
freedom of expression in Zimbabwe, the government
has strengthened
repressive laws and taken action that has had exactly the
opposite effect.
"There have been five high-profile cases in which
various arms of
government, including the executive, three ministries, a
statutory body,
local authorities and the police, have failed to comply with
court orders,"
the report says.
These include the refusal to issue a
licence to The Daily News and its
sister Sunday newspaper, the deportation
of journalist Andrew Meldrum in
defiance of a court order and the rejection
of an Electoral Court ruling
nullifying the results of the nomination court
for the Roy Bennett
Chimanimani constituency case.
"AIPPA remains
operational and continues to be implemented in a selective
manner to stifle
the free dissemination of information and free speech
within Zimbabwe,
especially through the private media," the report says. The
Constitutional
Amendment (No 17) Act passed recently makes wide-ranging
intrusions into
basic human rights guaranteed under the constitution of
Zimbabwe, as well as
various international human rights instruments to which
Zimbabwe is
party.
Although the commission is largely a toothless bulldog, analysts
say the
fact that it is seriously debating Zimbabwe is a positive signal and
will
help to raise international awareness.
Meanwhile Zimbabwe's
National Association of NGOs (NANGO) has called on the
International
Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute government officials
responsible for the
country's controversial urban clean-up campaign five
months ago.
UN
special envoy Anna Tibaijuka, also the director of UN-HABITAT, labelled
Operation Murambatsvina a "breach of both national and international human
rights law provisions guiding evictions". NANGO wants Tibaijuka's report to
be implemented, and the perpetrators brought to book.
The ICC, unlike
the International Court of Justice, can try individuals and
investigate
crimes, such as drug trafficking and genocide, referred to it by
governments
as well as the UN Security Council.
The Zimbabwean
BY MARTINE
STEMERICK
In a blatant attempt to cover up the depth of famine and suffering
from
international scrutiny by the press and the UN envoy, Mugabe's forces
are
once more engaged in removing innocent people from UN camps.
Famine
and drought are just "the tip of the iceberg," said Roy Bennett. "I
would go
as far as to predict another Niger situation here in Zimbabwe."
In
Epworth, people are still sitting at the wrecked sites of their former
homesteads. Parents no longer have any income, and the children cannot go to
school. At Hopley Farms, desperate victims of Murambatsvina are without
adequate food or water. "But it's not just Harare," Bennett
added.
"It's happening in Headlands. Didymus Mutusa, the man who is
filled with
hatred against the people of Zimbabwe, recently moved against a
refugee
settlement. The people were camped out in United Nations tents and
were
being supplied food through the International Organization of
Migration.
They were all translocated, moved much further away where they've
got no
access to food and no way of getting back into town because they were
deemed
to be opposition supporters."
UN special envoy, Jan Egeland,
an Under-secretary General in charge of the
World Food Program, will
scrutinize the desperate food and housing situation
on a visit scheduled for
early December. If he could speak to the UN Envoy,
what would Bennett tell
him about the crisis?
"There are three points that we must understand
that are involved in the
situation involved in the disaster in Zimbabwe
here," Bennett said.
"One: this is a manmade disaster. The government has
created it. It has
nothing to do with drought. It has nothing to do with
anything other than
bad governance and the total destruction of a viable
farming sector here in
Zimbabwe.
"While there is drought at the
moment, you have dams full of water. Eighty
percent of the food produced
here in Zimbabwe was produced from commercial
farms through irrigation. That
irrigation is lying idle. Those dams are
full. So the fact that at the
moment there is no food available is not a
result of the drought. These are
the issues that are the problem and must be
addressed."
"So the Envoy
who is coming in must understand these three factors: that the
crisis is
manmade; that Mugabe will never ever permit him to see anything;
and the
fact that any independent media has been done away with - so that
there is
no reporting out of Zimbabwe especially in the rural areas, which
is at the
heart of the situation - so the whole lot goes unnoticed and the
Mugabe
government puts on this front to say the crisis is due to sanctions,
is due
to a drought, and hides the issues of the true situation under the
carpet."
Why not admit that the famine is a man-made disaster?
According to Bennett,
Mugabe "cannot allow the western nations or the world
or the region to see
that he has totally failed with his so-called land
redistribution programme.
So he will never show anybody what is happening on
those farms or allow
anybody to speak to those people who are starving out
there."
Lack of any meaningful action by the African Union and ongoing
support by
Thabo Mbeki's regime in South Africa have covered up Mugabe's
policy
failures.
