EU extends Zimbabwe sanctions, drops 35 from list

http://af.reuters.com/

Tue Feb 15, 2011 2:18pm GMT

* EU says economic, social progress not matched politically

* EU keeps 163 people, 31 firms on sanctions list

BRUSSELS, Feb 15 (Reuters) - The European Union extended sanctions on
Zimbabwe for a year on Tuesday and expressed deep concern about political
violence, but removed 35 people from a list of those affected by asset
freezes and visa bans.

An EU review noted significant progress in addressing Zimbabwe's economic
crisis and in delivery of basic social services, EU foreign policy chief
Catherine Ashton said.

"However, economic and social developments have not been matched by
equivalent progress on the political front," she said in a statement.

Ashton said further reforms were essential in terms of respect for rule of
law, human rights and democracy to create an environment conducive to the
holding of credible elections.

Her statement expressed "deep concerns at the upsurge in political violence
seen in recent weeks".

Ashton said the EU was removing 35 names from the travel-ban and
asset-freeze list, but the restrictions would remain on 163 people and 31
businesses linked to rights abuses, undermining democracy or abuse of the
rule of law.

The EU began imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2004. The sanctions include
an arms embargo.

Last week, the United States condemned a recent spate of violence in
Zimbabwe and blamed President Robert Mugabe's party for the attacks, which
are heightening tensions ahead of possible elections this year.

There has been a spate of clashes between Mugabe's ZANU-PF and Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which has
left a dozen people injured in the past two weeks, with a ZANU-PF mob
looting shops in Harare.

MDC members have warned unity government partner and rival Mugabe to drop
his ZANU-PF party's plans for an early election, saying the poll could lead
to a bloodbath.

Mugabe, 87 later this month, and Tsvangirai were forced into a coalition
government two years ago after a disputed poll in 2008 which led to mass
violence, a flood of refugees into South Africa and a deeper economic crisis
in the resource-rich state.

WOZA delivers demands to Parliament despite police attempts to block

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by WOZA
Tuesday, 15 February 2011 14:36

Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and MOZA delivers demands to
Parliament despite police attempts to block the peaceful human rights
defenders AT 2pm Tuesday 15 February 2011 three protest groups began heading
for Parliament to deliver a list of demands regarding the constitution and
the Inclusive Government. This is the ninth edition of Valentine's Day
protests that are conducted as a way to spread messages of love and show
Zimbabweans peaceful direct action as a method of hold Government
accountable.
Nine Riot police in full gear and carrying tear gas stood along Sam Nujoma
street and Nelson Mandela Avenue, blocking the groups from turning into the
final stretch to parliament. One group, sat down on the road to show
observance on nonviolent discipline. When they got up to march on, one or
two of these officers blocking the way said “today you are not passing here
go back home”. A further group of Riot Police numbering 12 arrived in a
large police van.
At this point two groups were now in the intersection blocked by police who
began to push them backwards towards the approaching third group. Members
then milled around the intersection singing and trying to regroup. A police
van arrived with a more senior officers, one who shouted to officers to beat
the peaceful activists. But this order was clearly being ignored. In
contradiction another officer instructed the riot police not to beat the
protestors but to look for the faces they were instructed to arrest.
More riot police grouped to push the members back along Nelson Mandela
Avenue; they retreated singing and continued the protest. At the mall on 1st
street and Speke, a regrouping was done and a decision taken to march
silently back to parliament. Unfortunately the police had predicted this and
had parked their truck to block this route, members were once again pushed
back but 10 members managed to push past and make their way to Parliament.
At the parliament entrance, they were refused the right to leave their
roses, cards and demands there but directed to the other entrance. Two
officers at the entrance were called for police back up to arrest the group.
The group pushed on to the other side of parliament and to chanting of
slogans left their ‘messages’ with 4 riot officers in hot pursuit. They did
not secure the arrest of the activists who included Williams, Manjengwa and
8 other members including two male members.
Riot Police continued to push the rest of the groups towards the end of the
city, some off the officers reminding each other not to beat anyone. At one
stage they called for instructions saying into a mobile phone – ‘these
people keep on singing what should we do’, immediately after that call, all
the officers turned back, picking up valentine’s cards, newsletters and a
placard, written, ‘put emphasis on freedom of association and assembly’.
Some other placards – stop abusing people on political issues; disband
militia camps. The songs sung were, it is time to kneel and pray in
Zimbabwe; Tiri nuwe tinoda bumbiro, (we are messengers sent to get a
constitution). At this time we are still doing routing checks to determine
that everyone got home safely and that no arrests were made.
WOZA and MOZA wish to thank members for maintaining nonviolent discipline.
To the Riot police officer we thank them for refusing to be used for
violence by their ‘handlers’ but it is still a form of violence to deny us
our right to attend our parliament.

