The Times

Soldiers ensure voters dance to Mugabe's tune

FROM JAN RAATH IN MUTAWATAWA, NORTHEASTERN ZIMBABWE

THE presidential election campaign of Robert Mugabe took to the road yesterday with helicopters, racist rhetoric, flags, posters and menacing men with automatic weapons.
By the time President Mugabe arrived here in Mutawatawa, the ruling Zanu (PF) party’s slick campaign machine had produced a crowd of about 8,000 at a dilapidated school about 70 miles northeast of Harare. Scores of marshals ensured that they were primed with songs and slogans.

“Down with the teaboy,” they chanted. This was a reference to a party cartoon in the state press this week in which Mr Mugabe’s challenger, Morgan Tsvangirai of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), is handing a cup of tea containing Zimbabwe to Tony Blair.

“Is this what you want to have, baas?” he asks.

“Yes, yes, my boy, Morgan,” Mr Blair says.

The nearby hotel was fully booked the night before by the Zanu(PF) advance team. Government lorries constantly disgorged people, many of them in new white campaign T-shirts.

Nearly every home, shop and school within 12 miles was deserted. The schoolchildren cheered when the white presidential helicopter and its two escorts thundered overhead. But with the arrival of a 20- vehicle motorcade shortly afterwards, the holiday atmosphere evaporated.

The area was suddenly swamped with soldiers, secret police, and aides who scurried around Mr Mugabe as he made a perfunctory tour, wearing a Zanu (PF) baseball cap.

It is 36 days until the elections on March 9 and 10 and the state media have been pumping out his simple campaign message for months, but he repeats it anyway.

The country’s parlous economic state is the result of the “state of war” with Britain, which is using Mr Tsvangirai to take land belonging to black people away from them, he says. “Whatever Blair tries to do, we will not back off,” he has declared.

The call he has been making lately for peaceful elections gets an airing, two sentences of it in English, for the apparent benefit of the three white reporters present.

“We don’t condone violence, but I am not saying that you should fold your arms if you are provoked. You must stand your ground. But please, you should not go assaulting people anywhere.”

This was met with loud guffaws from the crowd of tough-looking, well-dressed men sitting near the podium.

The presence in the front row of Elliot Manyika, the Minister of Youth Development, Gender and Employment, sends a chilling message. He is dressed in the stiff, new uniform of the National Service, the month-old militia whose members are conducting the final phase of brutality before the elections.

Nor do the new songs just taught to the crowd lend credence to Mr Mugabe’s appeal.

“Zanu is lethal, Zanu bites,” goes one; another, “Tsvangirai, you will get a beating from the comrades.”

The programme, repeated almost identically in each election campaign since independence in 1980, has the effect of conferring a sense of invincibility on Mr Mugabe, and undermines any hope that Zimbabweans will be able to rise above the violence and repression inflicted by him.

Mr Tsvangirai cannot match the resources of Zanu(PF), which has no qualms about plundering the exhausted state coffers, as well as using almost every branch of the Civil Service and security forces to ensure his continued rule. A rally that Mr Tsvangirai was to have held two weeks ago in the western city of Bulawayo had to be abandoned when ruling party youths took over the stadium the night before and police refused to remove them. He could not have held a rally in a place like Mutawatawa, in the centre of Zanu (PF)’s heartland, without risking his life.

The crowd’s reaction yesterday was obedient but muted. As we drove off, some waved the MDC’s open-hand salute.

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The Times

Harare defiant as press outcry grows

BY RICHARD BEESTON, MARTIN FLETCHER AND MICHAEL DYNES

ZIMBABWE remained unrepentant yesterday after the international uproar triggered by the passing of a new media Bill, which imposes draconian restrictions on the press.
Despite criticism from America, Britain and the European Union, Jonathan Moyo, the Information Minister and architect of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill, insisted that the interests of the state outweighed the needs of a free press.

“Thomas Jefferson said it was better to have newspapers without government. He was very, very wrong. It is far better to have government without newspapers,” he told CNN.

The Bill, which is expected to become law shortly, after it is signed by President Mugabe, will restrict foreign correspondents working in Zimbabwe and curtail local newspapers and broadcasters.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, who is visiting Washington, condemned the Bill. “I find it almost impossible to comprehend how free and fair elections can be held in Zimbabwe when such laws have been passed,” he said.

Chris Patten, the External Affairs Commissioner, said the EU was “profoundly disappointed”.

“It represents a fundamental attack on media freedom which, if implemented, will drive a further nail into the coffin of Zimbabwe’s democratic tradition,” he said However the move was unlikely to trigger sanctions against the leadership in Harare because it did not breach the specific demands made by the EU’s foreign ministers on Monday. They threatened Mr Mugabe and 20 of his closest associates with a travel ban and asset freeze if the Government impeded the EU observer mission, denied access to the international media, or stepped up its attacks on the opposition.

