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Mugabe hikes pensions for war veterans

Zim Online

Friday 02 February 2007

By Prince Nyathi

HARARE - The Zimbabwe government has increased monthly payouts to veterans
of the country's 1970s independence war who have backed it in power, even as
it struggles to raise cash to pay striking doctors, nurses and teachers.

The war veterans bravely fought to defeat the country's former white
supremacist rulers but in recent years have become known more for
spearheading the government's farm seizure programme, blamed for destroying
the mainstay agricultural sector and derailing a once vibrant economy.

Ex-combatants have also unleashed violence and torture against the
opposition during elections to ensure victory for President Robert Mugabe
and his ruling ZANU PF party.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) chairman
Andrew Ndlovu confirmed in an interview with ZimOnline that the government
had raised monthly pensions for war veterans from Z$25 000 to $103 000 per
month.

He said: "We got an increment this month but it's not much. You cannot plan
your future basing on pension money, particularly this time when our economy
is not doing well."

The 300 percent payout hike awarded war veterans is the same given every
government worker including doctors and teachers, who have however rejected
it is inadequate in an environment where prices rise every day and inflation
is 1 281.1 percent.

The payout increase for war veterans leaves the former fighters - known for
doing little else except campaigning for Mugabe and ZANU PF every election
time - earning more than junior school teachers who get about $84 000 per
month.

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe says a standard family of five people
requires about $344 000 for basic goods and service per month.

Teachers went on a go-slow this week and say they will abandon classes
altogether beginning next Monday to press the government to increase their
salaries. Doctors at state hospitals have since late December boycotted work
demanding that the government hikes their salaries by about 8 000 percent.

Nurses have since joined doctors on strike, further straining a public
health sector that is barely functional at the best of times due to
under-funding, drugs shortage and an overload of HIV/AIDS cases.

Scores of patients are said to have died in the past weeks because of
otherwise treatable illness if doctors were at work.

Ndlovu said in addition to receiving more pensions, the war veterans had
also requested more land from the government and financial loans "to start
income generating projects".

Already the ex-combatants are entitled to free treatment at state hospitals,
free education for their children at government schools and grabbed some of
the best farms vacated by whites.

Economic experts trace the genesis of Zimbabwe's current economic problems
to November 1997 when the war veterans, then numbering about 50 000, arm-
twisted Mugabe to award them gratuity payments of $50 000 each and a host of
other packs - all unbudgeted.

The Zimbabwe dollar resultantly crashed on November 14, driving up inflation
and setting off the economy on a downward spiral from which it is yet to
escape.

Withdrawal of balance-of-payments support by the International Monetary Fund
in 1999 and Mugabe's chaotic farm seizures that began in 2000 only helped
quicken the pace of economic decline, according to experts. - ZimOnline


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Monetary statement an admission of failure

Zim Online

Friday 02 February 2007

By Tafadzwa Mutasa

HARARE - Zimbabwe's central bank governor this week presented an unorthodox
monetary policy in which he sounded alarm bells on the country's imploding
economy but analysts said this was an admission that previous policies by
his boss President Robert Mugabe had failed to revive the economy.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono - Mugabe's troubleshooter on
the economy and famed for his catch phrase "failure is not an option" - had
finally realised Zimbabwe's salvation was in politics, analysts said.

They said by extension, Mugabe, who ordinarily approves such policy
statements, had come to realise if not accept the futility of politically
driven and nationalist policies, which have set him at odds with Western
powers and foreign donors.

Donors have shunned Zimbabwe over its controversial policies, such as the
controversial seizure of land from white commercial farmers to resettle
blacks, which critics say has resulted in food shortages and worsened the
plight of the majority.

"Indirectly Mugabe is admitting that his policies which have been criticised
from time to time have failed," political commentator John Makumbe said.

"There is no way Gono would present that kind of a statement without Mugabe's
endorsement."

Zimbabwe is in the throes of its worst economic crisis, which analysts see
worsening without political and economic reforms and is seen in the world's
highest inflation rate, rocketing unemployment and poverty levels.

Gono said the "inflation dragon" threatened to swallow the country's economy
if no urgent measures were taken and criticised Mugabe's populist political
policies such as subsidies on maize, fuel and electricity, which had left
power utility ZESA Holdings on the brink of collapse.

The RBZ governor instead pleaded for a social contract of labour, business
and the government and called for a freeze on prices and salaries under a
two-phased programme starting next month in a bid to rein in runaway
inflation, which the government has declared number one enemy.

But analysts said this would only be successful if Mugabe - who has vowed
his government will not collapse - implemented drastic political reforms
such as a new constitution, levelling the electoral playing field and
economic reforms such as liberalising the economy and engaging international
donors.

"A social contract is in the political domain and it requires political
will," said Eldred Masunungure, chairman of the University of Zimbabwe's
political science department.

"The question is whether the politicians, especially those in power are
willing to implement the requisite political policies. Therefore the
monetary policy statement is an expression of an exasperated person and that
is why Gono has deferred everything to the political class," Masunungure
said.

The analysts said attempts at a social contract in the past, through the
moribund Tripartite Negotiating Forum, had failed because of suspicion
between labour, business and the government.

They wondered how Gono would summon the feuding groups to work together in
an atmosphere of hostility.

The analysts said for example, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, the
largest labour group, still felt that court charges against its leaders of
abusing the union's foreign currency resources were politically motivated,
and were unlikely to negotiate "knowing the next day they could be jailed".

Economists say with high unemployment above 80 percent and more than 1 000
companies having shut down since 2000, Zimbabwe's economy was now largely
informal, making a price and wage freeze pact almost impossible.

"What we are seeing is Gono speaking as a political negotiator not as
central bank governor. But the challenge is to devolve a mechanism that
removes the mistrust between the three key groups," Masunungure said.

"But more importantly he (Gono) has belatedly realized that the solution to
the country's problems does not lie in monetary policy but in politics," he
said.

In fact, Gono summed it all when he said: "We have allowed political
expediency to override economic considerations and common sense. There is no
door or window left open for that luxury anymore." - ZimOnline


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Four MDC supporters arrested for demanding Mugabe's resignation

Zim Online

Friday 02 February 2007

By Menzi Sibanda

BULAWAYO - At least four Zimbabwe opposition supporters were arrested in the
second city of Bulawayo last Wednesday for demanding the immediate
resignation of President Robert Mugabe.

The four were part of a group of about 200 Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) party supporters who caught the police by surprise as they marched in
the city demanding sweeping political reforms.

The four were still in police custody last night.

The demonstration was led by senior officials in the Morgan Tsvangirai-led
MDC who included the party's vice-president Thokozani Khupe, legislator
Getrude Mthombeni and Samuel Sipepa Nkomo.

Nkomo told ZimOnline yesterday that the march marked the beginning of a
broad defiance campaign against the government to push it to accept sweeping
political reforms.

"This is but the beginning. We would want to live by our word and we promise
more protests against Mugabe's discredited regime," said Nkomo.

Police in Bulawayo confirmed the arrest of the four but refused to reveal
the charges they were to prefer against the MDC supporters.

Under Zimbabwe's tough Public Order and Security Act (POSA), it is an
offence punishable by a two-year jail sentence to demonstrate without first
seeking permission from the police.

The MDC and other civic groups have accused the government of using the law
to stifle legitimate political dissent, a charge Harare denies. - ZimOnline


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Reserve Bank governor blames ruling elite for country's ills



[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

HARARE, 1 Feb 2007 (IRIN) - The governor of Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank, Gideon
Gono, has called on the country's leadership to stop blaming drought and
sanctions for its problems and face up to the fact that it is the ruling
class that is causing society's ills.

In a hard-hitting two-hour televised speech on his monetary policy review,
Gono, who apparently enjoys President Robert Mugabe's support and
protection, accused high-ranking government officials of not producing crops
on the commercial farms they owned, instead using them as weekend barbecue
spots.