"That continues to be the case and worse. There is
interference by external
governments in the internal situation in Zimbabwe,"
Bennett accused.
"You have Mbeki and South Africa involved with Zanu
(PF). They have
believed, and supported by Britain, I must add, in a
government of National
Unity here in Zimbabwe and a reformed Zanu (PF).
Whenever those ideas are
put to the test or put the feelers out to the
people, they have been
rejected hugely. Nobody is interested in a government
of National Unity and
nobody will believe in a reformed Zanu
(PF).
"So they have now infiltrated the opposition. They have caused
massive
in-fighting within the opposition with one goal: that is, splitting
the
opposition, dividing the opposition, so that whichever faction of the
opposition is left behind will then work with the reformed Zanu (PF) to form
a government of National Unity. And all the issues that Mugabe is
accountable for for - the Matabeleland massacres, the theft and murders and
beatings - will then be swept under the table. You won't have a Truth and
Reconciliation Commission or a Truth and Justice Commission.
"You
basically move on, in this wonderful government of National Unity and
this
reformed ruling party. It takes the embarrassment away from the western
world; it takes all the headaches away from Mbeki of how he's going to deal
with a situation whereby there's complete change and now there has to be
accountability for that misrule and misgovernance and all the human rights
abuses that have taken place over the last twenty years."
According
to Bennett, the purpose of the senate elections is to prepare the
way for
this government of National Unity, and to allow the governments of
South
Africa and the UK to wipe the egg off their faces.
"I honestly believe
that is the purpose. Britain and South Africa are the
two key players in the
Zimbabwe issue. You must understand that Britain as
the previous colonial
power and South Africa as Zimbabwe's largest trading
partner and neighbour
to Zimbabwe who both have had huge ties with Zimbabwe
from the colonial days
have been involved right at the outset and have had
an influence on the
issues that have taken place in Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwean
BY OWN CORRESPONDENT
CHINHOYI
- Some of the very few victims of Operation Murambatsvina to have
been
provided with alternative accommodation by the government woke up last
Thursday to find their new houses destroyed by heavy rains last
week.
Observers blamed poor workmanship, hasty construction using unskilled
labour, and corruption as among the reasons for the disintegration of some
20 houses, built under Operation Garikai, in the not unseasonable
cloudburst. "I am sure the proper amount of cement was not used because
there is no cement in Zimbabwe and there has not been for some time," said
one disgusted resident. "And these bricks have been made by green bomber
youth brigades who don't know the proper way of making bricks. They have
also not bee properly fired because there are not enough trees left to cut
down to fire the bricks."
The Garikai houses are being built by a
combined workforce of soldiers,
prisoners and ordinary Zimbabweans. A
construction expert with the Ministry
of Local Government told the press the
blame should lie squarely with the
supervisors. He blamed the "Garikai"
construction team for lack of "basic
building skills in mixing sand and
cement". He added that such a national
project should be given "the
seriousness it deserves not this kindergarten
stuff". A worker at the site
was equally worried. He feared a situation
where the government would refuse
to pay them, citing poor workmanship.
Paying salaries and wages to workers
at "Operation Garikai" sites
countrywide has been a problem. Salaries and
wages for September were only
paid last week.
The Zimbabwean
CHIPINGE - Commercial farming
in Chipinge has all but come to a standstill
following the decision by the
government to grab all the remaining 15 white
owned farms in the last two
weeks.
Chipinge has been host to the country's best tea and coffee producing
farms
over the last 50 years. In reality, this means that what took more
than half
a century to build has taken less than a year to be
destroyed.
At its peak, the Chipinge farming community used to produce
tea and coffee
for the export market, under the Export Processing Zone deal,
as well as
meeting the country's domestic needs.
MDC losing candidate
for Chipinge North Mathias Mlambo admitted the farm
grabbing by Zanu (PF)
officials, with 'very little' knowledge of farming
expertise, has destroyed
not only the country' major suppliers of tea and
coffee, but effectively cut
off foreign currency from export sales.
He added that the country should
expect to run out of both tea and coffee in
the not too distant future
because of the situation in Chipinge. 'It's a sad
state of affairs here.
Where we used to see coffee and tea, there is only
grass and worse still,
this is all what you see on all the farms that were
seized by Zanu (PF)
people,' said Mlambo.
- SW Radio Africa
The Zimbabwean
CHIPINGE - In one
of the most blatant manifestations of political
corruption, Zanu (PF) last
week delivered truckloads of maize to all the
eight wards of Chipinge
North.
