"The Zimbabwe Situation" news page
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July 9 2000 AFRICA
White gold: a national parks employee shows off a pair of tusks stored in Harare. Easy target: wildlife groups fear Zimbabwe's claim of protecting elephants is a sham
Photographs: Howard Burditt and Jonathan P Scott
Illegal ivory sale buys guns for Mugabe

Tom Walker, Diplomatic Correspondent

THE bankrupt Zimbabwean regime of Robert Mugabe has illegally sold more than eight tons of ivory to China, sources in Harare have revealed.

The cargo, flown to Beijing via Libya in May, is thought to have been part payment for thousands of Kalashnikov rifles that were flown into the Zimbabwean capital at the same time.

Worth almost US$1m, the sale is a serious breach of rules covering the ivory trade, and is being investigated by Interpol and the Geneva-based secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).

News of the illicit operation has rekindled fears among wildlife organisations that the Zimbabwean government's official claim to be a protector of the elephant is a sham.

Zimbabwe's tourist literature makes great play of a supposedly rising elephant population, but experts in the country believe the figures have been distorted as part of an attempt by Mugabe's cash-strapped regime to make Cites relax its ivory trading rules.

Brigadier Albert Kanunga, a retired army officer who heads Zimbabwe's department of parks and wildlife, appealed to Cites earlier this year for clearance to sell 10 tons of ivory, but failed in a complicated negotiation involving Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

At about the same time substantial quantities of high-calibre ammunition allegedly went missing from the wildlife department's armoury near State House in Harare, coinciding with an upsurge in poaching in the Zambezi Valley bordering Zambia, where experts claim up to 200 elephants have been killed this year alone.

The Zimbabwean government blamed much of the carnage on foreign animal rights groups, which it claimed were trying to thwart Mugabe's bid to have the Cites rules relaxed.

Ivory commands a black market price of more than $100 a kilogram. Demand is greatest in Japan and China. The Beijing government is officially opposed to the trade, but wildlife experts in Harare say that unofficially, Chinese demand is high. They identified a string of Zambian and Senegalese middlemen who, they say, arrange deals through the close-knit Chinese community in South Africa.

The wildlife experts, many of them sacked by Kanunga's predecessor, Willas Makombe, claim Mugabe was approached by the Chinese shortly after his proposals for a new constitution were defeated in a referendum in February. Worried that his grip on power was slipping after 20 years, he knew he might need arms in the build-up to last month's general election, which he narrowly won.

"The ivory order came right from the top," said one former government source. "They'll sell anything they can right now." The 8.1 ton consignment was allegedly flown out of Harare's international airport on May 14.

Cites first investigated rumours of the shipment last month, and was assured by Zimbabwe's wildlife department that just over 23 tons of ivory were stored at its Harare headquarters, one ton less than when Cites last inquired in April. Officials said the missing ton had been legitimately sold on the local market to craftsmen.

But former wildlife department employees say the official statistics are almost meaningless, given that up to 50 elephants can be killed by poachers in a typical raid lasting between two and three weeks, bringing anything up to two tons of ivory onto the illegal market.

If Zimbabwe's claims to have an elephant population of 70,000 are anywhere near accurate, then scientists say natural rates of attrition would also yield several tons of ivory each year.

"It's the ridiculous side of Cites," said one former senior official. "Elephants are dying all the time, and it's not too difficult to put a few tons to one side."

Other former officials said Mugabe would ideally like to sell off the country's entire stock because of the cost of maintaining it at a constant humidity and temperature. Only a handful of trusted officials - all loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF party - have access to the stores.

Rick Swain, of the Humane Society of the United States, the animal protection group that alerted Cites to the sale, said the deal had angered officials in the wildlife department. After strong gains made by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe's elections, questions were being openly asked, he said.

The aircraft used to fly the ivory to China was said to be an Angolan-owned Ilyushin, routed via Libya. Mugabe has close ties with Colonel Muammar Gadaffi, the Libyan leader.

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Hi all, just forwarding you this letter that came from Zim to us - to remind that all is not peace and quiet there.  But what can we do from here? S


Dear S -

How kind of you. Your thoughtful offer is greatly appreciated and if we
do need anything, especially medical,  I will thankfully take you up
on your offer.  Neither of us uses contact lenses but do know of
people battling to get them, but it's not critical,  they can always
wear their specs for a while can't they ?   So far we've been able to
buy the antibiotic eye drops, pain killers etc and everything I need.
Things are really grim here and nobody has any idea when/if any sort
of law and order will be restored.  Urban crime is really bad....
Billy Hunt (well known at race track and tobacco floors) was beaten
to death in his garden this week - married to Colleen Darke.  Heather
Desmond (Waddell) went missing this week and her body was found off
Addington Lane today.  The 5th brigade are going beserk in the
townships;  the army and CIO are openly organising further pegging of
farms, issuing more death threats to farmers;  it's utterly chaotic,
and wearying.  Long overdue devaluation is still being resisted and
farmers are being forced (by banks) to sell at any price so that at
least some of the collosal interest on huge overdrafts can be paid.
God Bless
D



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On a Zimbabwe farm, women want the land

Sunday, July 9 8:33 PM SGT HARARE SOUTH, Zimbabwe, July 9 (AFP) -

Perched on low benches in a dusty classroom on a farm 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Harare, a group of Zimbabwean farm women say they, not war veterans who have occupied hundreds of white-owned farms, should get land for resettlement.

"If the land is going to be taken, then we need it," one young woman tells

"The war veterans don't know how to work on the land, all they do is fighting," flashes her neighbour.

Women in Zimbabwe, as in other African countries, are the backbone of agriculture.

While veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation war appear first in line to be handed over white-owned farmland, critics of Zimbabwe's land reform policies have raised doubts about whether these people can make a viable living as farmers.

In the meantime, Zimbabwe's women, who regularly toil away in lucrative white-owned tobacco fields -- often with babies on their backs -- have been left out of the debate.

Scarved, barefoot or wearing plastic flip-flops, most of these 25 women know only life on the farm. Their parents worked here, they were born here -- and for those with babies strapped to their backs or toddlers crawling under the trestle tables -- they thought their children would work here too.

Until this year.

A group of war veterans invaded the farm, claiming the land as their own ahead of parliamentary elections, while President Robert Mugabe reiterated promises that farmland would be given to landless peasants.

The polls passed off peacefully last month, with little of the violence that characterised the election campaign, when at least four white farmers, including one on a nearby farm, were among 33 killed.

The government has said resettlement will start soon, and the farm is one of more than 800 designated for compulsory acquisition. But these women, gathered late afternoon after a day that began at 4.00 a.m, fear the land will go to the war veterans who have the president's favour, and not to them.

"If I am going to be given land, then I will cut down wood, I will build a house, I will cut the grass, I will dig with my bare hands," exclaims one.