"Whilst, traditionally, it has become fashionable to blame successive
droughts and illegal sanctions against us for the country's hardships, the
reality on the ground does, however, reveal startling contradictions and
distortions currently prevailing in the economy," he commented.

All cabinet ministers, their deputies, senior officials of the ruling
ZANU-PF party, and senior officers of the army, police and intelligence
services were allocated commercial farms that became available during the
fast-track land reform programme launched by Mugabe in 2000, which sought to
redistribute 4,500 largely white-owned farms to landless blacks. The
European Union and the United States imposed targeted sanctions on members
of the ruling elite, including Mugabe, for human rights abuses and the
alleged rigging of elections.

As the new owners of commercial farms, the ruling elite were also accorded
preferential loans at an extremely low 20 percent per annum, low-priced
fertiliser and heavily subsidised fuel, for which they pay Z$330 (US$1.32 at
the official exchange rate of Z$250 to one US dollar) a litre, while fuel at
public filling stations costs Z$5,000 (US$20) a litre.

Zimbabwe's economy has been in freefall in recent years, with the formal
economy shrinking by 65 percent, agricultural production down by 50 percent,
unemployment touching 80 percent and inflation running at 1,281 percent, the
highest in the world, causing a slew of shortages, including food, fuel,
electricity, medicines and foreign currency.

Gono said the "time has thus come that the truth and facts be allowed to
speak for themselves, in the interest of building credible policy
interventions that will meaningfully deliver Zimbabwe out of the current
difficult times."

The governor pointed out that a 50kg bag of fertiliser officially sold for
Z$8,000 (US$32) but was not available on the formal market, although it
could easily be sourced on the parallel market where it was priced at
Z$30,000 (US$120), far beyond the reach of less influential communal
farmers.

"The main victims of this misalignment are, unfortunately, the small-scale
and communal farmers, who are either not connected enough to secure the
subsidised fertilisers, or simply do not have enough financial muscle to
afford the parallel market prices, which are well in excess of Z$30,000
(US$120) per 50kg bag."

Gono said the country's leadership was encouraging the growth of corruption
and cited the "ridiculous" practices of the state's Grain Marketing Board
(GMB), which was buying maize from farmers for Z$52,000 (US$208) a tonne and
reselling it for Z$600 (US$2.40) a tonne to the millers. Some millers have
then been reselling the  maize, bought at Z$600 a tonne, back to the GMB for
Z$52,000 a tonne.

"These differentials create a fertile haven for corruption, as some millers
have been reselling the maize back to the GMB for Z$52,000 (US$208) after
buying it for Z$600 (US$2.40). This legal innovation is mostly prevalent
among us, the so-called 'chefs', who have resorted to having several
grinding mills throughout the country and use our connections at various GMB
depots to get access to the maize."

Gono said while subsidies to the new farmers were acceptable, they should
not create a dependency syndrome.

"The current mode of support, where the fuel is being allocated to farmers
at Z$330 (US$1.32) per litre for diesel, is discouraging our farmers from
engaging in agriculture itself, as many are now finding it more profitable
and less problematic to simply trade the fuel on the parallel markets
instead of (crop) production."

The government has consistently denied the existence of food shortages. In
late 2006 the Grain Marketing Board said Zimbabwe was expecting a surplus
above its annual cereal requirement of about 1.9 million metric tonnes.
However, independent estimates suggested that only 800,000mt of maize was
produced, or less than half the country's annual requirement.

Despite calls to devalue the Zimbabwean dollar - officially fixed at Z$250
to one US dollar, an exchange rate available only to those with good
government connections, while the US dollar was exchanged on the parallel
market for as much as Z$5,000 and rising - Gono left the official exchange
rate unchanged.

"We are told that importers and exporters are already doing deals in the
parallel market; that the economy has moved to the parallel market already,"
The Reserve Bank governor said. "So we ask ourselves, what then do you want
the governor to do? Continue to devalue and bless the parallel market? If
so, to what level? Well, fellow Zimbabweans, let us be real."


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Opposition protests extending Mugabe's rule

IOL

February 01 2007 at 03:34PM

      Harare - Zimbabwe's main opposition party staged a protest on Thursday
against President Robert Mugabe's plan to extend his rule by two years to
2010, which critics say will worsen the country's economic crisis.

      Hundreds of provincial and district leaders of the Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) marched through Zimbabwe's second city Bulawayo,
witnesses said, marking the first major public protest over Mugabe's
leadership proposal.

      "It was a peaceful demonstration by the leadership of the MDC to show
the way to supporters in demanding that Mugabe should step down now... We
cannot afford another two years with him," Sipepa Nkomo, an executive in the
party said by telephone from Bulawayo.

      Nkomo said the protest lasted 30 minutes before it was dispersed by
police, who detained one person. Police were not immediately available for
comment.

      Mugabe has ruled the southern African country since independence from
Britain in 1980 but critics say his politically driven and nationalist
policies have hurt a once thriving economy and impoverished the majority.

      MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said this month his movement would
mobilise supporters to block a plan by Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party to
extend his tenure to 2010 after his current term ends next year.

      The MDC has said it will lead a series of street protets and a party
official said Thursday's protest, which caught police unaware, was part of
small demonstrations "to test the waters".

      The opposition charges that Mugabe has used heavy policing tactics -
including a law requiring demonstrators to seek police clearance for any
protests - to keep opponents at bay.

      Critics accuse Mugabe of ruining Zimbabwe, which was one of Africa's
most promising economies, and say that desperate conditions faced by workers
have led to wildcat strikes, including by junior doctors and nurses.

      Political analysts say more strikes may be on the cards, with or
without the MDC's leadership, as average workers grow angry over the
worsening crisis that has seen inflation rise, unemployment surge and
sparked shortages of foreign currency, food and fuel.


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Zimbabwe Reserve Bank announces price freeze

Financial Times

By Tony Hawkins in Harare

Published: February 1 2007 13:03 | Last updated: February 1 2007 13:03

Shunning what he called "deafening" calls for currency devaluation, Mr
Gideon Gono, governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on Wednesday announced
a four-month prices and income freeze to take effect on March 1.

Businessmen were astonished by Mr Gono's refusal to devalue the official
exchange rate for the Zimbabwe dollar of 250 to the US dollar compared with
a parallel market exchange rate of Z$4,500 to the US unit.

But Mr Gono said he had devalued the currency on eight occasions over the
past three years said he was now convinced that, "No amount of devaluation
will lead to foreign currency inflows in a sustainable manner."

One bank economist, who declined to be named, described the eagerly waited
monetary policy statement as "the dampest of damp squibs."

"The statement is little more than a wish list dependent on increased
government control of the economy." he added.

"There is a serious contradiction" too he said between Mr Gono's promise to
liberalise the economy and the details in his statement of increased state
controls.

Describing the forthcoming freeze as "a social contract" to cover prices,
wages, interest rates, and all fees, tariffs and charges, Mr Gono said it
was essential to correct the situation where "sellers are wantonly
escalating prices with no reference to prevailing fundamentals in the
economy".

The freeze would be backed up by "stringent monetary control" and measures
to defend the value of the Zimbabwe dollar, including accelerated
privatisation of state-owned industries, which he said could bring in US$3m
in revenue during 2007 alone.

He also promised a tightening of fiscal policy, including an end to
so-called "quasi-fiscal" (off-budget) spending by the central bank that
would bring inflation down to 450 to 500 per cent by the end of the year
from the current level of 1,280 per cent.

Analysts have been quick to pick holes in the statement, noting that the
promise to tighten fiscal policy conflicts with the 2007 national budget
that provides for a deficit of 36 per cent of GDP.

They said also that Mr Gono's promise to reduce money supply growth from
1,430 per cent at present to below 500 per cent conflicts with the budget
deficit for 2007 of over Z$3 trillion.