Officials have also opened a register at all the polling stations to
take
note of all the individuals who will visit the stations to cast their
vote.
It's alleged these are the only people who will be allowed to buy the
maize
on Sunday, a day after the senate elections.
The maize
consignment, from the local GMB was delivered right inside the
perimeters of
all the eight polling stations in each ward. MDC spokesman for
Chipinge
North Godfrey Nyarota said they last had maize deliveries in the
town in
March, a week before the parliamentary elections.
The MDC is not fielding
any candidate there because it has boycotted the
poll. Only Zanu (PF) and
Zanu Ndonga have candidates vying for the
senatorial seat. People in the
town have struggled for months to buy maize
anyway in the area because all
the grain was either bought or confiscated by
the GMB, which has a monopoly
on maize distribution in the district.
Nayrota said without maize people
have been starving, while all along Zanu
(PF) has been holding on to the
scarce commodity. 'We were all surprised
when we saw truckloads of maize
being delivered to all the polling stations.
This is a direct case of vote
buying,' said Nyarota. - SW Radio Africa
The Zimbabwean
BY BINGLEY
SIBINDI
It is indeed legitimate to apply both the words diaspora and exile to
Zimbabweans living abroad as both terms seem to describe the reasons and
intentions of Zimbabweans outside their country of origin. More importantly,
it does not seem to matter much to me whether one is regarded as being in
the diaspora or in exile because everyone knows that since the year 2000
Zimbabwe saw an unprecedented number of its citizens leaving the country,
both for economic and political reasons.
People of all walks of life
realised the erosion and blatant violation of
basic human rights, the
systematic destruction of the independent media and
the downward spiralling
of the economy and naturally decided to search for
security and sanctuary
elsewhere. The media will, depending on its attitude
to immigration, choose
whatever term suits its purposes to describe people
of foreign
origin.
Some of the terms will inevitably be positive but others will be
downright
derogatory depending on the type of story or article being
presented. I
think the main question we should be asking ourselves is:
should we be
worried about these terms at all or should we concentrate on
more
substantive issues affecting both those back home and outside the
country.
There is a view that those who left the country are nothing but
lily-livered
cowards who are inadvertently helping to sustain one of the
most cruel and
insensitive regimes of our time by sending much-needed
foreign currency back
home. But there is another view - that those who left
the country were wise
and prudent enough to realise that the situation in
the country was going to
reach catastrophic levels and escaped. What side of
the debate you take is
dependent on what side of the border you
are.
The perception and stereotyping of Zimbabweans in the UK as
political
refugees may be unfortunate but it is understandable given the
fact that
most people, be they professionals or unskilled, would probably
never have
left the country were it not for the deterioration of the
political and
economic situation in the country.
Most people who have
a problem with this are those who have told themselves
that they are a
'special' category of immigrant only to be disappointed when
they realise
that they are regarded, by the British, as everyone else from
Zimbabwe. I
believe that the terms used to describe us by the media largely
depend on
the manner in which we conduct ourselves. If we are involved in
criminal or
degrading activities the diction will be unpleasant but if we
are decent and
hardworking even the most prejudiced sections of the media
will be forced to
use kinder labels.
- Please join the debate - send your views to mbanga@thezimbabwean.co.uk
The Zimbabwean
BY STANFORD MUKASA
WASHINGTON -
The tightening of targeted sanctions by the United States
against Mugabe and
top Zanu (PF) officials to include their children and
party-owned companies
could force a major policy shift within this ruling
elite.
But there is a
broader issue that focuses on the long-term implications of
the US policy
not only on Zimbabwe but Africa as a whole.
Africa. There have been many
concerns that the Bush administration is more
interested in Europe and Asia
than Africa. An independent task force on the
US policy on Africa will
publish its report on December 5.
A summary of the report, given last
week at the conference of the African
Studies Association, recommended that
the focus should be changed from
humanitarian issues to those of security,
investment and energy.
The report highlighted a deepening societal
engagement with Africa in the
United States on the part of public and
private institutions like Human
Rights Watch, the Gates Foundation, Open
Society and Amnesty International.
But in all cases, Africa was seen as a
charity case, completely dependent on
aid.
Africa is thus an object
rather than subject of any policy of engagement.
The time has come for
Africa to be viewed as a proactive partner and subject
of such
engagement.
US interests in Africa go far beyond simplistic aid and
humanitarian
considerations. Africa is increasingly becoming a major
supplier of energy,
both oil and gas.