But the “crunch point” could come next week. The EU intends to send a core team of half a dozen observers to Harare to prepare the ground. They will be followed in mid-February by another 20 or 30 observers who will stay for the duration, and in the election’s final days the EU hopes to have about 150 observers on the ground. A similar observer team is being prepared by the Commonwealth, which earlier this week condemned Zimbabwe for breaking its democratic commitments.

Despite the growing international outcry, Mr Moyo appeared unfazed. He said that foreign reporters would be admitted to Zimbabwe to cover the presidential elections, but warned that British correspondents would not be welcome. “We have always accredited international journalists to come,” he said. “There is no reason why we should not do it now, but we are very clear — Tony Blair and his lot will not be allowed to come here. We are saying to them: ‘Continue your colonial arrogance in London. You are not welcome here’.”

Simon Moyo, Zimbabwe’s High Commissioner to Pretoria, went one step further by accusing Britain of fomenting a revolt against Mr Mugabe by allowing Zimbabwean citizens to broadcast anti-government propaganda into the country from a short-wave radio station in London.

“The United Kingdom is presently broadcasting to Zimbabwe inciting people to be as violent as they can, and at the same time calling for peaceful elections,” Mr Moyo said. “We have transcripts of them broadcasting in Shona and Ndebele.” He said that journalists who broadcast or wrote negative reports about Zimbabwe “were going to hell and future generations would spit on their graves”.

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MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE

Building Fund for the MDC Bulawayo Offices

Progress Report No. 4 Period 17/1 - 28/1/02

The death of Mthokozisi Ncube was reported yesterday the 26th January 2002. Mthokozisi was severely beaten with iron bars inside White City Stadium last Sunday 20th January 2002 by alleged ZANU PF supporters/militia. Mthokozisi was also stabbed in the eyes and mid-rift. He was dumped in a bush area near Pumula and found by passers by. He was admitted to the intensive care unit in Bulawayo. Mthokozisi died of head injuries and damaged kidneys as a result of the attack. Mthokozisi is survived by his wife and child. He was an ardent MDC supporter and resided at 57799/2 Lobengula, Bulawayo. Mthokozisis' body was taken to his rural home in Filabusi on Monday 28th January 2002 for burial on Tuesday 29th January 2002 morning.

The "Team" offers their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family, friends and relatives.

Progress was marred by the injury and subsequent death of Mthokozisi, but at the same time acted as an inducement to the team to ensure that the loss of a collegue was not in vain. Mthokozisi would have wanted the rebuilding of the office and Zimbabwe to continue uninterupted.

The first phase is now totally operational and complete in all aspects including glazing, plumbing and decoration.

The second phase was delayed but is now back on track. The awaited front beams were installed on Wednesday 23rd January. The subsequent brickwork including the new gable and plastering both internally and externally was completed by Sunday 27th January

The remaining internal plaster to the main office are will be completed today the 29th. The roof beams have been purchased and it is hoped that the roof and ceilings will be complete by Friday this week. Estimated completion date is now Sunday 3rd February.

The main costs still to be incurred are electrics, plumbing, glazing and decoration. this is estimated to in the region of $300,000,00.

Thanks are extended to all the supporters who have so generously donated in cash and kind.

However, as last time, building costs to day escalate continuously and our "kitty" again needs topping up. We regretfully have to again appeal to our supporters generosity to complete the change. We have to remind you that WE CAN ONLY ACCEPT FUNDS FROM ZIMBABWEAN SOURCES, as fundraising for political parties from external sources is illegal under Zimbabwean law.

Donations may be sent to:

Building Fund P.O. Box 9400, Hillside, Bulawayo

All donations will be receipted/acknowledged and confidentiality will be respected.

Anonymous donations may be directly deposited to The Building Fund account no. 0100241395301, Standard Bank, Fife Street Branch, Bulawayo.

In addition we still need office furniture and equipment - desks, tables, chairs etc. Please phone 091 244 699 to arrange delivery / collection.

Let us unite in support of all people and take one more step on the way to rebuilding our beloved Zimbabwe!

Please pass this report and appeal to as many supporters as possible. Give us the tools and we will complete the job.

Mike Lander

Project Co-ordinator

VOTE FOR CHANGE - VOTE MORGAN TSVANGIRAI FOR PRESIDENT !

"Together we can complete the change for all Zimbabweans"

THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS !

Work in progress	Nearing completion, but writing still on the wall
Roofing at last	Dedicated to Mtokozisi Ncube

Decorations, including staff, complete.

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COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION
Farm Invasions And Security Report
Thursday January 31, 2002

This report does not purport to cover all the incidents that are taking place in the commercial farming areas. Communication problems and the fear of reprisals prevent farmers from reporting all that happens. Farmers names, and in some cases farm names, are omitted to minimise the risk of reprisals.