Aside from expressing deep dismay at the refusal to devalue and the
intention to impose a social contract, which they fear will prove
unworkable, business leaders have declined to comment on the programme until
they have a chance to study the fine print of the document.

Mining companies will be alarmed by Mr Gono's plan to establish "an
institutional framework" to handle the marketing of platinum emeralds and
diamonds.

The intention, said Mr Goma, was to increase the government's foreign
currency earnings by forcing mining companies to sell their precious
minerals to a state agency, rather as gold must currently be sold to the
central bank.

This will affect South Africa's Impala Platinum, the country's largest
platinum producer which recently announced plans to expand its Zimbabwe
operations, as well as influence the development plans of Rio Tinto in
diamonds and Anglo American, also in platinum.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007


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Zimbabwe Newspaper Editor Undeterred By Bullet Sent With Warning

VOA

      By Ndimyake Mwakalyelye
      Washington, DC
      01 February 2007

Acting Editor Bill Saidi of the independent Zimbabwean weekly Standard
newspaper said Thursday that an apparent death threat against him and the
publication's staff for publishing a cartoon critical of the government
reflects the chilly media environment.

Earlier this week Saidi received an envelope containing a bullet and a
warning to "be careful," along with a copy of the offending cartoon, which
was published January 28 and showed baboons laughing at the payslip of a
Zimbabwean soldier.

Saidi said the cartoon was intended to focus attention on the very low pay
received by troops, and may have angered senior officers of the Zimbabwe
defense forces.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa's Zimbabwe chapter condemned the
incident, saying it should not have occurred in a country that values an
independent press.

Though disconcerted by the message, Saidi told reporter Ndimyake Mwakalyelye
of VOA's Studio 7 For Zimbabwe that he intends to keep doing his job.


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Head of chief's council accused of inciting genocide



By Tererai Karimakwenda
02 February 2007
The Tsvangirai MDC has accused chief Fortune Charumbira, president of the
Chiefs Council, of actively campaigning for the ruling party ahead of a
by-election due in Chiredzi South in February. MDC Secretary for Information
Nelson Chamisa said Charumbira told all chiefs in the area to make sure MDC
supporters do not get food aid because they are "sell-outs." By doing so in
a nation plagued by widespread starvation, Chamisa said the traditional
leader is actively inciting genocide.

Harassment and violence against opposition supporters is nothing new in
Zimbabwe , especially during elections. The ruling party has been using food
as a political weapon against the opposition around the country. Some shops
owned by ZANU-PF supporters refuse to sell to MDC supporters. And jobs and
opportunities controlled by ruling party chefs have been reserved for their
supporters only.

Chamisa said: "It is a systemic well calculated and well coordinated
strategy at the heart of ZANU-PF machinations to make sure that all the
people who do not believe in the ZANU-PF gospel are labelled satanic and
become victims and targets of their agents."

Traditional leaders around the country have been accepting vehicles, fuel,
food, cash and other gifts from the ruling party in exchange for their
loyalty. They also receive a monthly allowance. A statement released by the
MDC said: "We believe that food aid should never be politicised. We believe
that chiefs and headmen should leave politics to politicians and stick to
their tradition of simply being custodians of our culture and our morals."

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news


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Chiredzi farmers to defy illegal eviction notices



By Tererai Karimakwenda
02 February 2007

A group of white commercial farmers in Chiredzi who were served with
eviction notices have resolved to stay on their properties because the
eviction orders are not legally binding. They received notices which
stipulated they were to list all the farm equipment they owned and vacate
their houses by this coming Saturday. An unspecified number of them met this
week to discuss their options and according to Chiredzi farmer Gerry
Whitehead, most will not comply with the orders because they were not signed
by a court of law as is required.

Whitehead explained that the majority of notices served on the Chiredzi
farmers were signed by local lands officers, who have no authority to evict
anyone. A few were signed by the state security and land reform minister
Didymus Mutasa who has said the future of agriculture in Zimbabwe is black.
But according to Whitehead even Minister Mutasa cannot in his capacity sign
eviction orders. Whitehead said: "From a law point of view we can punch
holes all over these orders. They are not legal. Absolutely not."

The farmers are said to be depressed as the weekend deadline approaches as
they face losing everything they own. Whitehead said many have stopped
farming and this is two months into the season.

An estimated 200 white farmers are believed to be still occupying their
properties around the country. Earlier this month Minister Mutasa was quoted
saying only those white farmers with "good human relations" with the
government will be able to continue farming. Farmers' organisations and
observers say this means farmers who support the ruling party will be
allowed to stay.

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news


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RBZ Statement: the end of thinking by Mugabe regime

New Zimbabwe

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a reaction by Arthur Mutambara, leader of a faction of the
opposition MDC, to the Monetary Policy Statement announced by Reserve Bank
Governor Gideon Gono Wednesday:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Arthur Mutambara
Last updated: 02/02/2007 03:09:00
Why a Monetary Policy Statement (MPS)?
IN TERMS of the Reserve Bank Act of Zimbabwe, the Governor is required by
law to issue a monetary policy review each year, which should among other
things, discuss current economic and financial trends in Zimbabwe - as well
as outline policy initiatives on maintaining price stability and exchange
rate management.

Essentially, the basic objective of any Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) is
to attain and preserve a low and stable rate of inflation. While both the
global and regional economic predictions are pointing towards a modest
growth in 2007, Zimbabweans unfortunately continue to be saddled with
further economic decline.

It is believed that the Zimbabwean economy has shrunk by close to 60% over
the past 6 years and the country continues to face persistent negative
growth.

Inflation is expected to reach frightening levels of 5 000% in 2007. The
side effects of hyper-inflation have been too obvious: economic distortions,
misallocation of resources, erosion of incomes, discouragement of savings,
and uneven distribution of incomes.

Inflation has a devastating effect on the welfare of the ordinary people. It
is no wonder that despite the negative economic outlook, Zimbabweans
continue to view the MPS as a source of faded hope. We believe that no
matter how cleverly crafted, the MPS can not resolve Zimbabwe's deep-rooted
problems.

As indicated above, a monetary policy framework should be designed to
promote economic stability through delivering low and stable inflation. Low
inflation as reflected by price stability is fundamental to stable growth
levels and employment. And for this to be effective, it requires
appropriately designed instruments and policy initiatives which are
complimented by an appropriate fiscal policy framework. Unfortunately, this
desired situation does not obtain in our country.

There is very little macro-economic policy coordination between Monetary and
Fiscal authorities in Zimbabwe. This is obvious from the finger pointing
which has been exhibited on the issue of RBZ quasi-fiscal activities,
between the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the RBZ. It is within
this context that the MDC responds to the 2006 year-end monetary policy
statement presented by the Governor of the RBZ on the 31st of January 2007.

In the presentation there is a tacit but unexplored acknowledgement that the
Zimbabwean economic crisis is essentially political. There is also an
admission that this meltdown has been financially beneficial to Zanu PF
leaders and their supporters.

More importantly the Governor admits that the RBZ has failed to deliver on
its mandate, in particular that it has lost the battle with parallel market.
In essence this is a breaking point monetary policy statement, where the RBZ
has essentially abdicated responsibility on the core business of any Central
Bank: inflation, exchange rate and financial sector management. There is
nothing substantive in the statement on these key functions.

While no inflation targets are given, the Governor warns that if no action
is taken "inflation will rise significantly in the near term" and that
"without bold steps, inflation will swallow our economy (sic) to levels not
seen before".

Thus the only panacea in achieving disinflation requires all stakeholders
"to act now" and take part in a "social contract" for monetary policy
stabilisation.

The figures given by the Governor appear to be mere completion of the
formalities of a monetary policy statement, than any serious coordinated
results of policy predictions.