Tsvangirai drivers freed after five-day jail ordeal

http://www.monstersandcritics.com

Feb 15, 2011, 17:09 GMT

Harare Two drivers working for Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
were released from prison on Tuesday after spending five days in a prison
cell in what lawyers described as a deliberate act of harassment against the
pro-democracy leader.

Lawyer Kossam Ncube said Clifford Sanyika and Joshua Mhuruyengwe, who drive
escort vehicles for Tsvangirai's official motorcade, were granted bail of
200 dollars. The two had been arrested for equipping their cars with blue
beacon lights, which in Zimbabwe are only allowed to be used by the police
or by President Robert Mugabe's motorcade.

The two drivers had just returned from South Africa, where they had bought
the beacons. Ncube said the lights had not been fitted, but were in their
boxes on the back seats of the vehicles when they were stopped by the
police.

'It's all political, it has ominous undertones,' Ncube said.

The incident follows a recent surge of violence against Tsvangirai
supporters.

Death Threats For NCA Members, More MDC Supporters Flee Violence

http://www.radiovop.com

15/02/2011 11:25:00

Zaka, February 15, 2010- Zanu (PF) has allegedly issued death threats to
members of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) which is driving a no
vote campaign urging people to reject Zimbabwe's proposed draft constitution
during a forthcoming referendum while more MDC supporters have fled their
homes in Mberengwa following attacks by war veterans.

NCA provincial field officer Sungano Zvarebwanashe and Zaka West
Constituency chairperson Severino Vanyoro said they were threatened with
death if they went ahead with the campaign.

“Our members are living in fear right now because they received death
threats from Zanu (PF). Some received phone calls threatening them with
death if they continued to execute their duties,” said Zvarebwanashe.

She said that they were ordered not to hold meetings or try to influence
anyone on the constitution making process.

Zanu (PF) youth are said to have visited homes of NCA leaders in Zaka West
constituency and threatened to kill them if they continued to ‘influence’
people about the constitution and the referendum which is expected any time
soon.

Radiovop was given the names of those leading the threats as Muzvimwe and
Murambatsvina.

NCA, led by Lovemore Madhuku opposed the Government run constitution process
that is being carried out through a parliamentary committee. Madhuku’s
argument is that the process must not be led by politicians as this will
compromise the process. He said the constitution process should be
people-driven.

Zaka North Legislator Earnest Mudavanhu of the Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC- T) said Zanu (PF) was manipulating the electorate through
threats.

“I have received several calls from my constituency of people being
threatened and intimidated by Zanu activists led by Partson ‘Zvirevo’
Munyoni. Bvukururu, ward 2 and 10 are the most affected areas and villagers
are forced to attend Zanu (PF) meetings every Sunday, they cannot even go to
church,” said Mudavanhu.

Zvarebwanashe said though they made a police report in Zaka, nothing had
been done so far to arrest those who were threatening them.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tinaye Matake said he
wanted to consult officers in Zaka before giving comment.

“I have not received that report, I need to communicate with our officers in
Zaka before I give you a comment,” said Matake.

Meanwhile several MDC supporters fled their homes in Murongwe area of
Mberengwa East in the Midlands province at the weekend after war veterans
and Zanu (PF) youths raided their homes.

On Sunday Zanu (PF) held a campaign meeting at Murongwe Business Centre
where everyone residing in surrounding villages was ordered to attend by the
war veterans’ leaders. After the campaign meeting one Retired Major Shava
and his group of war veterans demanded that all village heads present to
give them the list of names for those who had boycotted the rally.

Equipped with the list of those who had not attended and whom they also
accused of being MDC supporters, Shava led his group of war veterans and
Zanu (PF) youths into villages in Murongwe area raiding their homes, beating
and harassing them.