She will grow maize and ground nuts, and make peanut butter that her relatives in town can sell, she says. If there is water, she will grow vegetables.

None of the women -- among around 230 currently working on this tobacco farm -- want to be named. They talk -- in Shona -- only after they are convinced this reporter is not from the government.

Most dismiss angrily suggestions some analysts have made -- that because of a lack of infrastructure and money, resettlement of the impoverished landless will only worsen Zimbabwe's already dire economic situation.

"It's better to have my own land. Then I know it's my own place and I will stay there until I die," explains one.

Another older, bespectacled woman is more cautious.

"If it is a resettlement with a small portion, that's good, but not a vast piece of land," she murmurs.

Groups like the non-governmental Women and Land Lobby Group argued that a quota system should be set up giving women between 20 and 30 percent of resettlement land, but Vice President Joseph Msika last week said women would get no preferential treatment, state ZIANA news agency reported.

What these women fear is being thrown off the farm, losing a monthly wage of between 1100 and 1200 Zimbabwe dollars (28 - 32 US dollars) and the right to one of the two-roomed brick houses in the farm compound for which they pay 10 dollars per term rent.

"Some of us are born here. It's going to be a problem. If the farm is taken we have nowhere else to go," says one.

"Those who are going to take the farm must know what they are going to do with us."

The current owner of this farm is, the women say, "better" than many.

"If somebody here has got a relative who died, they give transport to bury him," one says.

Theirs is a tough life -- up at 4.00 a.m, breakfast between 9.00 and 9.30, then work through until 3.00 p.m, when housework has to begin.

They do exactly the same work as the men -- in the fields weeding or in the tobacco grading sheds -- and many are far from happy about it.

"Working conditions must be changed. The time for finishing work... it must be changed for ladies because they have lots of things to do," like chopping firewood and fetching water from the farm's one communal pump, says one.

But for now, it is the future that causes most worry.

Back on the road to Harare, labourers employed on a casual basis trudge back to town past the golf course -- just the kind of uncertain future these women want so desperately to avoid.

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The Zimbabwe Economy - a Weekly Brief from the Movement for Democratic Change -  6 July 2000.

MDC now has a block of 57 Members of Parliament and is planning to increase these by legal means and bi-elections over the next few months. In addition we have decided not to co-operate with Zanu PF and to act as an opposition until we can take power through democratic means. Observers will probably regard the election as "not free and fair" and therefore the government will continue to be denied significant financial and political support. Early indications from the Zanu PF side suggest that they have no ideas of how to get to grips with this situation. Suggestions that they are continuing to stick to the "Millenium Economic Recovery Program" that is not worth the paper it is written on, is testimony to this. They also talk of continuing to control the value of the dollar and to impose price controls. This can only result in the present suspension of all bi-lateral and multilateral development assistance continuing.

Without support from our development partners, there is no possibility of stabilizing the economy and financial markets in Zimbabwe. This will lead to the continued decline in the economy and an intensification of the inflationary pressures on both the local currency and foreign exchange markets.

Without a coherent and integrated stabilization and recovery program, based on improved relations with the major development partners of Zimbabwe, the melt down of the economy will persist with disastrous consequences. It is now expected that the economy will reflect the following main features in the year 2000.

1. Inflation, presently at 60 per cent, will continue to rise reaching 85 per cent by year-end. As always this will impact most on the low-income community and those on fixed incomes. Wage increases of 50 to 60 per cent are being agreed between the Unions and the private sector at present and this will not halt the rapid decline in living standards. In fact real incomes - already down a third in a decade will decline by up to 20 per cent this year.

2. The value of the Zimbabwe dollar will depreciate on currency markets to over 70:1 against the US dollar by the year-end. The dollar is already trading freely in local markets at 55 to 65: 1 against the local currency.
Tobacco traders and gold producers continue to be forced to operate at the official rate of 37:1 and this is holding down earnings on both commodities to the detriment of the producers. Other exporters are selling about 60 per cent of their earnings from exports on the parallel market and 40 per cent at official rates to support energy payments. The government is using gold sales to support its own (mainly military and diplomatic) requirements.

3. Serious food and other shortages will continue and intensify from September onwards as the limited supplies from the 1999/00 agricultural season are exhausted. However it is estimated that the country will have a surplus of maize grain this winter and some exports may be authorized. It would probably be prudent to try and rebuild stocks - totally depleted at the end of last year, but the high cost of borrowings will inhibit this.

4. Some 250 000 people will lose their jobs in the formal sector, reducing over 1,5 million urban and rural poor to a state of penury. Job losses are accelerating in the mining and industrial sectors and the continued loss of formal sector jobs in the agricultural industry depends on the situation with regards to the illegal farm occupations and the attempts to take over farms by the government using extra legal instruments.

5. Some 500 000 people will be displaced by farm occupations with no possibility of orderly settlement of the land that is involved. This will remove a very large proportion of land from productive agriculture and return it to the peasant communal holdings that have proved such a disaster in other areas. Average incomes of all the affected people will be reduced to very low levels - estimated as US$150 per capita per annum, a third of present incomes.

6. Commercial farm income will decline by Z$20 billion or over 40 per cent in the winter of 2000, this will lead to the collapse of the farming industry and will result in severe shortages of food and other essential
industrial inputs in 2001. Such a huge loss of incomes will also inhibit their ability to service bank loans and this must affect the position of the banking sector.

7. Foreign exchange earnings in 2000 are projected to fall by 50 per cent over those achieved in 1999. This will result in the escalation of shortages of essential inputs and liquid fuels with further closures of
mining and industrial enterprises. This also means that the government will not be able to service its loan obligations and further defaults can be expected. The present backlog of foreign exchange payments is estimated to be US$1,1 billion and growing by over US$100 per month.

8. Formal sector employment will fall below 10 per cent of the population for the first time in 80 years. Unemployment will rise to over 85 per cent of all adults - who will be forced, into the informal sector or
back to the rural peasant sector to find a means of sustaining themselves and their families.

9. GDP is now expected to fall steeply in 2000, probably by over 10 per cent - some commentators are suggesting up to 20 per cent, anything is possible.

10. The deficit in the national budget is now expected to exceed 20 per cent of GDP and will mean that for the first time in our history, nearly half of all government expenditure will be funded by borrowings - all of it on the local market at very high interest rates. Borrowings are running at Z$2 billion a week - an extraordinary level that is difficult to comprehend. The government is printing money and also using an illegal overdraft facility at the Reserve Bank in violation of the Finance Act.