For example without giving inflation target, the Governor says that "Fiscal
and monetary policy restraint" will see broad money supply declining to
450-500% by December 2007 and to under 65% by December 2008. Other figures
like the M3 growing at 1 438% at the end of November from 670% at the end of
May, domestic credit rising to 1 278% to $526 billion are thrown about
without any solid analytical basis. It is difficult to understand how the
Governor expects interest rate policy to be "guided by inflation outlook",
while by the same breath that high interest rates are said will lead to
stagflation.

Without analysis accommodation rates are said to remain unchanged at
500-600%.

This was not a monetary policy statement by any stretch of the imagination.

Unpacking the Distortions

While the eloquent description of price and exchange rate distortions
including their impact is noted, there is need to understand the response by
ordinary Zimbabweans to these distortions. Yes, the primary creators and
beneficiaries of these anomalies are the Zanu PF elites, but once they are
in place they drive national economic behaviour.

Human beings have rational expectations and hence behave rationally. The
distortions in our economy create opportunities for arbitrage. Taking
advantage of these opportunities is the rational thing to do. Selling
foreign money on the parallel market and selling subsidized fuel meant for
farming on the parallel market are the economically rational things to do.

Expecting Zimbabweans to behave differently given the circumstances does not
make sense. Hence, what is criminal is creating an economic environment that
is characterised by staggering distortions and then expecting human beings
to act rationally.

Furthermore the fundamental drivers of the distortions must be understood if
sustainable solutions are to be achieved. The Governor argues that
stakeholders could care less about the cause of the Zimbabwe economic
crisis, they just want answers. This should be dismissed with the contempt
that it deserves. Yes, we should not dwell on the causes, but we have to
understand them, otherwise we end up addressing symptoms of the problems and
executing unsustainable solutions.

These causes of our economic meltdown and hence the distortions include:
political illegitimacy, poor governance, corruption, global isolation, poor
economic management, and misguided economic controls. These issues must be
thoroughly appreciated and used to inform any redemptive framework.

In unpacking the role of distortions in our economy it is important that the
role of the RBZ in fueling these distortions be acknowledged: RBZ
involvement in quasi-fiscal activities, provision of subsidies, exchange
rate control, and buying foreign currency on the parallel market. There has
been incompetence, corruption, poor corporate governance and lack of
accountability at the RBZ. We have not seen externally audited financial
statements of the RBZ.

The Governor is the executive chairman of the RBZ board, which means there
are no checks and balances at the bank. For example operation Sunrise I; how
much did that operation cost, and what were the benefits to the country?
Given our current economic crisis how can the RBZ authorise the purchase of
a vehicle worth USD138 000.00 in an opaque transaction where a foreign
currency denominated loan is advanced to the Governor? Such corrupt and
criminal activities at the RBZ must be acknowledged if the Governor's
ranting about Zanu PF elites are to be credible. There should be no
selective application of analysis.

The IMF has established a code of conduct called the "Code of Good Practices
on Transparency in Monetary and Financial Policies - the Declaration of
Principles". The main thrust of the Code is to "establish desirable
transparency practices for central banks in their conduct of monetary
policy". Our review of the conduct and practice of the RBZ shows that it
fails immensely against these standards.

Deconstructing the Social Contract

How do we remove the distortions? What is required is a dramatic movement
towards market forces, by removing all controls. However, there has to be a
context and the right environment to make this effective. Of course there
will be redemptive pain and probably a political price to pay. We must lead,
and leadership is about making unpopular decisions popular.

The Governor outlined efforts that should be pursued in particular the
Social Contract. The effectiveness of a social contract as a tool for
resolving economic crises in history is well documented. The general
framework is an agreement to freeze wages, prices and expenditure in a
consensus driven framework involving all key players; government, labour,
business, opposition parties, and civic society.

However, there are key parameters that have to be in place. A social
contract depends on solid political will, total buy-in, inclusive ownership,
acceptance of the problems, honesty of participants, and moral suasion.
There must be a legitimate government in power, not a regime that is a
product of disputed elections. A regime that brutalises leaders from labour,
civic society, business, and political parties, has no capacity to
facilitate the requisite discourse.

You cannot even begin to discuss the notion of a social contract where there
is contested legitimacy of the key stakeholder: the government. There cannot
be any total buy-in by all stakeholders to a process driven a by an illegal
regime. There is an additional dimension to the debilitating Zimbabwean
illegitimacy; the Zanu PF succession fight. The different Zanu PF factions
engrossed in a self-destructive orgy will not even agree on the contents and
processes of the social contract. That is how dysfunctional our country has
gotten.

In addition, Zanu PF as a party must come to terms with the fact that
neither rainfall patterns nor external forces will ever replace good
governance, good economic management of a country by its own people as the
principal resource. Does the Governor really believe that this deeply
entrenched interest group who have benefited from the status quo of the
massive distortions, will give up easily to a level playing field in a
social contract, all within the month of February?

It is also important for Zimbabweans to understand why the Tripartite
Negotiating Forum (TNF) processes have always failed. Furthermore, given the
nature of the economic crisis our social contract will not succeed without
external financial assistance. This help will not be forthcoming, as long as
we are a pariah state run by an illegitimate regime.

Consequently, on the social contract our message is very clear: There is
need for a legitimate government as a necessary precondition. This can be
achieved through a new constitution and internationally supervised
elections.

MPS Formulation: The Way Forward

The World over, the trend is now that the monetary policy is formulated by a
body called a Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), as in the case of South
Africa, Botswana and Britain. It has been found that having a body such as
an MPC ensures credibility and wide formalised consultation in the whole
process.

Sadly, in the case of Zimbabwe one man - namely the RBZ Governor, formulates
the MPS. The MPC must be institutionalised as opposed to patronage based
consultations as currently practiced. In fact in the past the Governor has
been known to brag about how even the Zanu PF cabinet was not aware of the
contents of the MPS. As the MDC we place high value to an MPS and our
Government will ensure that it is openly formulated by an independent entity
such as the MPC.

The trend in terms of fighting inflation is to use an inflation-targeting
framework. An inflation target framework will entail the setting of a
numerical target, which is intended to be achieved over the specific time
period. If appropriately done, the inflation targeting framework, will
provide a monetary anchor for expectations around which prices and wages are
set.

Inflation targeting requires the buy-in by all stakeholders so that they can
subscribe to it. In addition, it helps make the Central Bank accountable.
The RBZ has failed dismally in the past in terms of setting a credible
inflation target. Some of the reasons as to why the RBZ has failed include:-

. Lack of coordination with the Fiscal Policy;

. Lack of independence on the part of the RBZ;

. Fiscal dominance which have undermined the effectiveness of any MPS
objectives;

. Poor leadership on the part of the RBZ Governor;

. Policy inconsistencies and reversals;

. Lack of credibility;

. Vicious cycle of money supply growth and RBZ induced credit expansion;

. Unachievable policy objectives;

. RBZ financial repressive initiatives such as high statutory reserve
requirements;

. Compulsory placement of public debt;

. Counter productive policy initiatives such as quasi-fiscal activities;

. Inability to deal with supply shocks;

. General indiscipline by both the RBZ and the Government

. Lack of intellectual depth in terms of forecasting and planning at the
RBZ.

As the MDC, we believe that an inflation targeting mechanism will only work
in a fundamental economic reform program which will focus on all the key
aspects of this economy, most of which are largely attributed to the Zanu PF
misrule. Given Zimbabwe's current level of inflation, we cannot rely on
monetary targets alone to reduce inflation. On the part of RBZ, what is also
required is to develop technical and institutional capacity to model and
forecast domestic inflation.

Appropriate policy initiatives such as developing econometric forecasting
models, Philips-curve models, macroeconomic variable models and other
indicator models are required. In addition, a clear and unambiguous
commitment to attaining the target should be the primary objective.

Conclusion

Monetary policy matters in Zimbabwe will not be addressed in the absence of
a comprehensive stabilization program, underpinned by institutional and
political reforms. In particular the starting point is a new people driven
constitution, followed by internationally supervised elections. Only then
can meaningful efforts such as social contracts and monetary policy
formulation take place.