“Most of them managed to flee their homes after getting hint the war
veterans and Zanu (PF) supporters were coming for them. “Some fled to nearby
towns like Zvishavane and Gweru where there are staying with relatives and
will only return if the situation calms down,” said Edius Moyo the MDC-T
chairman for Mberengwa district.

Moyo also accused Chief John Bhera-Mataruse of working with the war veterans
and Zanu (PF) supporters to harass MDC members.

“We have Chief Mataruse a known Zanu (PF) activist who gives these war
veterans a green light to harass our members.”

Rugare Gumbo who is also former legislator for Mberengwa East constituency
accused MDC –T for tarnishing the image of his party by claiming that their
supporters are the perpetrators of violence.

“These people just want to continue tarnishing the image of Zanu (PF).
Mberengwa is my home area and recently I personally engage our supporters
there not to get involved in any form of violence,” said Gumbo.

Mberengwa has been a Zanu (PF) stronghold since the country gained
independence in 1980.

Police Unlawfully Arrest And Detain Mwonzora As Pm Tsvangirai&Rsquo;S Drivers Freed On Bail

Tsvangirai's Office Enraged By Arrest Of Drivers

http://www.radiovop.com

15/02/2011 11:59:00

Harare, February 15, 2011 - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Office
described the arrest of two drivers and the impounding of two vehicles
belonging to the party as a sign of disrespect and harassment.

The two drivers, Clifford Sanyika and Joshua Mhuriyengwe, were on Saturday
arrested at the Beitbridge border post for driving Tsvangirai's Toyota Prado
vehicles with siren beacons normally used by the police. Police charged them
with posing a security threat.

The two drivers appeared before a Beitbridge court on Monday and denied the
charges. However, they were denied bail because they were considered a
security threat.

The driver’s lawyer Kossam Ncube of Kossam Ncube and Partners, who is a
member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights told Radio VOP that his clients
were charged with contravening the Road Traffic Regulations by driving
vehicles fitted with beacons without the authority of the police or the
army.

“The beacons were not connected to the vehicles,” said Ncube. Ncube applied
for the release of his clients on bail when they appeared in court on
Monday.

The Magistrate is expected to give his ruling on Tuesday.

A spokesman of the Prime Minister's Office, Luke Tamborenyoka who on Monday
described the charges as “innocuous”, told Radio VOP the vehicles had been
taken to South Africa for a routine upgrading of the siren and security
systems.

“That official drivers of the Prime Minister could be harassed and detained
and that the official vehicles of the Head of Government can be impounded is
a clear signal of the continued persecution of the person and office of the
Right Hon. Morgan Tsvangirai,” he said.

During the run-up to the June 2008 elections, the Prime Minister’s campaign
vehicles were impounded and three years later, one of them remains parked
and exposed to harsh weather at Lupane police station.

The premier's spokesman said the arrest of the PM’s drivers and the
impounding of his vehicles represented cheap political drama that was meant
“to embarrass his person and his office.”

Zimbabwe inflation quickens to 3.3 pct y/y in January

http://af.reuters.com/

Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:23pm GMT

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's annual inflation quickened to 3.3 percent
year-on-year in January from 3.2 percent in December, the Zimbabwe National
Statistical Agency, or Zimstats, said on Tuesday.

Monthly inflation accelerated to 0.9 percent after prices fell by 0.4
percent on a month-on-month basis in December.

MDC Youths Abducted For Celebrating Mubarak Step-down

http://www.radiovop.com/

15/02/2011 11:28:00

Masvingo, February 15, 2011 - Five youths from the Morgan Tsvangirai led
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC- T) are reportedly missing after they
were abducted by unknown men at Bhasera Business centre in Gutu for
allegedly celebrating the stepping down of former Egypt dictator, Hosni
Mubarak last Saturday, Radio VOP has learnt.

MDC T officials here suspect that their members were abducted by President
Robert Mugabe’s dreaded spy agency, the CIO as eye witnesses said the five
were bundled into to an Isuzu twin cab truck by armed men clad in black
suits and dark glasses.