Fifteen percent of US oil
supplies come from Africa, especially Nigeria. New
natural gas finds in
other African countries mean that US energy imports
from Africa are likely
to double to about 30 percent in the next 10 to 15
years. China is
increasing her investment in Africa. It owns large oil
investments in the
Sudan.
The task force report also highlights terrorism, trade and
conflict
resolution as other important elements that should shape US policy
on
Africa. Eastern Africa, in particular, is a new base for al Qaeda
operations. While the United States has a strong military presence in
Djibouti there is no political oversight on how to counter terrorism in
Africa.
On trade the report notes that while Africa's share of the
world trade is
only one percent Africa has a very strong presence at the
World Trade Center
where it commands 40 of the 147 votes in the WTC. Africa
can now block
international trade deals - such as the ongoing negotiations
on subsidies.
Here the US spends $350 billion a year in subsidies to its
corporations.
Africa's strong presence at the WTC has so far managed to
block US
initiatives short of outright removal of the subsidies.
The
task force also views dispute resolution in Africa as important, and
calls
for US policy that will engage as full partners Africa's institutions
like
the African Union and its newly-created peace and security council,
SADC,
ECOWAS as well as presidents of energy producing countries like
Nigeria.
The Zimbabwean
BY LITANY BIRD
Dear Family
and Friends,
There is a massive crisis underway in Zimbabwe. History will
remember
Saturday November 26 as the one on which elections for a Senate
that we didn't
want and couldn't afford were being held. Ordinary people,
however, will
remember this as the time when MDC leaders were tearing their
party apart
and Zanu (PF) were squabbling for the last few scraps on the
political bone.
This is the November when both the MDC and Zanu (PF) seem to
have lost track
of the most important struggle in Zimbabwe: the one for
food, food and more
food.
The rains have begun, the soils are wet, the
temperatures high and yet only
weeds are growing as each precious day ticks
past. All around us peasant
farmers in the communal areas and new farmers on
seized commercial land,
have still not been given seeds to plant. It is
ludicrous that five years
into Zimbabwe's land take-overs, these new farmers
are still unable to
plough the land they were allocated or even buy their
own seed.
In a country where inflation is over 400% and great convoys of
trucks stream
endlessly over our borders bringing in food in from other
countries,
Zimbabwe it seems is not even going to try and save herself this
year. The
question that every Zimbabwean asks their neighbour in November is
how much
rain they've had and how their crop is doing.
It doesn't
matter if the "crop" is a few lines of maize plants in the back
garden,
seven acres in the rural village or 100 acres on a farm. This year,
the
answer to the question is - "what crop." When you ask new farmers or
rural
villagers how their crop is coming on, they say they haven't planted
yet and
are still waiting for the government to come and give them seed. If
you
comment that it's a month into the growing season and virtually too late
to
plant, they sigh and shrug their shoulders and say there is "nothing to
do."
So far, we've had six inches of rain and have the makings of a
perfect
season. "It's looking good for farmers," I said to one man this
week, but he
just shook his head, laughed sadly and said "But these farmers
- they are
playing, just playing!"
To make this desperate crisis even
worse, there continue to be seizures of
the few productive farms still
operating. Every day we hear of another
farmer being evicted by some
arbitrary bloke who arrives with "a letter from
the government." As it has
for five years, these evictions happen just after
the farmer has planted the
crop, when the fields are covered with newly
germinated seed. It is plain,
outright theft of another man's
labour, seed and fertilizer and yet no one
does anything because "it is
political".
This week the former president
of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries
Kumbirai Katsande said:
"As
we sit right here I do not hear any senior government official
condemning
the farm invasions which are taking place across the country...It's
criminal
when we do not do what we are supposed to do."
A harvest of hunger in 2006
seems inevitable and yet all our combined
leaders talk about is the Senate.
Until next week, Ndini shamwari yenyu
The Zimbabwean
It is so disheartening to
hear that SACFA, and certain white commercial
farmers, have joined the
morally corrupt and misguided league of CFU
(Commercial Farmers' Union) and
JAG (Justice for Agriculture). What were
once institutions to be admired
have now become ones to despise and
disregard. May those farmers and members
who condone these institutions and
the individuals for their, not misguided,
but deliberate, capitulation to
evil and wrong doing, have justice brought
upon them.
The evidence of your nefarious activities, your unwavering
compromising and
pathetic greed which has contributed to the demise of this
once healthy
country and society has been documented. As the future
generation of
Zimbabwe it is my duty to those that have gone before and
those still to
come, to let the truth be known. You are all cowards and your
children will
suffer the consequences of your moral corruption.