Long-term damage will be done to the economy if this situation continues for even 6 months. To envisage that the economy will survive a further two years of Zanu PF led government is an impossibility. Such a collapse will impact on every State in southern Africa and will endanger the political and economic stability of the region as a whole. It is already known that the impact on Mozambique - one of the poorest states in the world, is severe as Zimbabwe is defaulting on energy, port and pipeline charges as well as payments for rail transport services. The ports and railways are very quiet and as they normally generate in excess of 40 per cent of that countries foreign earnings, the impact on the country is serious. All Zimbabwe's neighbours are feeling similar but less severe effects.

The resulting economic conditions in the domestic economy will result in real hardships for the low- income community who have no savings and no alternative means of support. It will also result in serious long-term damage to the private sector in Zimbabwe unless means can be secured to help in the most critical areas.

Eddie Cross

Secretary for Economic Affairs, MDC.

Keep up the support!

Regards,

MDC Support Centre
8th Floor, Gold Bridge
Eastgate
Harare

Guqula Izenzo/Maitiro Chinja

"The people of Zimbabwe have begun the process of reclaiming power and the institution of true democratic change." (Morgan Tsvangirai)
 
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COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION
FARM INVASIONS UPDATE
SUNDAY 9 JULY 2000
 
Mashonaland West (North)
Quiet.
 
Masvingo
Situation remains the same as yesterday's report.  On Buffalo range, about 50 structures have been erected.
 
Mashonaland East
Wedza - on Fels Farm, a crop guard was beaten up trying to arrest maize thieves on Friday.  He was hospitalised.  Two poachers were arrested for poaching. 
On Markwe, gunshots were heard on Thursday night.  Police reacted and arrested two people and recovered a bolt action 12-bore shotgun.  Interestingly, the person who squealed on the poachers is the main troublemaker on farm. 
On Fair Adventure, a reaction to gunshots on Friday night resulted in the arrest of a squatter who had been poaching, along with the discovery of the hides of a serval, a civet, a striped polecat and a kudu. 
On Iamba, labour from Msasa were caught stealing oranges by security guards.  A brawl ensued and in the process, one guard was bitten!!  Arrests were made.
Macheke/Virginia - whilst relatively calm, the situation is sensitive and the district is conscious of the need to act circumspectly.
Marondera South - on Saturday, a number of farms east of Wenimbi River were visited by Dafi, Zenenga, Kunata and Shasha, who were using a DDF pick up.  They are threatening to occupy farms on Monday and to bring cattle with them.  Farmers were told they would have to share farms and not interfere. 
On Monte Christo, war vets took the keys to a landcruiser belonging to the owner.  Police were informed, but said they had no transport and refused to attend in private transport.  Later, 28 warvets and followers, led by Wilfred Marimo, came to the homestead gate and instructed the farmer to move off by Monday because government was taking too long to redistribute land.  Support Unit arrived five hours after being called out.
Marondera North - there was a victory rally held by war vets at the Marondera North Club.  They set up a road block on the road to the club. 
There were widespread demands yesterday for transport and money for the rally. 
Norfolk Farm received demands by war vets for the house and land.
Harare South/Beatrice - no report
Featherstone - unable to contact.
Enterprise - on Friday, the owner and manager of Devonia Farm were told by war vet, Stix Chimuti, to leave the farm within two hours or be killed.  A special team and Support Unit were sent out by Propol.  Chimuti was told his behaviour was unacceptable but, on Saturday morning, he and 30 supporters returned and demanded the owner and manager leave the farm immediately.  Police were informed and more Support Unit details were sent out.  Four details were left overnight and the situation is being monitored.  The owner is still on farm.  On Atlanta, all warvets and youth in the area were called to a meeting.  The Devonia management were worried about this meeting and moved tractors and the combine to a neighbouring farm.  At the meeting, disenchantment was voiced over lack of pay, no food, poor living conditions and lack of progress on land.  They were told by Mukomberanwa (sp?) from Harare that progress was being made and all warvets should attend a meeting in Harare on 15 July.
On Ivordale Farm, the owner and manager were told by warvets Bureau and Giant, to leave the farm by Tuesday.  They said the black manager could stay on farm, but "all whites must leave farms countrywide." Today, this threat was repeated and warvets insisted on a tour of the owner's and manager's houses.  They said on Monday all house and farm keys, and all fire arms, should be surrendered to them.  Later, a crop guard shotgun and ammunition were confiscated by the warvets.  Ivordale warvets are believed to already have in possession a shotgun and sidearms.
on Remari Farm, warvets instructed the owner and manager they required a beast and will select one at the dip on Monday.
 
Mashonaland Central
The province has been relatively quiet up to midday today, but there is a build up of movement and a general feeling that we are moving back into an active phase.
Centenary - the owner of Rianbuck Farm refused transport for firewood yesterday so the resident invaders camped and demonstrated in the garden last night.  This morning, he conceded to the demand.  It is going to be difficult to break out of the cycle of demands.
Victory Block - poaching activities have increased and two head of cattle were stolen from Birkdale Farm yesterday.
Tsatsi - Thomas Majuru has called labour on Msasa Farm and surrounding farms to a meeting today.
Mazowe/Concession - there were attempted assaults of MDC supporters at Jumbo Mine yesterday.
Shamva - two main homesteads on Ceres Farm are still occupied by invaders.  Police have been informed.  On Friday, invaders put up a roadblock at Robin Hood Farm.  There is an increase in numbers on Arcadia Farm as a likely move to reinvading neighbouring farms.
Harare West/Nyabira - there are continuing revisits in the area.  All fairly low key at present.
 
Midlands
Area is quiet and much the same as of yesterday.
Mvuma - there is movement on Union Farm, which neighbours Wildgrove.  No numbers reported as yet.
Hunter's Road North - there is nothing further on Elsmere Farm, but both Sunnymeade and Wentworth Farms have invaders.  In both cases, mombes were slaughtered and, although under investigation, it is believed to have been done by the invaders.
Mberengwa - on Kinsale Farm, Zvishavane, the farmer and warvets have been at loggerheads.  The farmer pushed the warvet out of his office, and is now on a charge of assault.  The matter is being investigated by the district and provincial warvet leadership.
 
Mashonaland West (South)
Although quiet, Chevy Chase Farm in Gokwe has had a new invasion.
 
Manicaland
Quiet.
 
Matabeleland
Unable to contact.
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COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION
 
FARM INVASIONS UPDATE
 
SATURDAY 8 JULY 2000
 
 
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Victory Block:
A sheep was stolen at Nrowe Farm last night and there has been a great deal of poaching at Mount Fatigue.  War vets at Velvlekia have planted a vegetable garden outside the security fence.
Mazowe/Concession:
Amatola Farm had a peaceful visitation yesterday.
Shamva:
War vets have occupied two empty houses at Ceres and one at Walwyn.  At Lions Den Farm, war vets harrassed Mazsec guards who had responded to a maize theft case and would not allow them to leave the farm .  The Police reacted and the situation was eventually resolved.
 
MASHONALAND EAST
No report today - will report in full tomorrow.
 