According to an eye witness, Erias Gumbu, the youth who were drinking the
local opaque beer’ Scud’ started singing after receiving news from the radio
that Mubarak had been forced to leave his post as president and chanted that
Mugabe should follow suit.

Gumbu said it was suspected that Zanu (PF) officials reported them to the
spy agents from Mpandawana growth-point who arrived at the township three
hours later and took them away accusing them of attempting to incite people
to rise against Mugabe.

He said the relatives of the five, Tonderayi Mwando, Edmore Gonese, Farayi
Munyikwa, Rodgers Gwandu and one unidentified youth said their whereabouts
were still unknown despite making a police report at Bhasera Police Station.

Ruramayi Gonese, Edmore’s sister her family was scared that their brother
could have been murdered by the ruthless agents who have a reputation of
abducting members from rival Zanu (PF) parties in the country.

“We are now leaving in fear that our brother could have been killed by these
guys as we are aware of their records in the country regarding such issues
of abductions. A lot of people went missing during the 2008 presidential
run-off elections and their whereabouts are still a mystery and we have
began thinking that this could be the fate that fell to Edmore,” she said.

MDC-T Gutu district chairperson, Godfrey Rutavi, confirmed the incident and
lambasted the continued victimisation of their members saying it was a way
by Zanu (PF) to intimidate their supporters ahead of the elections to be
held later this year.

“We are disturbed so much by the continued victimisation and harassment of
our supporters here. We think that this is a deliberate ploy by Zanu (PF) to
instil fear and intimidate our legion of supporters so that they won’t vote
for us in the elections widely expected sometime this year. But we are
coming up with strategies to resist such moves so that we defeat them again
this year in the polls,” he said.

Masvingo Police spokes-person, Inspector Tinaye Matake declined to comment.

Zimbabwean MP expects 'more violence'

UK to increase aid to Zimbabwe

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Britain is to set out plans to increase annual aid to Zimbabwe to more than
£100 million a year in an attempt to encourage fair elections and government
reforms.
UK to increase aid to Zimbabwe

By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent 4:49PM GMT 15 Feb 2011

A commitment to reward Zimbabwe for democratic reform is a centrepiece of
the Coalition's review of overseas aid spending next month.

The announcement was made as the European Union yesterday revamped sanctions
against Robert Mugabe's regime by removing 35 people from the list of 163
Zimbabweans subject to travel bans and an asset freeze.

Up to one third of an overseas aid budget that will grow to £11 billion by
2015 will be directed to priority countries identified by the National
Security Council. Britain currently gives aid only to United Nations
agencies and trusted charities working in Zimbabwe.

The extra spending will target improved health care, better schooling and
measures to bolster economic growth.

Zimbabwe's national income has halved in the last ten years as President
Robert Mugabe pursued a land redistribution policy that devastated
agricultural output. White farmers were driven off the land, which was then
redistributed to cronies of the ruling party.

While Mr Mugabe was forced to accept a power-sharing government with the
opposition Movement for Democratic Change after 2009 elections, the ageing
leader retains a powerful grip on the armed forces and economy.

But with unrest rising as the country prepares for a general election as
early as this year, there has been pressure from diplomats for Western
governments to promise concrete spending in return for a free election.

Andrew Mitchell, the International Development Secretary, will announced the
details of extra spending.

"As a result of our review, Britain will take immediate action to help
ordinary Zimbabweans, with better access to basic health services,
education, and clean water. But we also stand ready to widen our support, if
crucial progress can be made in terms of political stability and much-needed
reforms," he said. "It is vital that the ... Government prepares a new
constitution which reflects the interests of the people and puts in place
conditions for credible elections."

A four-year programme includes new schemes to offer school vouchers to
42,000 girls, improve water sanitation for half a million people, employ
110,000 in job training schemes and provide medicine for 150,000 HIV
sufferers.

Zim Agriculture Minister Invites Soldiers To Work On Farms

http://www.radiovop.com

15/02/2011 13:05:00

Harare, February 15, 2011 - Zimbabwe's Agriculture Minister, Joseph Made on
Monday said the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) must be involved in providing
workforce in the farms across the country due to labour shortage because of
poor working conditions and remuneration.