What
could have once been excused for good willed, desperate and naļve
misguidance can no longer be. Not after five years of irrefutable evidence
from this government that there is no policy to secure the freedom of our
children. Nor the fulfillment of the ideals of the independence
struggle.
What is more appalling is that as wealthy citizens of Zimbabwe
(which is a
title you should not be stripped of) you deliberately choose to
be cowards!
That would be excusable if you just hid or ran, however you put
effort into
supporting and fund raising for the very people and
organizations that
oppress your families, friends and fellow
Zimbabweans.
I am a young man, too young to be a war veteran but old
enough to know what
Zimbabwe can become and once was. I find it ironic that
the very people left
farming and tacitly supporting Zanu (PF) to "survive"
the current crisis are
the very individuals who fit Mugabe's profile of the
racist colonial
plunderer. Those individuals who seek the dollar of now,
rather than
fighting injustices committed against their fellow Zimbabweans.
Those that
seek to take advantage of the prevailing imbalances to enrich
themselves
corruptly, either morally or financially, to the detriment of all
else and
making everybody suffer as a direct result of their
activities.
When the reign of evil that has besieged this country comes
to an end, which
it shall, I will make it a personal endeavour to have your
names recorded in
the history books for what you have done. Your children
can then decide
whether to make amends or continue with their parent's
failings.
Whilst we are not all equal in the strength of our moral fibre,
there is a
universal line drawn in the eternity of time, which at many
stages in our
lives we have a choice to cross or not. Good and Evil. You
have crossed that
line, may you be judged accordingly..
I will leave
you with a few timeless quotes to ponder whilst you attempt to
condone your
actions;
"Your commitment to action now will later be judged by your
children".
"Many people fear nothing more terribly than to take a
position which stands
out sharply and clearly from the prevailing opinion.
The tendency of most is
to adopt a view that is so ambiguous that it will
include everything and so
popular that it will include everybody"
~ Rev.
Martin Luther, King, Jr. ~
"Be on guard against science without humanity,
politics without principle,
knowledge without character, wealth without
work, commerce without morality,
pleasure without conscience and worship
without sacrifice" ~ Mahatma Gandhi
~
God speed
Clive Kay
The Zimbabwean
Editorial comment
Now that the
party faithful geriatrics are safely ensconced in the Senate,
cushioned from
the cares of ordinary Zimbabweans by Mugabe's benevolence (at
others'
expense), perhaps they could take time to consider the plight of
their
fellow countrymen and women? Surely that would not be too much to ask?
They
are assured of medical care, employment, vehicles, fuel, shelter,
clothing,
food and education for their children. Surely they now have time
and energy
to think about the millions of others who have none of these
things?
Zimbabwe needs leaders. We have been ruled for too long. I
wonder if it is
too much to hope that these noble senators might turn their
attention to
leading us? Zimbabwe may be a failed state, she may be a basket
case instead
of a breadbasket, she may be down - but she is not
out!
We just need good leaders to make the right decisions, to take care
of our
wonderful nation, and we can rise up and run again. We are a
resourceful
people. Most of us are well-educated - compared to many other
nations around
the world. We have a fantastic country - endowed with all
God's greatest
gifts: natural beauty, rivers and mountains, minerals,
precious metals, good
soils, a wonderful climate, a relatively good
infrastructure. But above
all - people.
We need leaders who will stop
this childish insulting of the western world -
and re-engage with the
international community, the World Bank, the IMF, the
governments of the
West. Mugabe has had his fun - turning East, cocking a
snook at the West.
And what has it gotten us? - nothing more than a few
Chinese restaurants,
tons of shoddy zhing-zhong products (which we have had
to pay for) and
warehouses full of weapons, ammunition, poor quality
military hardware and
dubious electronic jamming and surveillance equipment.
We need real
investment. We need jobs. We need trade. We need statesmen who
will engage
the opposition and actively seek a positive solution to our
problems.
Surely even our honourable new Senators can see that
something is rotten in
the state of Zimbabwe. The combined brain-power of
all those in Zanu (PF)
has not been sufficient to solve the problems. Indeed
it has created most of
them. Surely it is time to involve others now? Why do
they insist ongoing it
alone and shutting everyone else out?
There is
a wise old Shona proverb: Zano ndoga akapisa gumbeze (Lit: the one
who
thinks alone ends up burning the blanket).
There are many patriotic
Zimbabweans, both in and outside the country, who
would love to play their
part in getting the country we all love back onto
the rails again. We are
willing to do our national service all over again.