NATIONAL REPORT IN BRIEF

· On Tiverton, Chegutu/Suri Suri, two labourers were beaten with sticks on the soles of their feet and made to roll in the mud, with army and police personnel allegedly involved. Everyone has been forced to buy ZANU (PF) cards in this area as a result of intimidation at roadblocks.

· Continued harassment of the owner of Edwaleni/Merryvale in Nyamandhlovu, includes being forced out of the homestead by a group of 25 people armed with traditional weapons, settlers driving about 200 of his cattle to his neighbour’s farm, and the return of DDF tractors ploughing the planted pastures, a deliberately vindictive policy as no attempt has been made to plant crops in the ploughed pastures.

· At Mount Edgecombe, Matobo, the settlers have slaughtered calves, and the owner forced to sell prime breeding stock with calves in order to salvage part of his investment. Most of the stock will be lost to the depleted breeding herd in the province as it is destined for slaughter.

· The abattoir on Gelukverwacht, Featherstone, was allowed to reopen.

REGIONAL NEWS

MANICALAND

Nothing to report as generally quiet.

MASHONALAND CENTRAL

Bindura - The area has been generally quiet. On Butcombe Farm occupants of a red pick up truck told the owner to vacate by 5pm on 28.01.02. They staged a "pungwe" outside his gates on the appointed evening, dispersing the following morning. 30.01.02 the owner vacated after another threatening notice was received. On Bourtonvale Farm a group of eight made their way into the security fence area demanding to speak to the owner, who refused. They returned the following morning and demanded he vacate his property by noon of the same day. He has done so and the situation has not been resolved.

Glendale – Glen Divis Farm reports a crop guard fired into the maize field believing he heard pigs destroying the crop. Upon further investigation the following morning a bag containing stolen maize was found, as well as blood.

MASHONALAND EAST

Beatrice - No report received.

Enterprise - The district is fairly quiet with the GMB inspectors in the Ruwa area.

Featherstone – the abattoir on Gelukverwacht was allowed to reopen.

Harare South - No report received.

Macheke \ Virginia - No report received.

Marondera North – on Warwick guards looking after maize heard shots outside their guard hut. They fled, leaving a torch, baton and raincoat, which were stolen. A slaughtered cow was found on Cotter At Nyagambi a barricade was raised at the main gate. When the police finally arrived the owner was accused of making a false report as the barricade had been lifted. A tractor is now ploughing a land the owner earmarked for wheat. Although movement of the Youth is active, there are no further problems.

Marondera South - On 29.01.02 the owner of Larkhill was approached by 43
men and youths led by Mr. Utete, Councillor for Seke, demanding wood, milk and a
cow. The owner said he could supply the wood but a cow would be excessive and he would think about it. When the crowd returned, he said a cow cost too much and gave them ZWD5 000-00. The money was sneered at and they demanded five beasts instead. The owner and his wife left the farm the next morning. A report was made to the police; it was agreed that
there had been extortion and police would react. At a meeting on the farm between the owner, Support Unit and ZANU PF officials, Mr. Utete claimed the owner had said he did not care
about the President. The owner was made to apologise, then supply transport for people to return home. On the previous day, a worker returning with the farm pickup was abducted with the vehicle, taken to Charakapa base camp and then to Dema Police Station. Inspector Mwatsikesimbe helped return the vehicle and driver to the farm. The three workers abducted from Safari Farm, as reported in the previous sitrep, were arrested and detained by police on unknown charges. At Igudu Farm On the evening of 24.01.02, settlers drove the owner's cattle into their maize. Eight trucks arrived the next day to take the cattle off farm, but the settlers demanded compensation before the cattle were loaded. They threatened to damage vehicles belonging to other farmers in the area. The owner gave into the demand and paid out 154 bags of maize. Due to advice from other farmers the owner eventually made a report to the police. On Makarara Agritex brought more people to look at land under the A2 Scheme. No designation has been made or Section 5's, 7's or 8's issued to this farm.

Wedza – on Rapoka a night guard reported cattle were herded through the farm. It was established the cattle belonged to the owner and had been moved to the next-door farm for safety. The cattle were being driven back through cut fences at night. The settlers demanded compensation for maize the cattle had eaten. The owner called the police and Agritex with no response. The owner inspected the maize to find it had suffered no damage and the matter was resolved.

MASHONALAND WEST (NORTH)

No report.

MASHONALAND WEST (SOUTH)

Norton - On one property a highly connected ZANU (PF) official is demanding the use of tobacco barns the owner is currently using.

Selous - GMB is doing complete searches of all sheds, buildings, etc. for "secretly concealed” maize on farm, with no success to date.