MASHONALAND WEST NORTH
In general in the province, there have been odd reports of demands for maize or diesel, or invaders wanting to build on farms, but not being agressive.
Tengwe:
Kapena farm owner returned on Thursday to see if he could grade tobacco and close up farming operations.  After he left, some 30 invaders arrived and instructed all workers to be off farm by 1000 hrs Friday.  By lunchtime Friday they returned and drove off all workers, and 140 000 kg of tobacco remain ungraded in the sheds.  Police informed.  Dendanyani Farm had further demands to transport workers to meet invaders on Parondale - refused.  Tractor and trailer hijacked from Jaybury/Jambo and made to collect wood for Parondale.  Reported to police.  One weaner on Wilgin slaughtered but left.  Centre pivot on Parondale damaged slightly by invaders and owner not allowed to do land prep.  It appears that war vet leader, P.r, has returned to the area and resumed control.  On Gwiwa Farm, owner received messages to open gates and allow access onto farm - refused. 
 
MASHONALAND WEST SOUTH
Selous area:
War vets are reported to be selling plots in the area for $30 each.  Pegging is being carried out on two new properties by a new group.  Threats have been made to two farmers.
Chakari:
There is a general move back onto Blackmorevale Farm by groups said to be coming from Gokwe.  The Chakari police Member in Charge has informed one farmer that the President is meeting with war vets today and some sort of decision should be made on the land invasion situation by Monday.
Norton:
War vet Ruzidzo is asking for the head of one of the farmers in the area.  A group is camped on the verandah of Glentworth House - the owner is presently not in occupation.
 
MASVINGO
Masvingo East:
War vet, Captain Zimuto back in the area, threatened one farmer.  On Chikore Farm vehicles coming and going and gardener threatened because he refused to open gates.  War vets have moved off Beauty Farm.  Communal cattle have been pushed into the wheat on one farm.
Gutu/Chatsworth:
On Thornhill Farm invader numbers of invaders growing and lots of pegging and tree cutting in process.
Chiredzi:
Stelmarco farm re-invaded, chopping of trees and more permanent structures being erected.  (This property not designated.)  Large numbers moving onto Buffalo Range, chopping trees, pegging and building structures - even digging out treated gum poles in fence line.
Save Conservancy:
On Humani Ranch an elephant found dead with one tusk removed - investigations ongoing.  Six poachers were caught yesterday by the farmer and his game scouts and police were called in and took statements, but no arrests were made.  Follow-up by support unit was promised.  This morning a further nine poachers were caught by the farmer.
Mwenezi:
F A Chairman intervened when war vets were stopping cane haulage trucks, and his farm has subsequently been invaded - La Pachi Farm (new invasion).  On Wentzel Hof and Maria Ranch and Kyalami war vets are back and are cutting trees and pegging.
A shot was fired last night (11 pm) between Kyalami and Quagga Pan, and a white Isuzu truck was seen in the vicinity.
 
MANICALAND
Nothing to report today.
 
MATABELELAND
Situation quiet today.
 
MIDLANDS
Situation generally quiet except for following:
Mvuma area:
On Wyldegrove Farm nine invaders arrived yesterday and were seen to be clearing land and erecting structures.  Reported to police who have not yet attended.
Shurugwi:
Cattle slaughterings continue on farms in this area in one's and two's and while police have attended the scenes, nothing happens thereafter.  A threatened occupation of Edwards Farm by war vet leader, Gunpowder.
Hunter's Road North area:
Report that on Ellsmere Farm war vets have blocked off the farm road and the farmer and his wife are not permitted to return.  They have contacted the local war vet leader who is to investigate.
Kwekwe area: 
Further to the situation reported yesterday on Pitscottie Farm where war vets had confiscated game scouts' weapons, police are investigating but have not yet located the culprits.
 
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MEDIA MONITORING PROJECT ZIMBABWE
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS CONDEMN ELECTION MEDIA COVERAGE

Friday 7 July 2000

The international observers who reported on the media coverage of the recently ended parliamentary elections uniformly condemned Zimbabwe's state-controlled media.
The publicly owned broadcasting service, ZBC, was particularly criticized for failing in its duty to provide Zimbabweans with fair, unbiased and balanced coverage of election issues. And although observers found different political views could be found in the country's newspapers, the state-controlled print media was also attacked for its partisan coverage in favour of the ruling party.
Notably, the interim report of the Organization of African Unity observer mission did not address the issue of the media's election coverage. The report of the SADC Electoral Commissions Forum stated that it was unable to provide an analysis of the media's role in the pre-election period. South Africa's parliamentary observer mission has not produced a report so far.

Those missions that did comment on the media's election coverage included the European Union election observer mission, the Commonwealth observer team, the Australian parliamentary mission, and the Southern African Legal Assistance Network (SALAN) observer team. Most however, only dealt briefly with the issue.
The Commonwealth report simply stated: "We note with concern the failure of the media, and notably the state-controlled broadcast media, to provide balanced pre- election coverage," its report said.
The SALAN team also reported briefly on the media's election coverage:
"There was a clear absence of an equal opportunity for all parties to win the support of the electorate. The state-owned media monopoly was biased towards affording the ruling party this opportunity alone," it said.
The Australians note: "despite selective reporting in individual papers, varying political views were at least available in Zimbabwe's print media. However, non-government candidates had minimal access to both broadcast time and favourable reporting on Zimbabwe's electronic media".

The European Union mission provided the most detailed report.
In its section dealing with the pre-election period and the campaign, the EU statement criticized the government-controlled media for failing to provide equal access to the political parties contesting the election. It said: "Both the public broadcaster, the ZBC and government controlled newspapers were used as publicity vehicles for ZANU PF.
The ZBC failed to ensure informed political debate. Propaganda crowded out the real issues of the campaign. Opposition parties have had to rely on commercial media only."

Responding to a report that it never carried, ZBC television and radio news bulletins on June 27th carried a vehement denial that it had "failed to cover political parties", describing the EU statement as baseless.
While ZBC did provide one 25-minute slot on television to each of the contesting political parties in the final days of the election campaign, no similar airtime was afforded to the contestants on any of the radio stations. But even in the television programmes, ZBC retained control by presenting them as discussions in which the presenters questioned the various party officials, thus directing the course of the debate.

ZBC provided extremely restricted direct access to the airwaves for the contesting political parties during the election campaign. The only direct access provided by the public broadcaster was a single 15-minute slot on television (divided into three five- minute presentations in English, Shona and Ndebele) for each political party to explain its policies. However, these were not broadcast on any of ZBC's radio stations, thus depriving millions of radio listeners of any exposure to their political options.
This derogation of ZBC's duty to provide political parties access to the airwaves was particularly damaging to Zimbabweans' right to be informed, particularly for Zimbabwe's rural population, 62 percent of who depend on radio as their main source of public information.