What the current RBZ statement means is that this is the end of thinking for
the regime of Robert Mugabe. They now agree that they can no longer pretend
to apply traditional monetary policy instruments. They then propose to adopt
a social contract approach, which we have amply demonstrated to be
impossible under the current illegitimate Zanu PF regime. This is the end of
the road.

Arthur Mutambara is leader of a faction of the MDC


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Zimbabwe (62% rise in infant mortality)

From Hansard (UK), 30 January

House of Commons - Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for
International Development what steps he is taking to reduce infant mortality
in Zimbabwe.

Hilary Benn: The infant mortality rate in Zimbabwe is currently 60 per 1,000
live births. Five years ago it was 37 per 1,000 live births. Almost 40 per
cent. of infant deaths occur in the first month after birth. DFID has
committed £25 million to a programme to reduce maternal and infant
mortality. This programme aims to improve access to lifesaving obstetric and
newborn care, especially those affected by HIV and AIDS, and to maintain
access to family planning services, including secure provision of
contraceptives. DFID has also provided UNICEF with over £2 million to
support the national vaccination programme to decrease the number of vaccine
preventable deaths among children.


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Residents Get Tablets for Use in Drinking Water



The Herald (Harare)

February 1, 2007
Posted to the web February 1, 2007

Harare

RESIDENTS of Mabvuku, Tafara, Circle Cement compound and neighbouring
settlements have received aqua tablets to use in their drinking water as the
Government moves in to avert the spread of cholera in Harare.

Health and Child Welfare Minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa, told The Herald on
the sidelines of the ongoing journalists and media workshop in Kadoma that
health experts from Mashonaland East Province on Tuesday moved in to the
settlements to distribute the tablets.

Dr Parirenyatwa said the officers had also carried out awareness campaigns
in the suburbs.

"I visited the affected areas on Tuesday with health officers in Mashonaland
East to distribute aqua tablets which are used to treat drinking water," he
said.

He added that the outbreak was now under control.

Cholera cases were recorded in Mabvuku, Circle Cement compound, Tafara and
Donnybrook over the weekend.

The City of Harare has also assured the public that the outbreak is under
control.

The City Health Department has since deployed an ambulance to the suburbs
while doctors are on standby to deal with suspected cholera cases.

Wards have also been set aside at the Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases
Hospitals to specifically deal with suspected cases. The department also
intensified its surveillance and awareness programmes on cholera.


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Police in dawn raid on Majongwe house as teacher strike enters second day



By Lance Guma
01 February 2007

Police law and order officers launched a dawn raid on the Harare home of
Raymond Majongwe, the Secretary General of the Progressive Teachers Union of
Zimbabwe (PTUZ), as a go-slow strike by teachers entered its second day.
According to Majongwe police officers arrived at his Cranborne home around
5am Thursday but only found his wife and children sleeping. After tense
exchanges in which his wife told them Majongwe was not home, the police left
a note, summoning him to report at Harare Central Police station, Law and
Order Section, by 8am the same day.

The union leader refused to go and instead sent his lawyers to enquire why
the police were looking for him. The police told his lawyers they will look
for Majongwe on their own if the lawyers could not facilitate his hand over.
The former student leader told Newsreel, 'the industrial action is not my
baby, it involves every other teacher working for the Ministry of Education,
so I'm equally surprised as to what they are trying to achieve.' On
Wednesday, teachers affiliated to the PTUZ began a go-slow over poor
salaries and say if there is no response from government they will begin a
full-blown strike next week Monday.

Asked why they had opted for a go-slow first instead of a full strike
Majongwe says they want the process to build momentum. He says their members
are spread out across the country and this method of industrial action will
allow word to gradually spread out and reach even the remote schools in the
country before they call for an all-out strike. 'We have schools 700 to 900
kilometres away from the major centres and we want them to know about this
strike.'

On whether rival union Zimbabwe Teachers Union (ZIMTA) had also joined in
the go-slow, Majongwe said information they had was a bit sketchy and still
subject to confirmation. He did however say they were receiving disturbing
reports from some areas of Matabeleland, Mashonaland West and Harare
suggesting ZIMTA officials were telling teachers they had nothing to do with
the strike. Majongwe said it was important for all teachers to realise that
negotiations in Zimbabwe don't work.

He says the government response has been to send state security agents
disguised as members of the Public Service Inspectorate to monitor the work
of teachers in the schools. 'Some of us are going to be suspended, harassed
brutalised, arrested and fired,' Majongwe added but this he believes is a
necessary sacrifice to improve the welfare of teachers.

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news


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Council Orders Closure of Children's Home



The Herald (Harare)

February 1, 2007
Posted to the web February 1, 2007

Harare

CITY of Harare's Health Department has ordered the immediate closure of
Shungudzevana Trust, a children's home in Hatfield, describing it as
"overcrowded, unhygienic and inhabitable".

The department's deputy director Dr Prosper Chonzi yesterday said the city
had formally told the home to relocate the 50 children there elsewhere.

"Our inspectors went and inspected the home last week and they were not
happy with what they saw. The place is overcrowded and a health hazard and
yes, we have condemned the home and it has to close," Dr Chonzi said.

He said his department would inform police and other relevant authorities of
the latest developments.

"We cannot take that risk and leave those innocent children in that
inhabitable environment. We expect them to have moved by the end of the
week."

But yesterday the children were still at the home.

The owner of the home, Ms Mercy Mutyambizi, refused to talk to The Herald.

The home -- funded by the Jesuits alongside other organisations -- was
reported to be misusing funds provided by well-wishers, raising suspicions
that children were not well-fed and looked after.

The home was at loggerheads with the Harare Children's Hospital, which had
reported in writing to the Department of Social Welfare the need to closely
monitor the welfare of children at the home.

This followed the admission of three children who had been diagnosed with
malnutrition-related illnesses.

Chairperson of the Commission running the affairs of Harare, Ms Sekesai
Makwavarara, said after her visit to the home a fortnight ago, concerns over
how the home was being run were raised by several other stakeholders.

These concerns led her to task health inspectors to conduct a health check.

"I am concerned about the children and want to see them in a home where they
will get optimal protection and are happy, not worse off."

"The idea in this particular issue is to make sure the children are in an
environment that is conducive. We have identified that maybe there is need
for more homes for our children. It is in this instance that we all have to
work together and contribute towards the development of better and spacious
homes," Ms Makwavarara said.

Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr Edwin Muguti said reports of
unscrupulous people who start children's homes to enrich themselves were on
the increase and needed to be investigated.

"Under the Child Protection and Adoption Act, it is a criminal offence to
use a child as a means to one's enrichment," Dr Muguti said.

His ministry was concerned about the welfare of children, particularly the
aspect of adequate nutrition, vaccination, screening of various diseases and
monitoring their growth.

"Although their actual day to day care and where they are accommodated is
dealt with by the Social Welfare Department, we are equally concerned about
their holistic welfare."

"If any of our hospitals discover or suspect there is something wrong, they
are allowed to raise it and work together with social welfare officials," Dr
Muguti said.

He said Zimbabwe needed a cultural revolution, which included the nurturing
of selflessness and honesty.

"It is sometimes challenging to police these homes and it is therefore the
responsibility of society to report such cases and help protect the
children."


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Zimbabwean Diamonds Smuggled Into Country



Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)

February 1, 2007
Posted to the web February 1, 2007

Maputo

The Mozambican authorities have concluded that diamonds on sale in the
central province of Manica were not dug out of the Mozambican subsoil, but
were smuggled illegally into the country from Zimbabwe, according to a
report in the Beira daily paper "Diario de Mocambique".

Zimbabweans have been selling the diamonds, and the Manica provincial
directorate of mineral resources managed to obtain some. It had them
analysed at a laboratory in the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, which
concluded that the stones were not gems, but high value industrial diamonds.