Chegutu/Suri-Suri - On Faun Farm the Deputy Minister of Justice told one of the owner’s employees he would be moving into the second homestead on the farm. On another property an Assistant Commissioner of Police from Chinhoyi has told the tenant to move out, as he wants to move in. On Tiverton two labourers were beaten with sticks on the soles of their feet and made to roll in the mud, with army and police personnel allegedly involved. Everyone has been forced to buy ZANU (PF) cards in this area as a result of intimidation at roadblocks. On Brunswick Farm both homesteads have been occupied by settlers.

Kadoma/Chakari/Battlefields - The status quo remains much the same, with very little production allowed and twelve homesteads are occupied by settlers. On Railway Farm 4 all but five of the workers have been evicted from their homes by war veteran Madzikanda, who is now wanting to dismantle the owner’s tobacco barns to make Blair toilets for a "school" he is setting up in the chicken houses. On Twintops the lodge was broken into and ZWD138 000-00 worth of goods stolen. It is suspected the settlers are the culprits.

MASVINGO

Masvingo East and Central, Chiredzi, Mwenezi, Save Conservancy - No reports have come in from these areas. All seems to be quiet.

Gutu/Chatsworth – the owner of Lauder/Wragley Farm faces continued harassment to move all cattle off the property and vacate the farm. Reported to the police.

MIDLANDS

No report received.

MATABELELAND
Nyamandhlovu - on 22.01.02, settlers on Glen Curragh Ranch, cleaned out the dip tank, discarding a harmful chemical in an unprotected area. Unknown persons are telling farm labour to move off farms as these all belong to the Government. Seafield Valley Farm reports that labourers driving cattle to the Nyamandhlovu sale were severely assaulted, by eleven people travelling in an Umguza Rural District vehicle, registration 568-882 P. The complainants recognised two of the assailants: Wilson Tshuma and Steven Ngulube. Also present, but not involved in the assault, was Deni Ndebele, a “war vet” resident on Seafield Valley farm. Police are investigating. Amos Mkhwananzi, a former M.P. for Tsholotsho and now local “war vet” leader, visited Porter Farm, informing the owner’s son he had been allocated the farm under the A2 resettlement scheme. On learning the farm had received no acquisition orders, he said he would return to the Ministry of Lands and left the farm. Harassment of the owner of Edwaleni/Merryvale continues, with 500 of the settlers’ cattle, and 300 huts now on the property. The owner has been forced out of the homestead by a group of 25 people armed with traditional weapons, and lives on the neighbouring property. Settlers have driven about 200 of his cattle to his neighbour’s farm, and DDF tractors are back and ploughing the planted pastures, a deliberately vindictive policy, as no attempt has been made to plant crops in the ploughed pastures. He has been accused of deliberately driving his cattle into settlers’ maize plots, a false claim, as most of the fencing that would keep the cattle confined has been stolen. On 27.01.02, a meeting was held at Nyokeni Farm. Japhet Mpofu, a local dairy farmer, addressed the settlers saying he had money to disperse for a work project. The settlers were told to clear all roads and they would be paid ZWD1 500-00 per month. In answer to settlers’ complaints about wildlife on properties, he said they were not to worry, as the farms would be theirs in the not too distant future. On Kloof Farm a DDF tractor is ploughing the improved veld pasture, depriving the dairy herd of essential grazing. As it is the end of January, no planting will be done and the exercise is to create damage and force the owner off the farm. The lack of stock feed compounds the problem. For some months now, the owner of Redwood Park has been prevented from living on the property, with a winter wheat crop destroyed, drip tapes ploughed up by DDF, no paprika or maize silage crop planted, and ostrich production severely curtailed. The labourers were ordered to remove furniture from the homestead, as the building is required for occupation. Highly intimidated, the labourers are complying.

Gwanda – River Ranch was offered to Government, resettled but not paid for. The owner has maintained a presence to protect the homestead and infrastructure. “War vets” beat up a labourer, and the homestead and cottage were broken into, and the cottage converted into a school. Settlers have prevented the owner from removing his pump and switchgear from the river worth ZWD250 000-00, and a Minister is reported to have ordered ZESA to connect the electricity and send the bill to the owner, who should pay. The Oakley Block ranch manager and his family were forcibly evicted. Their furniture is still in the homestead. Six labourers were assaulted and their belongings burnt. A police docket was opened but no follow up to date. Of major concern in the manager’s absence is the pumping of water and predator control of the cattle, which are losing condition.

Matobo – the staff housing and a large shed have been taken over by settlers on Mount Edgecombe The settlers have slaughtered calves, and the owner forced to sell prime breeding stock, with calves, in order to salvage part of his investment. Most of the stock will be lost to the depleted breeding herd in the province as it is destined for slaughter.