Zimbabwe's agriculture sector which used to be one of the best on the
continent has been facing major challenges after President Robert Mugabe's
government violently took over white owned farms in 2000 to resettle
landless blacks. The move reduced agriculture production while equipment was
dismantled in various farms. Maintanance in most farms remain poor as some
farms are now derelict.

Made appealed to the army which boasts of various work expertise, to start
sending their engineering experts to help improve infrastructure
rehabilitation.

“We have undergone a successful land reform but we still need to work with
various partners and the defence forces are an important partner.
Agricultural mechanization development is a process that cannot be dealt
with in isolation. We cannot afford to sit and not engage the various
institutions that include the army,” Made said after addressing soldiers at
the Zimbabwe army staff college.

“The exodus of skilled and experienced staff has not spared the agricultural
machinery and irrigation sector with most leading public institutions in the
sector operating without human resources.Right now we are undertaking a
massive irrigation programme and rehabilitating road infrastructure in rural
areas particularly in newly resettled areas.The army has qualified engineers
with capacity to do construction work rapidly.”

Missing diamond millions investigated

http://www.upi.com

Published: Feb. 14, 2011 at 7:47 PM

HARARE, Zimbabwe, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Zimbabwe's government says it will
investigate the disappearance of $100 million in proceeds from an auction of
diamonds.

The Ministry of Finance received a document from President Robert Mugabe's
office passed to him from The Minerals Marketing Corp. of Zimbabwe saying it
had given $170 million from the sale of Marange diamonds last year to the
treasury.

The Zimbabwean newspaper The Standard reported Finance Minister Tendai Biti
alleges the treasury only received $64 million from the corporation after
the sale of the alluvial, or as they have been known because of the violence
associated with them, "blood diamonds."

"We got a schedule from the office of the president written by MMCZ that
claimed treasury had been directly and indirectly given $170 million from
the sale of alluvial and kimberlite diamonds," Biti said.

"Treasury only received $64 million from the sale of alluvial and kimberlite
diamonds. In that schedule MMCZ claims that treasury used part of the money
to pay tax to Zimra.

"I have asked the accountant-general to launch an investigation into the
matter disapproving MMCZ claims. The investigation will show that we did not
get the money and my question is where did the money go?"

Permanent Secretary Thankful Musukutwa refused to comment, saying he was not
aware of the matter.

New Daily News Paper For Zimbabwe

http://www.radiovop.com/

15/02/2011 13:04:00

HARARE, February 15 – THE Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) has granted a
Harare business woman, Rudo Boka, a licence to start a daily newspaper in
Zimbabwe to rival The state-owned Herald and the privately owned News Day.

Boka is the daughter of the late controversial tycoon Roger Boka.

Godfrey Majonga, the chairman of the ZMC, disclosed during a meeting with
editors from both the state and independent media on Tuesday that the latest
daily newspaper called National Daily was registered last week and is owned
by Boka Holdings.

Also registered the same day is a magazine by Yellow Pages published as well
as a local office of the foreign news agency Bloomberg.

“To date, the commission has registered 15 media houses with the latest one
having been registered last week,” said Majonga.On Tuesday a company
contracted by Boka Holdings started flighting
advertisements online seeking to recruit staff, from the editor to drivers.

The ZMC last year licensed Alpha Media Holdings publishers of NewsDay, The
Daily News and The Daily Gazette, among other publications.

However, it is only the NewsDay which has hit the streets.

Lions wreck havoc in Zimbabwe's western district

http://english.people.com.cn

19:21, February 15, 2011

Lions have wrecked havoc in Hwange, a district in western Zimbabwe about 800
km from the country's capital Harare, killing at least 42 cattle and over 25
goats over the past month, local media reported.

The villagers got affected mainly under Chief Mvuthu area in the district
quoted by the national broadcaster ZBC News on Tuesday said besides losing
their cattle and goats, it has become difficult for them to move freely in
the bush as the lions kill the cattle during the day.

They say this forces them to let their cattle go unattended as they can not
risk sending their children to the bush for fear of having them killed by
lions, adding that elephants have also begun to wreck havoc in the fields
raising fears that very little will be harvested this season.

Chief Mvuthu expressed concern over the issue saying villagers are currently
not benefiting anything from the wildlife and campfire projects and called
on the government to resolve the matter so that villagers can be compensated
for their loss.