The Manica director of mineral resources, Geraldo Valoi, insisted that the
diamonds had not come from his province, despite rumours of prospection for
diamonds. Instead, Zimbabweans had smuggled them over the border.

"We are on the ground monitoring the situation", said Valoi, "since the
existence of diamonds would be of interest to the country and to the
Mozambican state".

The area spoken of as possibly containing diamond deposits is Rotanda, in
Sussundenga district. However, access is difficult and the current rainy
season makes prospection there impossible.

Valoi suspected that the reason people imagine that the diamonds are
Mozambican in origin is that plenty of illegal mining takes place in
Manica - but usually for gold. Prospectors of various nationalities have
slipped into the mountainous Chimanimani reserve where they are digging or
panning for gold.

So far there is no sign that a single diamond has been found in Chimanimani.

The prospectors are operating completely outside of the law since no mining
activity is permitted in reserves. Valoi said that the fight against illegal
mining must involve close cooperation between his institution, the
provincial directorate of tourism (since reserves are a responsibility of
the Tourism Ministry), the police and the district administration.


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The Last King Of Scotland parallels with modern day Zimbabwe

zimbabwejournalists.com

By Action for Southern Africa

THE blockbuster The Last King of Scotland has taken UK cinemas by storm over
the last week due to its enthralling plot and enigmatic star Forest Whitaker
as the tyrant Idi Amin.

Set in 1970s Uganda, the realistic tale has brought to light a very vivid
and troubling history of an African leader who went from being a man of the
people to a vicious dictator. Although set in its own unique historical,
political and social climate ; there are distinct similarities to be drawn
between the past regime in Uganda and the current day crisis in Zimbabwe.

The brutal repression of a nation ruled through fear by a tyrant is still
with us today. Former Ugandan president Idi Amin's characterisation in the
film is strongly paralleled to current Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Amin started out as a popular public figure ; a man of the people, so did
Mugabe. Power went to Amin's his head bringing about violent tyranny over
their country, so has Mugabe. Amin destroyed any opposition to his reign,
crippled the country's economy and used all measures to stay in power with
violence, corruption and oppression of civilians, so is Mugabe.

The parallels are scarily similar and they do not stop there. It is reported
that Amin ordered the execution of up to 500,000 of his countrymen and drove
more than 80,000 Ugandan Asians into exile. Robert Mugabe is currently
enforcing such a regime in his country. There have been more than 15,000
cases of organised torture and violence documented since 2001 with the
country having a worse weekly death rate than Sudan at around 3,500.

While both white and black farmers are being driven out, so that the
Zimbabwean president can offer their farms to his friends and colleagues in
government. Any opposition to his government from Trade Unionists, Media or
civil society organisations is met with arrests and often brutal violence.
Recently 10 members of the Zimbabwe students Union were arrested for no
reason, terrorised and later dumped in the Matopos national reserve to fend
for themselves against lions and leopards.

The situation documented in The Last King of Scotland is mirrored in modern
day Zimbabwe, yet the crisis there shows no sign of getting better any time
soon. The French government looks likely to contravene EU sanctions against
Mugabe and his cronies by inviting him to the Franco-EU Summit in Cannes in
February. This would send the message that the French government is prepared
to overlook gross human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

The Last King of Scotland, along with the recently released Blood Diamond,
is serving to highlight major problems that are everyday life in these
African countries. 2007 is already shaping up to be a year of cinematic
history and let us hope that a knock on effect can be seen in campaigns
against gross human rights abuses in countries such as Zimbabwe. In parts of
London, Bristol, Cardiff and Glasgow campaigners have already been standing
vigil outside cinemas distributing leaflets outlining the parallels between
Mugabe and Amin for audiences of The Last King of Scotland.

The head of campaigns at UK campaigning organisation ACTSA, who work for
peace, democracy and development across the Southern Africa region, Kathryn
Llewellyn said "I hope that people are inspired by these films to act and
stop the dictators of today and to not just walk out of the cinema thinking
how awful things are."


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Zimbabwe - Annual Report 2007

Reporters without Borders

Area: 390,760 sq. km.
Population: 13,010,000.
Languages: English, Shona, Ndebele.
Head of state: Robert Mugabe.

The country headed since 1980 by the now octogenarian Robert Mugabe is one
of most vicious on the continent in its treatment of journalists.
Surveillance, threats, imprisonment, censorship blackmail, abuse of power
and denial of justice are all brought to bear to keep firm control over the
news. Things have got so bad that the Zimbabwean justice system, zealously
guarding its prerogatives and tired of not being respected, has started to
disavow the government and its agencies.

Keeping absolute control over the news, whatever the cost, is an obvious
obsession of Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe. Ever since 2002, when the
government pushed through one of the most Kafkaesque press laws on the
continent, closed down the leading daily in the country and jammed
opposition radio, it has never let up pressure against the few surviving
independent voices in the country. Thanks to the dreaded Media and
Information Commission (MIC), it was able to crackdown in 2006 on
privately-owned weeklies Zimbabwe Independent, Financial Gazette (FinGaz)
and the Voice of the People (VOP). The intelligence services made themselves
responsible for all other forms of injustice meted out to Zimbabwe's
journalists.

Relentless struggle

In line with its statutory responsibility, the media regulation body, the
MIC, which tightly controls the media for the government, every year sets
about re-examining newspaper licences and accreditations for journalists.
Ready to use blackmail, from the first week of January 2006, the MIC
suspended the publication licence of FinGaz, unless it carried a denial of
an article which it published the previous week about how the commission,
after deciding to award a licence to the owner of the defunct Daily News,
finally gave way to pressure from the intelligence services and reversed its
decision. Likewise, on 2 February, the MIC finally renewed the accreditation
of journalists on the Zimbabwe Independent, only after forcing the newspaper
to publish a correction of an article which had appeared the previous week.

The major preoccupation of the MIC, chaired for life by Tafataona Mahoso, an
old comrade of the head of state, is clearly not the publication of the
truth or the protection of journalists. His stance is common knowledge.
Besides, the Zimbabwean justice system has recognised that the Commission is
incapable of judging certain cases fairly. Accordingly, on 8 February the
Harare High Court, quashed an MIC decision to refuse a licence to the
publishing house of the Daily News and its supplement the Daily News on
Sunday, banned since 2003. The paper's lawyers had gone to court, arguing
that the MIC chairman had refused to withdraw in despite of a 2005 decision
by the Supreme Court which had ruled, for the first time, that he was
biased. The High Court judge in Harare said that the MIC decision had
effectively been biased, under the influence of the intelligence services,
and that the Commission should consequently review the licence application.
Boosted by these two legal decisions in its favour, the newspaper's
publishing house on 28 March challenged the information and publicity
minister Tichaona Jokonya, so as to force the government to decide on
allowing publication, in the place of the disqualified MIC. But the
Zimbabwean government used every means from legal quibbles to law breaking
with impunity to delay making a decision. And, in fact, no decision has yet
been made.

The MIC has therefore calmly continued its surveillance and punishment of
discordant voices. Its weapons of choice are: "calls for investigation" into
a particular journalist, threats to revoke licences or accreditation and
denouncing journalists to the police. Police raided one of the distribution
points in Harare of the privately-owned daily The Zimbabwean on 3 October.
Police took away a copy of the paper's import authorisation as well as
copies of the previous week's paper. The paper, one of the country's last
independent dailies is published in the UK and printed in South Africa, to
get round draconian legislation on the private press, of which the MIC is
the tireless watchdog. The previous week, the paper carried an article in
which military sources spoke out against corruption within the Zimbabwean
police. A few days earlier, on 1st October, Tafataona Mahoso called on the
information minister to investigate the Zimbabwean Union of Journalists
(ZUJ), on the grounds that it was fomenting an "anti-Zimbabwe lobby". He
claimed to be in possession of a document drawn up by the ZUJ, asking for
funds from the Netherlands embassy and from UNESCO. At the same time, Mahoso
also made an order for an investigation of the ZUJ secretary in Mashonaland
West province, Nunurai Jena, accused of working for US public radio Voice of
America (VOA), based in Washington, without obtaining permission from the
MIC. On 28 September, the Commission virulently attacked the Zimbabwean
branch of the press freedom organisation the Media Institute of Southern
Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe), which he said, was backing "regime change".