Inyathi – Four family housing units for labour were taken over by settlers on Redesdale The furniture has been removed and the buildings are to be used as a school. A delegation arrived at the Adams Farm homestead, demanding the owner vacate, as it wanted to establish a community school in the house. The owner has not complied with demands. The owner of Glenmore faces mounting pressure to vacate his home to make way for a school. DDF officials helped themselves to a water pump, which was returned under instruction from the DA. The settlers regularly set up five unmanned roadblocks on the property as a means of intimidation.

Bulalimamangwe – two encounters between game guards and poachers on Highfield Farms the owner has confirmed three .303 and one .22 rifles in the poachers’ possession. Although there was no incident both times, it is suspected game is shot and the meat marketed in the nearby urban areas.

aisd1@cfu.co.zw Visit the CFU Website www.mweb.co.zw/cfu

Disclaimer
Unless specifically stated that this message is a Commercial Farmers' Union communiqué, or that it is being issued or forwarded to you by the sender in an official CFU capacity, the opinions contained therein are private. Private messages also include those sent on behalf of any organisation not directly affiliated to the Union. The CFU does not accept any legal responsibility for private messages and opinions held by the sender and transmitted over its local area network to other CFU network users and/or to external addressees.

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Telegraph

Mugabe: it's war on white puppets

By Peta Thornycroft in Mutawatawa and David Blair
(Filed: 02/02/2002)

PRESIDENT Mugabe launched his re-election campaign in familiar fashion yesterday, blaming Britain for all of Zimbabwe's problems and branding the black opposition "puppets of the whites".

Wearing a white baseball cap and a three-piece suit, he addressed 8,000 subdued supporters at a carefully staged rally in a rural stronghold of his Zanu-PF party.

To chants of "Down with the British" and "Down with the whites", he turned on Britain and Tony Blair. "We are in a state of political war," he said.

"We are in a war to defend our rights and the interests of our people. The British have decided to take us on through the MDC [Movement of Democratic Change]."

The campaign for his re-election in six weeks time began as Mr Mugabe's government faced the worst diplomatic crisis in its relations with the developed world since Zimbabwe achieved independence in 1980.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, said yesterday he found it "almost impossible to comprehend how free and fair elections can be held".

Condemning the passage on Thursday night of the draconian new media law, which will make it impossible for journalists to work without state approval, he said it could trigger the imposition of European Union sanctions next week.

Any sanctions would be aimed at Mr Mugabe and his allies and take the form of travel bans and the freezing of overseas assets.

Mr Straw's tough message was delivered in Washington and echoed by Colin Powell, the secretary of state.

America has already passed a law empowering President Bush to impose personal sanctions on Mr Mugabe. Mr Powell said the administration was working "in close co-ordination with our British colleagues".

But Foreign Office sources played down suggestions that the media law alone would trigger the onset of sanctions.

They said the key test would be whether Mr Mugabe admits the first six EU election observers, who are due to arrive in Harare tomorrow.

Mr Mugabe's half-hour speech at the rally was peppered with racial insults directed at Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC leader. The president accused him of masquerading as a white man and being a British stooge.

"Tsvangirai has decided he must be white," he said. "He must become Tsvangison in line with his wishes for all things white. How can we have blacks who masquerade as whites? Whatever Blair tries to do, we will not back down.

"We went to war; we went to prison; we have suffered over the years but we are not afraid of the struggle. We will not run away. You can count on us to fight."

The rally was held in Mutawatawa, a dilapidated town 130 miles north-east of Harare. Mr Mugabe said the area was undeveloped and "this was brought about by the British and Tsvangirai".

Fresh from passing the media law, Prof Jonathan Moyo, the information minister, announced that British journalists will not be allowed to cover the election. He added that the army would not tolerate a Tsvangirai victory.

In an interview with CNN, Prof Moyo said: "We have always allowed accredited international journalists and there is no reason why we shouldn't do that now but we are very clear, Tony Blair and his lot will not be allowed to come here."

Defending his media law, which imposes some of the strictest curbs on the press anywhere in the world, Prof Moyo argued that newspapers are an unnecessary hindrance for governments.

"Thomas Jefferson said it was better to have newspapers without government," he said. "He was very wrong. It is far better to have government without newspapers."

Last month, Gen Vitalis Zvinavashe, commander of the armed services, said the forces would "never support, let alone salute" any presidential candidate who had not fought in the war against white rule of the 1970s - a thinly veiled reference to Mr Tsvangirai.

Prof Moyo backed this threat: "It would be a mockery to them [the army] and the cause they fought for if they were made to salute one of the people they fought against . . . we don't expect the Jews to salute the Nazis."

Asked whether this was sanctioning a coup, Prof Moyo replied: "People can read whatever they want in it . . . we should not demean the African struggles for liberation with the fiction of democracy."