Parks and Wildlife Management Authority manager for the western region, Mr.
Felix Chimeramombe confirmed that lions have been on the prowl in the area,
saying the authority has already dispatched Problem Animal Teams from
Zambezi National Park to the villages so that they can look Into the issue.

Over the weekend, a donkey was also killed by lions which are believed to
have been coming from Chitore area which is adjacent to Victoria Falls
Airport.

During this time of the year villagers usually struggle with elephants in
the field affecting their harvest.

Hwange National Park has over 60,000 elephants.

Source: Xinhua

Summons on MPs an abuse of the criminal justice system

The MDC is dismayed by the continued abuse of the criminal justice system
following the summoning of six Masvingo MPs from the MDC to court on
allegations of disrupting a meeting that was being addressed by the
so-called war veteran, Jabulani Sibanda.

MPs Tongai Matutu (Masvingo Urban), Heya Shoko (Bikita West), Edmore Marima
(Bikita East), Jani Varandani (Bikita South), Enerst Mudavanhu (Zaka North)
and Zaka Senator Misheck Marava were on Monday ordered to appear in court on
March 28 for trial.

They are facing charges of ordering villagers at Makotore Business Centre in
Bikita to disperse from Sibanda’s forced meeting.

What the MDC finds ridiculous is that instead of arresting Sibanda who has
been issuing threats, persecution and using hate language at his illicit
rallies in Masvingo, the police have decided to summon the popularly and
democratically elected MPs.

Sibanda and his rag tag team continue to force villagers in Masvingo
province to attend his rallies where he threatens them with death if they do
not tag along the discredited Zanu PF agenda.

Last year, Copac outreach meetings were suspended after Sibanda addressed a
rally at Mashoko Business Centre in Bikita West and threatened villagers
with violence if they voted against Zanu PF constitutional positions.

After Sibanda’s threats, the homestead of MDC Bikita West district Youth
chairperson, David Hollman, was burnt down in an arson attack.  Sibanda was
not arrested for causing these disturbances.

It is therefore shocking that democratically elected MPs are being brought
before the courts for calling the removal of Sibanda from Masvingo province
as he was inciting unnecessary violence.

The political violence that took place in 2008 after the defeat of Zanu PF
at the polls by the MDC are still fresh in the people’s minds and the MPs
were trying to bring sanity in Masvingo following threats of a return to
violence by Sibanda.

--

MDC Information & Publicity Department

ZESA agrees to comply with CTC ruling

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Alert: ZESA agrees to comply with CTC ruling

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has finally agreed to
comply with the directive of the Competition and Tariffs Commission (CTC) to
reduce tariffs by 43 percent for all consumers using load limiters. This
follows lobbying by Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) for
the parastatal to follow the CTC ruling that included a demonstration on 27
October 2010 and legal action in conjunction with Zimbabwe Lawyers for human
rights.

Information Department

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association

Zimbabwe: Fewer Extramarital Partners and Dollars Push Precipitous Decline in H.I.V. Rate

http://www.nytimes.com

 

 

Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation

By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. Published: February 14, 2011

 

Defying expectations in a region devastated by AIDS, rates of H.I.V. infection in Zimbabwe have fallen precipitously in the last decade.

In 1997, an estimated 29 percent of adults were infected. A decade later, 16 percent were.

The basic explanation is simple, according to a new study published online last week by PLoS Medicine: Zimbabweans had less extramarital sex.

Seeing other people die was the “dominant” reason for that, according to the study, which was based on large demographic surveys and interviews with more than 200 Zimbabweans.

The second biggest factor was the collapse of the economy under President Robert Mugabe, which cost most citizens 90 percent of their purchasing power.

Men said that left them less able to buy sex or pay for multiple girlfriends. “Concurrent relationships” — in which men and women have several sexual partners over the years, but infrequently — are considered a prime driver of the epidemic in southern Africa.

Sexual norms also changed, the study said. Fewer women went to beer halls to meet men, and having a venereal disease became a badge of shame rather than proof of masculinity.

AIDS education campaigns “probably” helped, the authors said. Condom use did not increase during the study period, though it was already close to 60 percent for extramarital sex. Also, Zimbabweans had more education and were more often married than people in nearby countries with high infection rates. They also more often watched relatives die at home.