We are willing to give up
our jobs and homes in the diaspora. We want to
come home again. Just give us
a chance.
The Zimbabwean
HARARE - The
government of Zimbabwe and the City of Harare are increasingly
disregarding
court orders, according to a statement by Zimbabwe Lawyers for
Human Rights
(ZLHR).
"In October, ZLHR obtained a provisional order before Justice Omerjee
of the
High Court of Zimbabwe at Harare which precluded the City of Harare
and the
Zimbabwe Republic Police from evicting or threatening to evict the
occupants
of Tsiga grounds and Ground No. 5 in Mbare. In an act exhibiting
brutal
inhumanity, timed to have effects as cruel as possible, municipal
police
assisted by National Youth militia pounced upon our clients at
midnight of
13-14 November and spent next six hours violently carting away
our clients
to Hopley Farm just outside Harare in blatant contravention of
the court
order. Showing the municipal police the court order only served to
earn one
individual the threat of a beating," says the statement.
"To
show contempt for the judiciary in the manner that the local authority
and
the state did is an act which goes to the very root of any democratic
system
structured to protect even the barest of human rights. When local
government
personnel and state-sanctioned actors like the National Youth
service
militia choose to ignore the judgement of a court of law, they
negate this
principle and take on the role of the judge and enforcer of
their own
matters."
The lawyers' body has called upon the state and the City to
respect court
orders and allow the law to take its course. "Further, we call
upon these
actors to respect the dignity and integrity of the human person
and
forthwith cease the crude use of force upon the defenceless and
disadvantaged populace of Zimbabwe. The state is also called upon to desist
from dumping people in peripheral areas where they suffer hunger and illness
and it is well nigh impossible to make a living," said the statement.
The Zimbabwean
BY CELINE
SIZIBA
MUTARE - I have watched my three friends dying one after the other,
says
Michael Kabande, a former farm labour at one of the many farms
designated
for resettlement in Mutasa in Zimbabwe's Manicaland
province.
Although Kabande is lucky to be alive, he is already counting his
days on
mother earth, having tested HIV positive in 2002.
The HIV and
AIDS scourge has left rural and farming communities entrapped in
both income
and asset poverty, amid rising livelihood insecurity.
A recent survey
found that agricultural output declined by 50 percent among
households
affected by AIDS illness and deaths. Frequent funeral attendance
also
affects land use and diminishes agricultural productivity.
Women-headed
households are particularly vulnerable. When a family member
becomes ill
with AIDS-related infections, it is usually the woman who cares
for the sick
person.
Zimbabwe's National AIDS Council's Manicaland programme officer,
Evos
Makoni, said the current rates of HIV and AIDS infections, illness and
deaths had a negative implication on sustainable agricultural output and
food security.
"It is a well-known fact that HIV and AIDS pandemic is
affecting the most
active and productive segment of society, both urban and
rural. In the rural
and farming set-ups, this effectively means agriculture
is under threat
because when people are HIV-positive, they are not able to
go to the
fields," he said.
"A study of AIDS affected households in
Makoni District in Manicaland this
year had shown that family members were
spending time, which could otherwise
be invested in agriculture, caring for
the sick and attending funerals and
mourning the dead."
Besides a
reduction in crop reduction, adult deaths from AIDS often lead to
a loss of
traditional knowledge of agricultural practices.
"Skills may not be
transferred to either children or relatives, which has
negative implications
for food production. When mothers die, children are
usually forced to take
their place in the subsistence economy, thus
increasing child labour and
lowering productivity. Over time, HIV and AIDS
can contribute to declines in
land use, crop yields and crop variety," said
Makoni.
Another group
in the fight against AIDS, Futures Group International, has
held workshops
across the country highlighting the plight of farm labourers
and villagers
in communal lands.
The manageress, Sarah Musungwa, said because of this
fast spreading of the
disease, villagers in Gokwe had already resorted to
attending funerals a few
minutes before the deceased was buried rather than
spending the whole week
mourning and not tilling the land.
Some
countries like Lesotho have also adopted such practices because
funerals are
taking much of the farmer's time. In many cases, young girls of
school-going
age were being withdrawn from school to help lighten the family
load. -CAJ
News
MDC split tragic
EDITOR - It is an irony
that although the pro-Senate group concede that the
Senate elections are
comical, and meaningless, they remain in favour of
participation. Their
argument is not impressive. I also note, with concern,
that the rift has now
taken an ugly twist towards tribal affiliation.