For all the displays of confidence, evidence is mounting that Zimbabwe will run out of maize well before the election on March 9 and 10. The World Food Programme estimates that 558,000 people need emergency supplies.

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The Age, Melbourne

Aust condemns Zimbabwe's new media law as undemocratic
CANBERRA, Feb 2 AAP|Published: Saturday February 2, 12:34 PM

The federal government today condemned Zimbabwe's new media law as a violation of democratic principles by President Robert Mugabe's government.

The new law restricts access to foreign reporters and imposes tight control on local media, with a state appointed commission set up to license journalists.

Australia's bid to have Zimbabwe suspended from the Commonwealth failed this week with the eight-member Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) opting instead to try to ensure free and fair elections in the African nation in March.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and his British counterpart Jack Straw were the only CMAG delegates pushing for suspension at the London meeting.

Mr Downer said today the new Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which passed through the Zimbabwe Parliament on Thursday, further demonstrated the current regime's contempt for democracy.

"Australia condemns the passage of this law, which unfairly limits free speech, prohibits foreign media access and places an even deeper doubt over the chance of a free and fair presidential election on 9-10 March," he said in a statement.

"This election is already taking place under threat of a military coup should the opposition win."

Mr Downer said CMAG specifically called on Zimbabwe to respect press freedoms and to allow foreign media access to the country.

"The law confirms our view that the international community must take a strong stand in the face of Zimbabwe's persistent violation of democratic principles," he said.

Mr Downer said the earliest possible deployment of the Commonwealth Election Observer Team, alongside other international observer missions, was even more critical now.

"It is absolutely vital that every effort is made to ensure an environment in which the people of Zimbabwe can exercise their democratic right to decide the future president without fear of intimidation or violence," he said.

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Mugabe wages war on Britain on campaign trail

Andrew Meldrum in Harare
Saturday February 2, 2002
The Guardian

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe kicked off his re-election campaign yesterday by attacking his main opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai, as "a puppet of Britain".
Swooping into the rural crossroads of Mutawatawa in his white presidential helicopter, escorted by two army helicopters, he greeted a crowd of 8,000 supporters at Murewa, in the north-east, the heartland of support for the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Mr Mugabe drew a supportive but muted response from the crowd in his 30 minute speech, which concentrated on attacking Britain even more than Mr Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change.

"Tsvangirai is masquerading as a white man," Mr Mugabe said. "He is a puppet from Britain, a front for Britain." Later he said: "We are in a state of war against the British government. Britain wants to topple this government. They want to give the land back to the whites."

Mr Mugabe said his government would never abandon its seizure of white-owned farms. "The people will benefit," he said.

At one point, when community elders made a presentation to Mr Mugabe, they complained that the roads in their area were bad. He blamed that, too, on his "conflict with Britain", before flying off to a similar rally in another rural centre, Mudzi.

Mr Tsvangirai cannot campaign in rural areas, due to widespread violence against his party. Nor can he criticise Mr Mugabe, as a new security law makes it a criminal offence to make derogatory remarks about the president, the police or the army.

Mr Tsvangirai is set to hold his first rally on Sunday in the eastern town of Mutare, near the border with Mozambique. He has already denounced the campaign conditions as "unfree and unfair".

The MDC has been barred from campaigning in large areas of central Mashonaland province and the Gokwe, Zaka and Bikita districts because pro-Mugabe militants have set up roadblocks, Mr Tsvangirai said.

"The mention of 'MDC' carries with it a death sentence, and that is what the people in these areas have to endure," he said.

The MDC alleges that 100 of its supporters have been killed in politically motivated attacks, while hundreds of thousands more have been beaten.

The US secretary of state, Colin Powell, and the British foreign secretary, Jack Straw, strongly condemned the government's tough new media bill yesterday after a meeting in Washington, where they discussed possible punitive measures against Zimbabwe.

"I find it almost impossible to comprehend how free and fair elections can be held in Zimbabwe when such laws have been passed," Mr Straw said, adding that the law would influence the EU's decision on the imposition of sanctions.

On Monday, EU foreign ministers gave Zimbabwe until February 3 to accept observers for the polls or face sanctions, including a suspension of aid, travel bans and the freezing of the assets of Mr Mugabe and 20 others in his inner circle.

Mr Powell echoed Mr Straw's remarks and pointed to his own past criticism of Mr Mugabe, adding that Washington was "in close coordination with our British colleagues and with others as to what action might be appropriate as we move forward".

Despite mounting criticism from western countries and human rights groups, Mr Mugabe's neighbours have taken a softer tone and sometimes voiced support for him.

A taskforce from the 14-nation Southern African Development Community reiterated its opposition to sanctions on Mr Mugabe after a two-day meeting in Harare.

Malawi's foreign minister, Lilian Patel, who heads the taskforce, said:"The way some media reports about Zimbabwe is very bad, because they create an impression which makes one think that the country was full of thugs and unsafe."