 

 

Thenjiwe Lesabe denied heroes status

http://www.swradioafrica.com

by Irene Madongo
15 February 2011

ZANU PF has come out and shown its bias on the conferring of national heroes
status, by announcing that the late Thenjiwe Lesabe will not be buried at
the National Heroes Acre, because she was not a member of the party.

Lesabe (79) was a veteran in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and died last
Friday of natural causes. She was a former ZANU PF politburo member and also
served as a Cabinet Minister. She defected to ZAPU two years ago.

Although the conferring of Heroes status should be a national issue, ZANU PF
has over the years made Heroes Acre a place where only its members are
buried, much to the anger of many Zimbabweans.

On Monday, Didymus Mutasa, ZANU PF’s Secretary for Administration
Said; “After all the party consultations, Cde Lesabe was not declared a
national heroine since she did not end her tenure in ZANU PF after leaving
to join the Dumiso Dabengwa-led ZAPU.”

Mutasa also said that although Lesabe was not declared a national heroine,
she will receive a state-assisted funeral.
But even before ZANU PF’s statement, the Lesabe family had said it did not
want her to be buried at Heroes Acre, as this was against her wishes.

SW Radio Africa’s Bulawayo correspondent, Lionel Saungweme, said ZANU PF’s
announcement was to save them from the embarrassment of being publicly
snubbed, in case they tried to declare her a hero.

Last year former Matabeleland North Governor, Welshman Mabhena, snubbed
being declared a hero, after leaving similar instructions as Lesabe. He
chose to be buried in Bulawayo instead.
Political analysts have said that these rejections of hero status show that
the honour and credibility which was once attached to it, is now completely
gone.

Zim expects higher tobacco output

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Tobias Manyuchi     Tuesday 15 February 2011

HARARE – Zimbabwe's tobacco selling season opens tomorrow with more than 170
million kilogrammes expected to be sold this year up from 123 million
kilogrammes sold last year, in yet another sign of recovery in the farming
sector after a decade of decline blamed on President Robert Mugabe’s
controversial land reforms.

Some industry experts say as much as 200 million kilograms could be sold
this year, just short of the 236 million kilogrammes realised from the
1999/2000 season before the chaotic and often violent land reforms
destabilised agriculture.

Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) chief executive Andrew Matibiri
said 60 000 farmers or 35 000 more farmers than were recorded last year were
expected to deliver their crop to the auction floors between Wednesday and
the end of September when the selling season ends.

A top official at Tobacco Sales Floor (TSF), one of Zimbabwe’s biggest
auction floors, said they were ready to move up to 200 million kilogrammes.

John Mutemanesango managing director at TSF said: “We have the capacity to
sell about 18 000 kilogrammes per day and if you multiply that by the three
months that marketing runs, we can sell all the tobacco that farmers will
produce this year.”

Once a breadbasket of the region during the first two decades of
independence, Zimbabwe has for the last 10 years relied on food handouts
from aid agencies after production plummeted when Mugabe’s supporters
forcibly took commercial farms from white farmers.

The plunge in production coincided with the collapse of the economy, which
was marked by hyperinflation and acute shortages of foreign currency and
high unemployment.

Commercial farming was once a preserve of white Rhodesian farmers, but in
the last decade the sector has embraced a new crop of black farmers who have
struggled to maintain previous production levels due to widespread shortages
of farming inputs like seed and fertilizer.

The plunge in agriculture could have bottomed out as witnessed by rising
production in tobacco and maize and a rebound in dairy and cattle farming.

Production of the country’s main staple food maize reached 1.35 million in
2010, slightly up from 2009 but a bigger jump from 2008 when output plumbed
new depths of 500,000 tonnes. -- ZimOnline

Cricket World Cup: Ireland beat Zimbabwe in warm-up

http://news.bbc.co.uk

 

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

 

Andre Botha on his way to compiling 79 against Zimbabwe in Nagpur

Ireland defeated Zimbabwe by four wickets in their second warm-up game ahead of the Cricket World Cup.

Zimbabwe won the toss in the Indian city of Nagpur and batted first, scoring 244-8 in their 50 overs.