Surely the leaders know that
the tribal game is a primitive one, only for
the most ignorant and
small-minded man to play. While I would criticise
Tsvangirai for over-ruling
a majority resolution, as it is undemocratic, I
somehow on the other hand
believe that he acted in the best interest of the
majority of
Zimbabweans.
There is no denying that the Senate is an unnecessary burden
to the ordinary
folk in the streets, for whom the MDC stands, and so why
would the
pro-Senate group want to waste time and energy over this, which
could be
better directed at devising plans to save Zimbabwe from bleeding to
death?
It would be tragic if these leaders were to detach themselves from
the
communities to which they belong, and seek to enrich themselves in a
manner
which is morally wrong. And it would be equally tragic for the MDC if
it
were to split over such a minor issue like the Senate, especially if one
has
to consider what the party has been through in its young life of six
years.
It is therefore in every thoughtful person's best interest that
the MDC
leadership put their differences aside, for the sake of the country,
and
come to a compromise, for it is bad enough as it is that Zimbabweans are
suffering, but to have to deal with this is, to say the least, unbearable,
if not unacceptable.
F.TSHUMA, Zimbabwe
-------
AFZ 'intact and
airborne'
EDITOR - The Zimbabwean October 28 to November 03, 2005,
'Mbeki-Mugabe
military pact' portrayed the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) as a
motley
collection of aircraft from the Rhodesian days. It has indeed been
confirmed
that the AFZ will soon be seconding personnel to train the South
African Air
Force pilots, aircraft technicians and support staff as
reported. But part
of the story on the current AFZ inventory was incorrect.
While it may be
true that the Zimbabwean economy is facing numerous
challenges and literally
grinding to a halt, the AFZ is still intact and
airborne.
Zimbabwe is not under an international arms embargo as she can
still shop
for military hardware from any country, except the European Union
(EU). It
is not true that the AFZ technicians have nothing to do but twiddle
their
thumbs as reported by The Zimbabwean. In fact they have been busy
keeping
all the aircraft in the AFZ inventory airworthy. The sheer numbers
of
aircraft the AFZ flew to the Charles Prince Airport for the Air Show in
September bears testimony to that.
The participation of the BAe
Hawk-60 (a plane long considered unserviceable
due to lack of spares) at The
Air Show proved the unparalleled ingenuity and
innovativeness of the AFZ
technicians. The AFZ does not have 'squadrons' but
a single squadron flying
the Chinese-made Chengdu F-7 and Guizhou FT-7 jet
trainers - which is
Squadron-5 based at Thornhill Air Base.
The AFZ does not fly any British
'Lynx' helicopters, moreover the Cougars
are made not by the British but by
- Eurocopter - a Franco-German company.
The AFZ is no longer flying the
British made Hawker Hunter Mk-9 as claimed
by The Zimbabwean. The Hunters
were retired from service in 1993 after
having given sterling service
since1962. The AFZ acquired - not a dozen -
but only six Hondu K-8
'Karakorum' advanced jet trainers from China. The
exact number of AFZ
aircraft lost in the DRC has remained a closely guarded
secret, so it's
rather speculative for The Zimbabwean to use the term
'several' to quantify
an unknown number of aircraft.
Until recently, the AFZ flew predominantly
European-made aircraft, therefore
the effects of the EU imposed arms embargo
cannot be underestimated. The is
no doubt that the current economic
situation has, to a great extent,
adversely affected the day to day
operations of the AFZ. However, against
all these odds, the AFZ is still
soaring and far from being grounded. In
fact the AFZ has excelled far beyond
expectations in fulfilling its mandated
role of defending the county's
airspace and sovereignty.
CASSIUS SANDE, Harare
Thank you - we
stand corrected. - Ed
----------
Where else but here?
EDITOR - Last
week I had $2 million so bought some things at one supermarket
(always
scared to run out of cash!) - then counted what was left and went to
the
next to buy some more essentials. Then next stop was Square Deal to get
washing powder etc.
When my purchases were tallied I was shocked, not
thinking that washing
powder had gone up so much. I was literally counting
out the old $100 notes
to make up the total. The man serving me gently and
politely pushed my dirty
old notes towards me and said kindly, "Don't worry
Mam, let me put in the
last $1000 for you, please."
I said: "You are
very kind but I couldn't, there must be some change in my
car." His
response: "Please Mam, I can do that for you."
May I ask where else in
the world you would get this? Only in our beloved
Zimbabwe. God is
watching.