ZANU PF was the only party to have its advertisements aired during this election campaign period. Its two adverts were flighted during television's 8 pm news bulletin on the eve of polling day. Radio and especially television news bulletins, were grossly biased in favour of the ruling party. Television particularly, was indeed used as a publicity vehicle for ZANU PF officials to present their views, coerce voters and vilify their political opponents, particularly the MDC, as figures compiled by the Media Monitoring Project confirm.
ENDS

For previous alerts, and further information about MMPZ, please contact the Project Coordinator, 221 Fife Avenue, Harare, Tel/fax: 263 4 734207, 733486, 011716645, E- mail: monitors@icon.co.zw Web: http://www.icon.co.zw/mmpz Feel free to circulate this message.
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Thank you all for your support but don't stop - we are only half way there

I am sorry I have neglected you for so long.  I had piles of work put on the
backburner and an overwhelming tiredness that still keeps on sneaking up on
me which prevented fingers getting to keyboard.  P. valiantly stepped into
the breach, and filled you in on most of the details along with a
comprehensive analysis.

So the flurry of  rallies  and putting up posters is all over.  Our posters
were carefully preserved while the Zanu PF ones were reduced to tatters.
People would give them a little rip as they walked past, not so that anyone
would notice ...  We were initially disappointed with the results but
realise that a gradual manoeuvre into power will be better for the country.
We wondered about the absence of international monitors at rural polling
centres where vote-rigging and intimidation were blatant-they seem to have
preferred the security and comfort of  the urban centres.  And we were
annoyed that most observation groups, apart from the EU, validated the
election process, giving Zanu PF credibility.  They seemed to have that
mercurial ability to ingratiate themselves to the dominant elite (to use a
marxist term).  Well, God bless them.

The elections were about all types of people all doing what they could to
contribute towards the fight for democracy - whether it was businesses
offering resources and skills and manpower, or individuals doing their bit.
As P. mentioned, Matabeland won the day because of the Isaac Ncube's of
this town who shipped out and spent the weekend jealously guarding ballot
boxes in out of the way places, after the local polling agents had been
beaten and intimidated.  Even the police seemed to be pulling their weight.
One of our factory supervisors was ferrying polling agents in the Kezi area
and was being harassed by war vets when a couple of policemen appeared from
out of the blue.  The WVs were told that if they lifted a finger they would
be shot on the spot so they slunk back into the bushes.  Then there was a
catering team who managed to produce food three times a day for 500 polling
agents for four constituencies in Bulawayo and the outlying areas.   They
even managed to accommodate our requests for special diets with no prior
warning.  One meal was made by people at an old-age home who had clubbed
together to buy bread and fillings from their meagre pensions. Amazing.

Another thing that characterised  the campaign was a sense of oneness.  When
we arrived at a bus stop in an isolated high-density suburb at 5 am on
Saturday morning we were told that it was too dangerous for us to proceed to
the bus terminus further on, since the local war vets had been busy all
night and the sight of mukiwas (whites) could be problematic.  So we decided
to let one of the agents take my ancient truck (blended in better) to go and
make a quick pick up while we waited where we were. So off they went.  It
was only afterwards that I thought: I have just let a total stranger take
off with my truck!  But back it came with a full complement of polling
agents who were taken to other centres well away from their home turf.  The
logistics of getting the right polling agents to the right polling centres
on time was a logistical nightmare and required the planning of a military
manoeuvre.  We invaded S and K Js' home and used that as a command
centre - I don't think they knew what had hit them.

As we fed the polling agents, so we collected reports from them which gave
us an idea of how the voting was going.  The turnout was fast and furious on
the first day (voters were told to leave Sunday for Zanu PF) but a lot of
people were turned away because their names were not on the voters' roll,
although they had registered-up to 1/3 at one polling centre.  Where A.
was, in Mutoko, it was noticeable that people born after 1970 were missing
from the roll.  Another extraordinary thing was that people's names would be
missing at some polling centres but would show up at another in the same
constituency.  The reports also showed how enthusiastic people were to cast
their vote: one had an identification card but was too young to vote and
another arrived who was not even old enough to have an identification card.

What a contrast our experience was to A.'s story as he chauffeured the
MDC candidate.  The Mutoko constituency was one that had been previously
invaded by Bob's bandits and idea of letting the people choose their own
candidate was out of the question so they found a state of affairs was
unpleasant, if not dangerous. Their first unnerving experience was when
Zimrights monitors reported that there were problems at one polling centre.
Knowing that this institiution is the government's idea of a human rights
organisation, they decided to-as the police say-proceed with caution.  They
parked 500m from the polling centre and A. went to make enquiries.  No
problem here they said, its round the corner.  Back A. went and another
person went to check it out.  Fifteen war vets hoping for the pleasure of
their company.

Fpr some reason they had wait until 4pm on Monday for the last ballot box to
arrive at the counting centre and so the counting started late and went on
through the night.  The atmosphere was pretty tense.   A and about 15 other
MDC supporters had to wait outside while the counting took place while being
serenaded by Zanu PF women's league who apparently accompany the war vets on
their tour of duty.  Then the Member in Charge of the police demanded that
A. allow him to search his vehicle because he had received information
that A had firearms and that he was going to fire a volley of shots when the
results came out.  A. complied.  After a fruitless search the MIC told A
that he was a liability, being white, out there and that he should leave.
He said that if he were attacked that the police would not be able to
protect him.  A. felt pretty ruffled at this stage but decided to stay
by the counting centre where at least there were armed policemen rather than
take the risk of leaving and being ambushed.  The MIC then threatened to
arrest him for being within 100 m of the polling centre. After that he had a
war vet saying unkind things about him as he indicated that he would like to
slit A's throat.  A. said he'd come across bad people and unpleasant
people before but, had never experienced the evil he felt that night.  The
MDC candidate was in touch with what was going on and came out to check up
regularly and the other 15 promised to defend so A. at least had moral
support.  At 5.45 am they realised that staying around was not going to
change the ballot so they decided to beat a hasty retreat before there was
any chance for the war vets to set up road blocks.

And so, as Churchill said, this is the beginning of the end.  We have got a
long way to go but I think the experiences  of the last three months have
changed us all.  When you come face to face with a family of seven whose
husband and father has been abducted and has not returned,  when on meets
people whose houses have been destroyed,  people who have narrowly escaped
death because they dare stand up to an evil system, you cannot retreat back
to your cosy microcosm.  There are days when I wish that the most pressing
thing on my mind was whether to tile the kitchen or not but more crucial
issues demand attention.  Now we are focusing on municipal elections.  If
MDC win these, individual towns and cities will be able to negotiate loans
independently of the government, so that the people who have put their necks
on the block for change will at last be able to reap some benefits.