Resistance from the justice system

But the Zimbabwean justice system is increasingly resisting the abuse of
power by the government. On 25 September, the president of the Harare court
decided to refuse the prosecution a third adjournment in the trial of
privately-owned radio VOP. "This is turning into a circus", he said, before
deciding to drop charges against the radio's ten defendants. Board members
Arnold Tsunga, Millie Phiri, Isabella Matambanadzo, David Masunda, Nhlanhla
Ngwenya, Lawrence Chibwe and John Masuku, had been arrested in January 2006
for "possessing and using broadcast equipment without permission". Radio
staffers Maria Nyanyiwa, Takunda Chigwanda and Nyasha Bosha, were held for
four days in December 2005 after a police search of the radio's offices in
the centre of the capital.

As a result, when legal recourse will not answer, the Zimbabwean government
calls on the army and in particular the powerful Central Intelligence
Organisation (CIO). Unable to have foreign-based staff arrested, from the
second half of June the government ordered jamming of the VOA programme
Studio 7 beamed into Zimbabwe. They are now blocked with a rattling sound,
identical to that which has been jamming shortwave programmes since February
2005 on privately-owned SW Radio Africa based in London and of
Amsterdam-based VOP, since September 2005. According to information obtained
by Reporters Without Borders this jamming has been made possible by the
presence in Harare of Chinese experts invited to train their Zimbabwean
telecommunications and radio-communications counterparts under an economic
and technical cooperation agreement signed between the two countries.


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Strike By Lecturers Could Soon Spread To University Of Zimbabwe

VOA

      By Carole Gombakomba
      Washington
      01 February 2007

Lecturers and other staff at University of Zimbabwe in Harare were poised to
join their colleagues in Bulawayo, Gweru and Chinhoyi on strike Monday if
the government did not respond to their salary demands by the close of
business on Friday.

Instructors and other employees of institutions of higher learning in the
three provincial cities went on strike earlier this week demanding pay
increases of 1,200%.

Zimbabwe State Universities Academic Staff Association President Benjamin
Njekeya said state university employees struck after talks with the
government deadlocked.

Lecturers and staff at the National University of Science and Technology in
Bulawayo, Gweru Midlands State University and Chinhoyi University of
Technology, as well as the University of Zimbabwe, have rejected the 300
percent salary hike which the government offered all public employees at the
beginning of the year.

State Universities Academic Staff Association Vice President James Mhlaule
told reporter Carole Gombakomba of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that his
members are striking because Harare has continued to dismiss their
grievances.


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Social contract will not succeed without political legitimacy: MDC leader

Zim Online

Friday 02 February 2007

      By Pfudzai Chibgowa

      HARARE - Zimbabwe opposition leader Arthur Mutambara says there is
need for a legitimate government as a necessary precondition for the social
contract enunciated by central bank governor, Gideon Gono as a panacea to
Zimbabwe's economic meltdown.

      Mutambara heads the smaller faction of the splintered Movement for
Democratic Change party. Morgan Tsvangirai heads the larger faction of the
party.

      Reacting to measures announced by Gono in a monetary policy statement
on Wednesday, Mutambara said this could be achieved through a new
constitution and internationally supervised elections.

      He said: "A social contract depends on solid political will, total
buy-in, inclusive ownership, acceptance of the problems, honesty of
participants, and moral suasion.

      "There must be a legitimate government in power, not a regime that is
a product of disputed elections. A regime that brutalises labour leaders,
civic society leaders, business leaders, and political activists, has no
capacity to facilitate the requisite discourse."

      Mutambara questioned whether Gono's call for social contract had the
blessing of all the factions in the governing ZANU PF party that is bitterly
divided over President Robert Mugabe's succession.

      Even if the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor had the backing of all
in ZANU PF and the government a social contract could succeed if there was
external financial assistance, the MDC leader said.

      Mutambara scoffed at Gono's misplaced belief that ZANU PF elites who
have benefited from the distortions resulting from a collapsing economy,
would surrender their advantageous positions for the common good.

      "Given the nature of economic crisis our social contract will not
succeed without external financial assistance. This help will not be
forthcoming, as long as we are a pariah state run by an illegitimate
regime," he said. - ZimOnline


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Zimbabwean refugees to be allowed to work in South Africa

Zim Online

Friday 02 February 2007

By Parker Khesani

PRETORIA - The South African government says it has waived an instruction
that barred Zimbabwean asylum seekers and refugees from seeking employment
in the country.

In a letter faxed to the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) which was seen by
ZimOnline, the South African government said it will no longer bar asylum
seekers and refugees to work in the country.

"Please be informed that our department is committed to upholding the
principles enshrined in Chapter 2 of our Constitution, of amongst others is
to treat people equally," said the letter which was signed by M E Macanda.

"Further after a number of consultations with various stakeholders, the
department has decided to waive the above prohibition (on the right to work
and study)," said the letter.

The ZEF last year wrote to the Home Affairs department to express concerns
that Zimbabwean refugees and asylum seekers were being discriminated against
under the law.

Most of the permits were allegedly issued at Rosettenville Refugee Reception
office in Johannesburg.

The ZEF said the restriction appeared to only apply to Zimbabweans raising
suspicions that the department was pursuing an "unconstitutional and
segregatory policy against Zimbabwean asylum seekers."

Zimbabwean refugees and asylum seekers have often complained of harassment
by South African authorities who accuse them of stoking crime in their
country.

At least three million Zimbabweans, a quarter of the country's 12 million
population, are living outside the country the majority of them in South
Africa after fleeing hunger and political persecution in their country. -
ZimOnline


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Opposition Pulls Off Large Demonstration In Zimbabwe's Second City

VOA

      By Patience Rusere
      Washington
      01 February 2007

The faction of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change faction
led by Morgan Tsvangirai staged anti-government protests in Bulawayo on
Thursday in one of the largest such protests seen to date with about 3,000
people taking part.

Opposition supporters marched through the streets from Bulawayo's market
district to the city center, apparently catching police off guard as only
four arrests were made.

Sources in Bulawayo said some marchers were students from institutions of
higher learning such as United College of Education and Hillside Teachers
College.

The protesters chanted songs against President Robert Mugabe and carried
placards demanding his resignation for the country's descent into an
economic abyss in which inflation is running over 1,200% and unemployment is
estimated at more than 80%.

The opposition has also been galvanized by the ruling ZANU-PF party's
proposal to postpone the presidential election due in 2008 until 2010 under
a "harmonization" of election schedules so it can be held at the same time
as general elections. But the effect would be to extend President Mugabe's
term by two years.

Domestic and Western critics of the Mugabe administration say the country's
woes are attributable to the crash program of land redistribution launched
in 2000, devastating the key agricultural sector. But Mr. Mugabe blames the
sanctions imposed on him and his inner circle since 2002 by the United
States and the European Union.

Bulawayo correspondent Babongile Dlamini of  VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe
reported.

Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, the Tsvangirai faction's secretary for integration,
healing and reconciliation, told reporter Patience Rusere that the
opposition branch planned to expand the wave of protests to cities and towns
throughout the country.


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Jag Job Opportunities - February 01, 2007

Please send any job opportunities for publication in this newsletter to: JAG
Job Opportunities; jag@mango.zw or justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
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(Ad inserted 18/01/2007)

LARGE SCALE FARM AVAILABLE LONG TERM LEASE
January 2007

INVITATION
Welcome to individuals or companies interested in taking up lease for
agricultural land.