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The Irish Independent

Media goes quiet as Mugabe begins poll campaign

ZIMBABWE'S Information Minister questioned the need for the media yesterday amid global dismay at a law intended to silence political debate before the presidential elections.

Jonathan Moyo said the Zimbabwe military would not tolerate an opposition victory next month.

The press law imposes tight restrictions on journalists and seeks to eliminate criticism of the government and its policies. Mr Moyo suggested that Zimbabwe would be better off without a free press.

"Thomas Jefferson said it was better to have newspapers without government. He was very, very wrong. It is far better to have government without newspapers," he said.

Mr Moyo said foreign correspondents could still apply for permission to cover news in Zimbabwe, but that British news organisations would be kept out. "We are very clear - Tony Blair and his lot will not be allowed to come here."

Meanwhile, President Robert Mugabe launched his re-election campaign in familiar fashion yesterday, blaming Britain for all of Zimbabwe's problems and branding the black opposition "puppets of the whites".

Wearing a white baseball cap and a three-piece suit, he addressed 8,000 subdued supporters at a carefully staged rally in a stronghold of his Zanu-PF party.

To chants of "Down with the British" and "Down with the whites", he turned on Britain and Tony Blair.

"We are in a state of political war," he said.

(Independent News Service)

Basildon Peta in Harare

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Rebel Radio - Newsweek Interview

While the Zimbabwean government tightens its curbs on the media, a tiny shortwave station offers an independent voice from London

NEWSWEEK WEB EXCLUSIVE

Feb. 1— The last time Gerry Jackson tried to start an independent radio station in Zimbabwe, her government sent rifle-toting men to shut it down six days after it started.

JACKSON IS DOING BETTER this time around. Six weeks ago, she and a handful of fellow Zimbabwean journalists began broadcasting from a cramped studio in London to an eager audience in the troubled southern African nation. Their station, SW Radio Africa, is their country’s only live independent radio voice at a time when Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, is trying tighten the country’s already-harsh media restrictions ahead of next month’s presidential elections.

          Funded by the American government agency USAID, SW Radio Africa has already caused a stir among the country’s political leaders. Information Minister Jonathan Moyo has called on Britain and the European Union to ban the station, accusing it of fanning tribal divisions and ethnic hatred. Zimbabweans, however, have responded positively: more than 300,000 have visited the station’s Web site and callers have flooded its phone-in program to discuss controversial issues like food shortages and political violence. Jackson spoke to NEWSWEEK’s Ginanne Brownell in London. Excerpts:

       NEWSWEEK: Right now, the only radio station allowed to operate inside Zimbabwe is the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corp. What are its broadcasts like?
       Gerry Jackson: You would have to be there to really understand how unbelievably bad the news has become. It’s never been great, but it has sunk to truly new depths. There is no attempt to try and cover it up with some form of balance. It is full of very dated, nationalist rhetoric and neocolonialist type stuff. It is just endless ...When the violence started in the run-up to parliamentary elections in 2000 and [squatters who occupied white-owned farms] started killing white farmers, you got no information. There was no one telling the story and no one giving Zimbabweans a voice.

       Who are your listeners?
“They say we are not balanced, but then they do not want to talk to us. ”
What we can garner from the feedback we get is that people across the board are listening. Every racial group, every age.

       Good feedback so far?
       Overwhelming. They are delighted that we have managed to do this. We got a call from a listener who had come back from the rural areas and seen a bunch of people up in the trees, putting bits of wire and antenna together to get a better signal.

       But the Zimbabwean government has been critical.
       [Minister of Information] Jonathan Moyo of course is going to criticize and accuse us of being a random, hate radio. What we broadcast is nothing that shouldn’t be on a radio station in Zimbabwe today, nothing different. A journalist’s role has always been to put out the information that the government is giving so people can understand it, and equally to broadcast back what people are saying to the government. It is absolutely not happening in Zimbabwe. They say we are not balanced, but then they do not want to talk to us.

       What about Moyo’s accusations that your station was fanning tribal divisions?
       It was expected. Moyo always turns it around in his “Alice in Wonderland” world.

       Just this week, Mugabe’s government passed a tough new media law restricting foreign reporters in the country and requiring licenses for all local journalists and news organizations. But he did agree to allow foreign observers to be there for the election. Will that help make the elections fairer?
       That’s not going to help. They need monitors—observers and monitors are two different beasts. Observers stay in very nice hotels and are only allowed in certain areas. What are you going to observe? There are few adjectives to describe how profound the violence is and how widespread the intimidation is at every single level. It constantly shocks me. I heard this week about a 6-month-old baby who had been beaten within an inch of its life and a 4-year-old whose face had been split open. It is incredible brutality. And not only the people—wildlife as well. What is being done to the beef and dairy herds—it’s incomprehensible. Dairy cattle having their eyes gouged out and being disemboweled [by squatters on white-owned farms] just to be malicious. Horses on farms chased over cattle grids to purposely break their legs. One attack on cattle was perpetrated by a 12-year-old who severed the spine of an animal with an ax. It’s unlikely there’ll be a national beef or dairy herd at the end of this land exercise. And that is an aspect that doesn’t ever get touched because everyone says, “well people are suffering so much, who is going to touch that?”