Anyway that's enough of me pontificating.  Thank you all for your support
but don't stop - we are only half way there

D
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Z I M N E W S

8 July 2000

In today's issue:

From The Daily Telegraph (UK), 8 July

CIO, ZNA join farm invaders

Calgary Farm - Taking advantage of President Robert Mugabe's vendetta against Zimbabwe's white farmers, army and police officers have occupied a farm after forcing the owner to flee in the face of death threats. Mr Mugabe has repeatedly supported the illegal land invasions, which have affected 1,684 properties, and the government has transported, fed and paid the squatters. But this is the first evidence of direct state involvement, as the army and police scramble for a share of the spoils. Shocked farmers fear it illustrates a complete breakdown of the rule of law, allowing "anyone to invade a white property and say 'this is mine'".

With eight spacious houses and a turnover exceeding £330,000, Calgary Farm is a plum prize. Irvine Reid, who leases the property, believes that its location 15 miles north of Harare was the main attraction for the new occupiers. He said: "The army and police guys want this place as a weekend retreat." More than 300 squatters raided Calgary in April, shouting that they would murder the owner, David Wheeler - who by chance was away. Mr Reid said: "He has stayed away. He's now in France. They were quite open in saying they wanted to kill him."

Within days, most of the squatters had disappeared, leaving a hard core of 14 occupiers. Mr Reid realised that they were serving army and police officers. He said: "They come here in uniform. They try to disguise it by wearing long dustcoats, but they are definitely wearing their uniforms underneath." The policemen arrive in official Land Rovers and their military colleagues appear in vehicles with army number plates. In the run-up to Zimbabwe's election, Calgary became a headquarters for the terror campaign aimed at stamping out the opposition. At least four of the 180 workers were seriously assaulted.

The farm's large carpentry shed was the venue for numerous political meetings at which people were browbeaten into supporting Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF Party. Mr Reid, his wife, Gayle, and their three children were kept awake night after night by the screams and songs of the squatters and their victims. Rows of grass shacks show where the occupiers, who appear at weekends and then retreat to Harare, have divided the land into 14 plots. Calgary is not among the 804 farms listed for compulsory acquisition, yet Mr Reid has been ordered to harvest his crops and leave. He said: "These guys are working outside the law, insofar as there still is a law in this country. Now anyone can invade a white property and say 'this is mine'. It's got nothing to do with helping the landless, it's all about helping the hierarchy."

From The Times (UK), 8 July

More farmers driven out in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG - Dozens of white farmers have abandoned their properties on KwaZulu-Natal's northern coast after a surge of invasions by landless squatters, farmers' organisations said yesterday. An increase in violent incidents has been reported all over the country, increasing pressure on the Government to speed up land reform or to face unrest similar to that in Zimbabwe. Lourie Bosman, spokesman for Agri South Africa, an organisation representing white and black commercial and subsistence farmers, said: "Conflict is definitely on the increase. If the Government fails to speed up the land reform programme, the masses on the ground could create huge problems for South Africa."

Ronald Ramabulana, head of the black National African Farmers' Union, said: "There is a genuine land hunger in this country. We need to redistribute 30 per cent of South African land urgently to create a new class of black commercial farmers." The KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture Minister, Narend Singh, visited an area affected by the land invasions yesterday. He said that the occupations were spontaneous and "peaceful", and dated back to 1987. However, owners of the occupied properties told the minister that they were threatened daily by squatters, crops had been burned and possessions stolen.

Nearly a decade after the collapse of apartheid, about 85 per cent of prime agricultural land is owned by white farmers. South Africa's 1994 Land Redistribution Act, which set a target of acquiring 30 per cent of white-owned land for redistribution among black people forcibly dispossessed since the beginning of the 20th century, has succeeded in redistributing 3 per cent of holdings. Mr Bosman added: "It took 20 years for the land issue in Zimbabwe to come to a head. Given what has happened there, the people on the ground here are clearly not going to wait that long."

Most observers believe that there is little evidence to support the allegation that there is an organised campaign to drive white farmers off the land. Most of the violence is a result of unco-ordinated action by small groups drawn from the millions who were uprooted from their traditional communities. Many live in vast sprawling rural slums with insufficient resources to pay labola (bride price) and no land to inherit. They are denied the traditional rites of passage to marriage and manhood. Their lack of a basic education locks them out of the urban economy.

From Pan African News Agency, 8 July

Zimbabwe Finance Minister In Mozambique For Talks With IMF

Harare - Zimbabwe's Finance Minister, Herbert Murerwa, flew to neighbouring Mozambique Friday, for talks with visiting chief of the IMF, Horst Koehler, on a possible resumption of financial aid to the southern African country. The IMF and most other international lenders cut off aid to Zimbabwe last year over fiscal and economic policy disagreements, throwing the country's economy into free fall. But government authorities have been re-courting the global lender in recent weeks after tough parliamentary elections in June which saw President Robert Mugabe retain power. Koehler is on a four-nation African tour to Nigeria, Senegal, Mozambique and South Africa for talks with government leaders on what role the IMF could play in their economies. Government officials said Murerwa had decided to intercept the IMF chief in Mozambique to appeal for a resumption of aid to help the country pull out of its economic difficulties. The IMF has indicated it would consider Zimbabwe's requests for financial assistance once President Robert Mugabe named a new cabinet and had a fresh economic recovery programme. The Zimbabwean leader is expected to announce a new cabinet shortly after last month's parliamentary elections.

From BBC News, 7 July

Aids fear after Zimbabwe rapes

Fears are mounting in Zimbabwe that the recent pre-election campaign violence in which a number of women were raped might worsen the already serious Aids situation. Aids prevention groups said that government supporters waged a campaign of intimidation and violence - including rape - against suspected opposition supporters during the period. Human rights organisations have also criticised the government for its slow reponse to the growing threat posed by the disease.

Zimbabwe has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world, with an estimated one in four adults HIV positive. More than 200 people are thought to be dying every day from Aids-related illnesses. Health workers believe the recent violent election campaigns simply made things worse. Kerry Kay, whose own Aids control programme has virtually closed down because of attacks on its office and workers, says the violence is likely to have serious long-term effects. "There's a lot of women been raped during the course of this political violence," Mr Kay says. "What access will they have to anti-retrovirals? None whatsoever. So through that rape they're sentenced to death."

Zimbabwe's health service has crumbled in the face of the Aids onslaught. Nonetheless, the government continues to spend more on defence than on health. The authorities are now pinning their hopes on tackling the problem through a recently introduced levy. Health Minister Timothy Stamps says the government is seriously committed to tackling the problem. "It's important for us to demonstrate that we are serious about the scourge of Aids and that we are going to do something to counter the threat," Dr Stamps says. One idea was to impose an extra tax to help fund Aids-prevention programmes. Such is the mistrust of the government, though, that it was forced to set up an autonomous body to administer the funds. Six months after collection of the levy began, none of the money has been distributed. In the meantime, about 1,500 Zimbabweans continue to die every week as a result of HIV and Aids.