LOCATION
2-½ hour drive; from Nairobi in the world famous Rift Valley, Lenginet is a
30-minute drive from Nakuru, home of flamingoes and along the tourist
circuit to lake Bogoria hot springs.

TOPOGRAPHY
One Hundred and forty (140) acres, arable flat land, well suited for
floriculture, horticulture or any other export oriental agriculture
activity, that may require irrigation. The farm has a permanent river
frontage.

FARM DEVELOPMENT

Located on the farm is a 5 bed roomed old English farmhouse with 2 kitchens,
2 bathrooms, 2 living rooms and dining room. The house can accommodate 2
families if need be. There is also an adjoining 2 bedroom, 1 living room
guesthouse.

There are 2 underground water reservoirs, supplementing piped water to the
main house. There is a three-phase electricity supply suited for both
domestic and industrial - heavy machinery power supply.

There are 2 sites already mapped as potential underground (bore hole) water
source.  Other developments include barns, stores, carport for 4 cars and
servants housing units.

The farm is immediately available for occupation on long-term lease
contract, 10+ years, with the option to renew.

Interested parties may contact either of the undersigned.

DR. DAVID K. CHEMIRMIR                                         SUSAN
CHEMIRMIR
P.O. Box 14703,
6400 Independence Pkwy
Nairobi, Post Code 00800                                           #4701
Kenya
Plano, Texas 75023, USA
PHONE: +254 20 272 2046                                        Cell:
972-898-2493
Cell: + 254 722 715 417
schemirmir@hotmail.com
E MAIL: dchemirmir@hotmail.com

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(Ad inserted 18/01/07)

Two positions to be filled.  However we would require that they would be
able to learn both fields, to enable back up for each other:-

Post Title:               Receptionist/Debtors Controller
Responsibilities:      Front Office Management,   Receptionist, Accounts
Queries, Dealing with Clients, Debtors, Invoicing, Receipting, Handling
Cash, Banking, General Secretarial Duties, Debt Collections

Post Title:              Wages Clerk/Debtors Assistant
Responsibilities:     Wages for 65 employees, Debtors - Entering
Invoices/Receipts, Vat Returns, NEC, NSSA etc Returns, handling Petty Cash,
Cash Book Knowledge, Internet/Email.

Computer literacy in Pastel Version 8 and Belina Payroll System.  Previous
experience in these fields would be advantageous.  Only basic fields
covered, it entails various other duties.

Personality Traits:  Efficient, hard working, pleasant, must be
self-motivated to be-able to perform duties without constant supervision,
honest and trustworthy.

Dress Code:         Smart.
Salary:                  Salary / Package to be discussed.

Please contact:
Multi-Link (Pvt) Ltd
P O Box HG 659
Highlands, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Tel. 737688, 705021, 708310.  Fax 733844
e-mail: multilink@mweb.co.zw

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(Ad inserted 25/01/07)

A vacancy needs to be filled at Peterhouse:

Estate Manager (January 2007)
Responsibilities include;
Maintenance of sports fields, swimming pools and sporting facilities
Overseeing water supply and borehole upkeep
Controlling lawn mowers, tractors and equipment usage
Managing a forestry plantation and estate gardens
Usage and maintenance of generators
Managing a small labour force

Please send a detailed CV with 3 references and application to:

The Rector, Peterhouse, P/Bag 3741, Marondera
Or fax to:  079 - 24200, or e-mail to: peterrec@mweb.co.zw

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(Ad inserted 25/01/07)

Sales Agents/Representatives for our company:
Company:         Alfa P/L
Business:          Calendars; diaries and corporate gifts
Job Title:           Sales Representative
Reporting to:      Branch Manager/Sales Co-Ordinator
Package:          To be discussed
Environment:     Female

This post will be ideal for mature responsible ladies with drivers licence
and own car. Previous selling experience will be an advantage. Please
contact Anthea Reeler on 776772; 011 604 151, alternatively, please email CV
to alfahre@zol.co.zw

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(Ad inserted 25/01/07)

The following positions are immediately available within our organisation.

Bookkeeper / Accountant
Qualifications not absolutely necessary but experience vital as must be
competent, professional and confidential.

Personal Assistant
Reporting to the General Manager,  a highly competent and professional PA is
required. Must have computer experience in Word and Excel.

Vehicle Sales Person
Responsible for all vehicle sales hence knowledge of vehicles and good,
administrative skills required.

Workshop Manager
Responsible for maintenance and running of  company vehicles/transport  and
construction fleet. Must be able to manage general workshop requirements and
staff.

Please forward C.V.s and contactable references to email address :
auctions@yoafrica.com
For further information please contact / refer to Glynis Wiley on :
751904/5/6 - 751498 - 751343
ABC Auctions
Hatfield House
Seke Road
Telephone 263 4 751904/906
Fax 263 4 751904/906

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(Ad inserted 25/01/07)

Position available at a leading Guest House in Somerset West, Cape Province,
RSA for a young Zimbabwean male or female kitchen breakfast chef.

Please respond directly to email address : info@ivoryheights.co.za with all
relevant CV, reference, work experience details.

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(Ad inserted 25/01/07)

A VACANCY EXISTS FOR A COUPLE TO MANAGE A CARAVAN
PARK AND SMALL HARBOUR AT LAKE CHIVERO, HARARE.

REQUIRED SKILLS:
GENERAL MANAGEMENT CHORES WITH A LABOUR FORCE OF 9 WORKERS
MAINTENANCE OF SHOWERS, TOILETS, OUT HOUSES
MAINTAINING WATER AND ELECTRICAL RETICULATION SYSTEMS ALREADY IN PLACE.
LIASING WITH CARAVANNERS AND GUESTS
TAKING CARE OF THE PARK GARDENS.
OVERSEEING GENERAL HARBOUR CLEARING AND MAINTENANCE
RUNNING A SMALL SHOP INCLUDING DAILY STOCK CHECKS,
ORDERING SUPPLIES AND BANKING TAKINGS.

A HOUSE AND VEHICLE IS PROVIDED WITH REASONALBLE RENUMERATION.
THIS POSITION WOULD SUIT A RETIRED FARMING COUPLE WHO ARE NOT
AFRAID OF WORK. DRIVING LICENCE ESSENTIAL.
THE PARK IS QUIET DURING THE WEEK.
THE SHOP OPENS ALL WEEK AND SERVICES MEMBERS, STAFF AND NATIONAL PARK
EMPLOYEES.

CONTACT THE ADVERTISER WITH CV AT nella@comone.co.zw
OR phone 04-305721/2 (work) or 091200030 (anytime)

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(Ad inserted 25/01/07)

MORNINGS ONLY PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO THE MD REQUIRED TO COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY.
Mature and experienced person, capable of working without supervision,
shorthand advantageous, reasonable computer literacy and accurate typing
skills essential.

Please apply in writing to with a copy of your CV, to :
General Manager,
P.O. Box 2432,
Harare.

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EMPLOYMENT REQUIRED

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(Ad inserted 18/01/07)

I am a Diesel Mechanic with 12 years experience.  I am looking for a
position as a Workshop Manager /Fleet Manager or any position in a related
industry. I have been running my own business in Mozambique for the last two
years but wish to return home.

For further information and CV please contact the following:-
Riaan Ferreira at mtemwa@zol.co.zw
Contactable on +258 823864815 until end of January 2007

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(Ad inserted 25/01/07)

Mature Lady aged 32

Position sought             :    credit control/debt collector
Experience                   :     10+ years
QualificationS               :     Bookkeeping and accounts, SAAA (former
ZAAT) 2ND PART
Computer packages      :    sage 2000,  Accpac,  chameleon, windows, excell
& powerpoint

For more information call 091745939
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For the latest listings of accommodation available for farmers, contact
justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw (updated 25 January 2007)

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