       How is the international press coverage?
       I am frustrated. A white farmer gets killed and the [foreign press] cover the story en masse. Some black peasant gets killed down the road, they don’t even [print] his name. That is happening on a daily basis.

       Your funding comes from the U.S. government. Is this another bone of contention between you and the Zimbabwean government?
       There is no source of funding we could have received that would have satisfied the Zimbabwean government, and our job is not to keep [it] happy. We approached various nongovernmental and donor agencies with proposals and [USAID’s] Office of Transition Initiatives eventually gave us the funding. The vital issue is we have complete editorial control and absolute autonomy. That is something that the Zimbabwean government finds difficult to comprehend, because they control the media. They cannot believe that any media outlet is free. The focus should be the violence and intimidation [people face], not how we set up the company.

       What do you discuss on your program?
       We cover current affairs. We had a plan to do lighter programming with music, but the situation has become so serious that it is becoming more a talk program. HIV is a main focus. There is so little education in Zimbabwe [about it], and it is so very serious. We introduce many topics for discussion, but the focus now is the violence. We choose the topic for the day and we call people who have left their numbers [on an answering machine in Zimbabwe] for their opinions.

       How do you see Zimbabwe’s future?
       If only I had a crystal ball. It is such a spectacularly huge mess in every area—[a] total collapse of the health system, a conservative estimate of 25 percent of the population infected with HIV, the agricultural base destroyed, hundreds of people fleeing the country every day, shortages of food, 60 percent unemployment and 80 percent of people living under the poverty line. Many people are holding out that [opposition leader] Morgan Tsvangirai is the savior. What a daunting task if he gets in. There is no quick fix here. I do believe if the elections were free and fair, he would win. People want change.

       What about you? You were fired from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corp. because you took live calls from angry citizens during the 1997 food riots. Then you won a legal battle to set up the privately owned Capital Radio in Zimbabwe two years ago—but Mugabe had it closed after six days. Now the government is complaining about Radio Africa. Don’t you fear for your own safety?
       I don’t have personal fears. If I did have personal fears I guess I wouldn’t be doing this.

       Will you go back to Zimbabwe?
       If the situation is resolved and FM licenses were given in Zimbabwe, obviously that is the best-case scenario. For those of us who have relocated it has been hard. You feel bad leaving people behind. It has become self-fulfilling in Zimbabwe, where everyone with expertise leaves. So how are we ever going to get it right?

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The Times of India

No reason to doubt Mugabe, says S Africa

AFP [ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2002 10:12:22 PM ]

PRETORIA: A day after Zimbabwe's parliament sparked international protests by passing a tough media law ahead of key presidential elections in March, South Africa said it did not doubt President Robert Mugabe's commitment to a fair poll. "We have no reason to doubt that the commitments given to SADC (the Southern African Development Community) and other institutions will be met," South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said Friday.

Pahad refused to react directly to the media law, saying the South African government planned to wait until a SADC task team in Zimbabwe had reported back. Mugabe's critics have condemned the law as a bid to muzzle the press before the elections set for March 9-10, particularly by compelling journalists to seek annual accreditation from a panel hand-picked by Information Minister Jonathan Moyo with wide-ranging powers of discretion. Pahad said Zimbabwe's government was "by and large" meeting commitments Mugabe had made to fellow leaders at the SADC summit in mid-January, by inviting foreign observers and drafting an electoral code of conduct.

"We believe we must now try to create all the possibilities that the commitments that have been given are going to be met," the deputy minister told a press conference in Pretoria. "We don't want to judge the situation without experiencing what is on the ground," he added. The SADC delegation, which had spent three days in Zimbabwe, was broad enough "for us to have confidence that they will be able to honestly judge what is happening," Pahad said. "We have to start on the basis that you don't find a government guilty before there is evidence proving them guilty."

The South African government will be briefed on the visit and on the media law by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana, who was part of the SADC task team, Pahad said. "We need to study the new bill in its totality to see what it says. When our delegation returns we will meet with them and we will have a better analysis of what amendments were accepted and not accepted," he said. Asked whether the elections could be free and fair in the political climate in Zimbabwe, Pahad said the media and critics were too quick to pre-judge the election. "You are already trying to declare the elections unfree and unfair. We think that is absolutely incorrect," he said.

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