From The Zimbabwe Independent, 7 July

Businessman fined for stepping on red carpet

A Gwanda businessman, Raymond Hollins, arrested and fined for stepping on a red carpet laid out for President Mugabe, says police overreacted in charging him for what they called an act likely to breach public peace. Last Sunday Hollins was fined $100 on a charge of contravening a section of the Miscellaneous Offences Act. He was briefly held at Queenspark station before being released.

"I know I should not have done that but I did not see the carpet nor did I know that was the president’s plane," Hollins told the Independent this week. "I feel there was an overreaction. I could have been told that they did not like what I did. I do not want to make a big deal out of it," he said. The businessman said he did not see the security police standing next to the plane. He argued that if his actions had upset them, they could have warned him instead.

Hollins, a well-known businessman in Gwanda and owner of the Henry’s Supermarket chain, said he was reconsidering a substantial investment that was lined up in Gwanda following the incident. He said the incident revealed how the rights of citizens can be trampled on and no investors would feel at ease with that. "What sort of country has this become? I have shelved my $18 million expansion project because this is a police state and what is the point of investing?" Hollins said. "I am not amused; why should I try to invest here? I do not need this because you do not invest unless you are happy in your mind. I am not happy in my mind right now," he said.

Hollins was detained for about four hours during which he said the police did not actually know what to charge him with. The incident happened just before Mugabe and his entourage was due to fly to Harare. The president, the First Lady and their entourage were returning from a memorial service for veteran nationalist Joshua Nkomo. According to Hollins, he had just disembarked from his private plane at Bulawayo airport. He proceeded to pay his landing fee and walked across the VIP red carpet on the tarmac. After paying his fee he returned to the plane and was then beckoned to by the security police at the airport. He said he was asked what was wrong with him walking on the carpet and was told that he was under arrest.

"I walked on the carpet and they got offended," he said. "I was taken to the police station where there was the officer commanding. Well, the officers at Queenspark were nice and understanding and had everything sorted out," he said. He paid the deposit fine and was released to travel to Gwanda where he is based. Reports from the police indicated that as Hollins stepped across Mugabe’s red carpet he gave a wave similar to the sign of the MDC. But Hollins maintained he had greeted people sprucing the carpet. There was speculation that he could have been nabbed if his "wave" was interpreted as a political sign given the current post-election uneasiness. "That I gave an MDC signal is total crap, I did not vote," said Hollins. "That is a load of rubbish."

MEP PARISH CALLS ON EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT FOR DIRECT ACTION AGAINST MUGABE
 
The following is the official transcript of what South West Tory Member of the European Parliament, Neil Parish, said in the Zimbabwe debate yesterday:
 
" . .  There is no doubt in Zimbabwe that it has been a case of 'power corrupts and absoute power corrupts absolutely.'  Mr Mugabe has much to answer for.  If the result may be said to have a positive side it is the fact that there is now no longer absolute power. "Much of the violence that took place before the elections can be traced directly back to the leadership of ZANU-PF and to President Mugabe himself.   The so-called war veterans - they must have been very young when the war of independence was on - have been paid to be on these farms.  This is a grave problem which can be traced directly back to the leadership.
 
"There were problems too with the fact the postal votes, which were sent directly to the army in the Congo on Thursday, miraculously returned on Saturday, all in due form going into many marginal constituencies. Threats of violence against supporters of the MDC have continued after the electons. The Archbishop of Bulawayo has been threatened.   All thse things must be stopped.  We cannot possibly support a regime that carrries on this intimidation.
 
"The fact that President Mugabe wants to stifle inward investment by nationalising the farms, and threatening to do the same with the mines, will do nothing to resolve the the economic situation in Zimbabwe.  What Zimbabwe needs is much more inward investment from outside the country. This will not take place under the present regime.
 
"There is a great and wonderful opportunity in Zimbabwe now with the emergence of the MDC for all races to work together.  There is great hope for the future, but we must make sure that we keep up the pressure on Zimbabwe and especially on Mr Mugabe.  We should take direct action against assets that President Mugabe owns outside Zimbabwe.  We must take the argument directly to the man who has created the problem."
 
From The Star (SA), 7 July

Mugabe: We beat our foreign enemy, Britain

Harare - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said on Thursday that last month's parliamentary election was not just a battle between his ruling party and the opposition, but against foreign enemies, said the state Ziana news agency. "We were not dealing with a local enemy, but a foreign one," Mugabe told newly elected party MPs in Harare, reported the agency. "The totality of the weaponry of the British, all newspapers, all televisions, all of them were mobilised to fight us." Ziana reported that Mugabe said the opposition MDC - which won nearly half of all contested seats - was an agent of greater opposition from Britain. "This must go down as a very precious win," he was quoted as saying. "It has saved the party from extinction."

From The Daily News, 7 July

Mugabe reads riot act to new MPs

PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday warned the newly-elected Zanu PF Members of Parliament that his party would brook no dissent from them. Every MP must toe the party line, he said, and no one must side with the opposition MDC in Parliament. At a meeting he called in Harare for politburo members and the 62 Zanu PF MPs, Mugabe said the new MPs must defend the party’s ideals to the bone. Five years ago, they were 117 of them. "You belong to a party which has its own ideals, the ideals in which we believe and which we must fight for," the President said. He said the new MPs should be advocates of the party, its policies, beliefs, history and traditions. "I believe in them, I have fought for them and I must continue to fight for them. It’s a do or die situation." None of the in-coming MPs challenged Mugabe openly on his remarks, apart from some inaudible muttering. Mugabe said, "You are an apostle and defender of the party. You must not be found wanting in any way... Becoming an infidel in parliament, No."

From The Daily News, 7 July

Police arrest 20 war vets after closure of Masvingo schools

Masvingo - Twenty war veterans were arrested in Masvingo on Wednesday after they ordered the closure of three schools and asked a number of commercial farmers to vacate their properties in Mwenezi and Chiredzi districts. Three schools in Mwenezi district were closed as war veterans ordered teachers to abandon their classes and to buy Zanu PF cards. Eight war veterans were arrested during the disturbances and are due to appear in court soon on charges of public violence. Scores of school children were left stranded as the former fighters began to hunt down teachers suspected to have voted for the opposition MDC in last month's election. The schools include Vinga, Tsungirira and Chirindi, all in Mwenezi district.

Police in Masvingo said: "War veterans went to the three schools and ordered teachers out of the classes. They ordered them to go and buy Zanu PF cards at Furidzi Business Centre. Some teachers complied while others fled but eight people were arrested in connection with the disturbances." The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association provincial chairman, Munyaradzi Mhike, said former fighters who had unleashed post-election violence on the opposition were doing so without the association’s blessing. "Elections are over and there is no need for us to carry on with the grudge. It is not proper for civil servants to be attacked. Whatever differences we had during the election campaigns should be over," he said. Mhike said the former fighters occupying some commercial farms were prepared to move out once they have been allocated land. "We are not saying we should be resettled on the occupied farms but anywhere else."