KERRY KAY, Marondera
------
Sadza - not
Senate
EDITOR - A Senate is a waste of time. What we really want is sadza on
the
plate and change around ourselves. We as Zimbabweans must not allow our
lives to be determined by Empty Nesters like Mugabe and his crooks.
My
major reason for dismissing the Senate is that:
1) This can be a
precursor of things to come. Robert thinks he should use
his opponent to
measure the mood with the voters, hence the creation of the
Senate with a
view that it was going to bring divisions in the Opposition.
2) We were
used during the referendum on the New Constitution and never
learned. The
referendum was used as a barometer to measure the anger within
voters
against Zanu (PF) and we swallowed the bait.
3) If MDC had decided to
participate that vote could have been used to
measure the sentiments before
the presidential election and I can strongly
advocate that the MDC's non-
participation has thrown Mugabe's plans into
the thickest forest. If
Tsvangirai had failed to rein in the few who think
they can participate we
could have kissed change goodbye.
4) Presidential elections were to be
held early whilst the opposition is
divided and Mugabe was going to win and
history be rewritten. The big
question is still when can the elections be
held? My view is early and MDC
has to galvanise and raise the
temperature.
The pro-Senate group has amazed me. What is this they are
calling 'SPACE'?
Can they ignore AIPPA and POSA enacted by these
so-called Professors who
believe in thin nationalism and
self-interest?
Some are now using the fact that there was Gukurahundi in
Matabeleland and
therefore there is need to participate. I want to
categorically dismiss this
as a ploy of a devil in the making. All
Zimbabweans from the four corners of
the country should be sympathising with
what happened in Matabeleland and
Midlands and demanding that the criminals
be brought to book.
If Ariel Sharon and Bingu Wa Mutarika can leave their
own parties then those
who feel the heat can go and form their own parties
and call themselves
President and their egos will have been
fulfilled.
JACOB RUKANDA, Harare
---------
Mliswa never at
Peterhouse
EDITOR - I write in response to the letter that appeared in your
newspaper
headed "Mliswa terrorised us" signed GRANNY JONES, Karoi.
Peterhouse
comprises of three schools; Peterhouse- a secondary school for
boys with
post 'O' level/IGCSE classes for Girls to 'A' level; Peterhouse
Girls
school- a secondary school for girls and Springvale House, the
Preparatory
school for Peterhouse and Peterhouse Girls.
I write to inform
GRANNY JONES that Mr Themba Mliswa has never been a pupil
of any of the
schools in our group. Mr Mliswa was never a pupil at
Peterhouse.
J.B
CALDERWOOD, Rector, Marondera
------------
Don't hijack MDC
EDITOR - I
would like to thank you for allowing me to air my views through
your
newspaper. I hope you continue to broadcast unbiased news until the
liberation of Zimbabwe is achieved.
It remains heartbreaking to know that
respectable individuals like Mr Gibson
Sibanda, his spokesman (not MDC
spokesman) Mr Paul Themba Nyathi, Professor
Welshman Ncube, Job Sikhala and
a number of other pro-senate faction members
have decided to become enemies
of the people of Zimbabwe in the same manner
as Mr Robert Mugabe and
Jonathan Moyo.
Please continue to publish the truth so that MDC will not
die in the same
way that UANC did. People like the above named are greedy
and power hungry
people who, like Edgar Tekere and Jonathan Moyo were used
by Robert Mugabe
to destroy any looming opposition.
The way they are
now closely working with publications like The Herald, The
Chronicle, New
Zimbabwe.com and many other CIO-sponsored and villain media
is apparent
proof. They are deceitful connivers who will do anything for
political power
and money.
There is no point taking part in rigged senate elections. What
have Ncube
and company achieved during their time in parliament? Absolutely
nothing.
They only allowed Mugabe to claim to be ruling democratically and
even pass
more ruthless acts.
Maybe the Tsholotsho declaration
managed to work in the MDC since there was
no fear inducing leadership like
that of Mugabe.
My prayer is that, men like them don't hijack the MDC,
they should rather
join UPM or Zanu (PF), since they only campaign with lies
and insults, not
facts. Mugabe has always managed to drastically destroy
opposition parties
by infiltrating them with undercover CIO operatives
during the initial
stages so that the people would learn to trust them and
when the time came
they would eventually disturb and confuse the
party.
I am one who is keen to see a Zimbabwe that is united amongst all
tribes ,
with no citizen afraid to visit a different part of the country.
That is why
as long as Mr Tsvangirai represents that cause I will continue
to back him.
JONA, Zimbabwe