Andre Botha and Trent Johnston were best with the ball for Ireland, taking two wickets apiece.

Botha (79) and Kevin O'Brien (62 not out) put the Irish in control before John Mooney hit the winning runs as Ireland won with three balls to spare.

Zimbabwe clawed their way back from a top-order collapse with captain Elton Chigumbura's fighting 103 not out off 81 balls leading the way.

Johnston and Boyd Rankin did the early damage before wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu steadied the ship with his 119-ball 45.

Taibu and Craig Ervine built a useful 62-run stand for the fourth wicket but that was ended with Ervine run out for 27.

Zimbabwe lumbered their way to 100 in 31 overs but Taibu lost his cool and an attempted slog was caught by Andrew White, off Albert van der Merwe.

A 52-run partnership between Chigumbura and Prosper Utseya came to the rescue with the latter contributing 26 before falling to Botha, while Chigumbura hit eight boundaries and three sixes during his quickfire innings at the death.

In reply, Niall O'Brien and Alex Cusack helped the Irish recover from the first-over loss of Paul Stirling for a duck to reach 40, before the former departed for 15 off Ray Price.

Cusack hit five boundaries and was looking good for his 47 off 67 balls but was caught out by Chigumbura off Graeme Cremer in the 22nd over.

Botha played a patient innings despite the fall of Andrew White (19) and reached his fifty in 77 balls.

O'Brien got to his half-century at nearly a run-a-ball, as he supported the 99-run stand well, hitting six boundaries and two sixes to finish the match unbeaten on 62.

Botha's wicket in the 47th over followed by Wilson's (seven) was too little too late for Zimbabwe, as Ireland were able to chase down the remaining runs to ensure a positive step in their build-up to the start of the World Cup on Saturday.

Ireland lost by 32 runs to New Zealand in their opening warm-up game at Nagpur on Saturday.

Full details of all World Cup warm-up games

 

 

Rule Of Law Lacking In Zimbabwe

http://www.voanews.com

Editorial

The recent spate of political violence in Zimbabwe demonstrates how easily
fear, anger, and desperation can turn a nation against itself.

   02-14-2011

These recent events undermine the GPA and put the country at risk of taking
a step back from the democratic reforms that ZANU-PF and the two formations
of the MDC agreed to two years ago.

The recent spate of political violence in Zimbabwe demonstrates how easily
fear, anger, and desperation can turn a nation against itself.

With tensions rising amid speculation over possible elections this year,
youth and opportunists associated with elements of ZANU-PF have attacked
innocent merchants and shoppers, as well as MDC members, in the capital
Harare and other communities.

The attacks have left dozens of people injured in the last two weeks. In the
most serious incident to date, more than 4,000 youths descended on Harare's
central Gulf shopping center and flea market, trashing and looting stands
and beating merchants and shoppers.

Police in the area did eventually respond, but only after much damage had
been done.  The youths assembled at ZANU-PF’s provincial headquarters on 4th
Street following the incident. Comments from the Zimbabwe Republic Police
suggest that they have arrested only individuals affiliated with MDC in
response to the recent episodes of violence.

This month marks the second anniversary of the Global Political Agreement
intended to bring an end to political violence and restore democracy in
Zimbabwe through the establishment of a transition government.  The GPA
enshrined the unity government's structures and mechanisms in Zimbabwe’s
constitution when parliament adopted Amendment 19. MDC officials have
entered government and oversee key ministries and the economic picture has
improved.  But the recent politically-motivated violence and looting in
Harare show how fragile these advancements are.

The United States condemns this violence and calls on all parties to
renounce violence as a political tool.  The U.S. also urges all Zimbabweans
to reject calls to promote political change through violence. Law
enforcement must be part of the solution and the police should enforce the
law without regard for the political affiliation of those who violate it.

These recent events undermine the GPA and put the country at risk of taking
a step back from the democratic reforms that ZANU-PF and the two formations
of the MDC agreed to two years ago.  With improvements in the economy and
the ability of many people to live relatively stable, albeit struggling,
lives, now is the time for all parties to reinforce -- in words and action –
that even the smallest political violence is unacceptable.

‘Democracy is the tunnel at the end of the light’

Bill Watch 4/2011 of 14th February [GPA lives on;House of Assembly reopens]