From The Zimbabwe Independent, 7 July

Interview with Mugabe

AT times he can be charming. With hand planted firmly in the pocket, President Robert Mugabe, with the radiant demeanour of youth and the ever-present air of self-confidence, believes he is worth more than US$2 million. "Surely putting US$2 million on my head, let’s be frank, I think I am worth much more than that," he mused. An international organisation, Mugabe revealed, had put a price on his head. It had offered anyone that amount to assassinate him.

Mugabe, a pastmaster at playing to the gallery, gave CNN an exclusive interview while the Zimbabwe Independent got a unique chance to sit in on the exchange. The recent parliamentary election seems not to have moved the 76-year-old ruler one inch. Deep down the man could be wondering what on earth has befallen his 20-year regime which is being held responsible for the economic demise and flagrant corruption which gnaw at the fabric of the nation. As the whole world bays for Mugabe’s head, he feels he has done his best and the world should understand him in the context of his background. How would Mugabe really want to be portrayed?

"Well I am what I am, I am a militant person, a product of our own system but a revolutionary product," said Mugabe. "I have certain principles deriving not just from the political make-up that is mine but also from my revolutionary background," he pointed out. "That background has to be read clearly," he emphasised, in case we hadn’t got the message.

Despite the MDC having campaigned for nine months and generated 57 seats out of 120, Mugabe does not seem to realise the significance behind all this. He certainly did not want to accommodate them for the time being. "For now I rule that out completely. Who are they? What persons do they have in regard to definite capacities, definite qualities? I do not appoint anyone in my cabinet just because they happen to be a physical figure..." he declared. "And these are still a miscellaneous lot and they should cease to be that..." he asserted. Just because they won the election did not necessarily mean that they had to be included, he declared.

Two decades down the line, the liberation struggle still looms large in Mugabe’s scheme of things despite the fact that it no longer appeals to the youth. They are largely unemployed and do not appreciate the relevance of the struggle when they cannot get jobs and food. It is this generation that is largely calling for Mugabe to go. What does he think?

"Of course that worries us. If your father went to prison, went into the bush to fight for the country and your son will not appreciate what you have done, there is something wrong. We appreciated very much what our grandparents had done to fight the British here and it was our source of inspiration..." he said. Mugabe feels that it is the fault of the pioneers of independence as pupils had been taught European history instead of Zimbabwe’s.

Mugabe’s campaign in the recent election was characterised by a message of hate directed at white Zimbabweans who he accused of backing the MDC. This he considers an affront to the policy of reconciliation. People went ahead and voted in four whites, possibly in protest against the racial flames Mugabe was fanning. Mugabe believes Mike Auret, Trudy Stevenson, Roy Bennet and David Coltart are whites who happen to have ulterior motives in joining hands with the MDC. "I do not know. I think they happen to be odd characters who have found their way into the MDC," Mugabe said. "At the moment we feel they were put in by people with ulterior motives. We believe that the farmers have a lot to do – financing them - that Britain is behind it all and they must be able to disprove that in action," Mugabe pointed out.

Though he has been in charge for the past 20 years, he still thinks that "other forces were at play" accounting for the demise of the economy. "We should not be judged merely by the fact that this economy is in a bad patch, it is not necessary. Let us look at the reasons, and the reasons have to do with the depressed markets for our commodities that are earning less and less even though we continue to be producing much more. In those circumstances naturally we can’t be blamed, but of course we should have generated circumstances in which the economy itself would have been growing and encompassing the youth as new employees," Mugabe said.

Despite repeated calls that he should step down now the election had sent him a clear message of rejection, Mugabe insists that he will not respect the calls. "I have not been called to step down except by the opposition. My response to that is this is the usual nonsense...What leader is there who would step down as leader of his own party? If the call was coming from inside then I should take it seriously," Mugabe said.

The war veterans’ supremo Chenjerai Hunzvi indicated that the party should be overhauled from top to bottom to weed out geriatrics that have offered nothing tangible to both the party and government. "Hunzvi would be the last person to say ‘President stop’. No, no, never, ever ... but of course there is need to overhaul, there is need to bring new blood into the party. I agree that there is need, but it does not follow that everyone who is beyond 50 or who becomes 50 or who goes beyond 50 is a useless character," Mugabe said in defence of his advanced age.

Mugabe admitted that there was need for an overhaul but he did not see the need to overhaul himself. Mugabe admitted though that Zanu PF was looking into the aspect of creating room for the participation of the younger generation. Calls were mounting within the ruling party that there should be new faces ahead of the crucial presidential election if their chances against the MDC were to improve. But was he not surprised by the outcome?

"No, I was not much surprised. The results might have gone beyond our calculation. I had calculated that they would get about 40 and they got 17+1 of course to make it 18 extra ... that is the only degree of surprise," Mugabe said. The economic hardships that the country was facing were largely behind the opposition vote in most urban areas. "They are not wrong, people vote according to their stomachs. If you vote according to your own intellectual appreciation of things and you are hit by circumstances, it is the emotion evoked which caused them to vote the way they voted," Mugabe said. "Like all human beings, you can’t turn hardship into a positive factor. When you go voting it requires a person of high intellectual standing to do so," he added.

But the recent land seizures and disrespect for the rule of law internationally have battered his image. "As long as the individual is undesirable, whatever lies you tell, whatever degree of dishonesty there is on your part, unleash everything, bash the man and try to undo him," he ruminated. "But fortunately we have emerged from a difficult campaign. We knew the forces which were at play. Those of the British government and the white community, and the allies of Britain who have withdrawn their aid, whites in South Africa, who have been participating on the side of MDC. We have defeated them all - this is the joy that we have at the end of the day," he said, the wish perhaps being father to the thought.

From The Hindustan Times, 7 July

Johnson masterminds Zimbabwe victory

Bristol - Zimbabwe, led by the dependable bat of Neil Johnson, finally saw the light against West Indies here yesterday. Beaten in the Trinidad Test they should have won back in March, and nowhere near winning any of their previous eight one-day matches against West Indies, Andy Flower’s determined team finally got off the mark in the razzmatazz of Bristol’s historic day-night match. It was a fitting way to finish the first international to be played under floodlights in Britain and they won by six wickets with 30 balls to spare for their first triumph over West Indies in any form of cricket. And it added some early spice to the triangular series, which also features England.

Time eventually ran out for Johnson to follow the hundred he took off Australia in last year’s World Cup at Lord’s. The left-hander made an unbeaten 95 from 128 deliveries, including nine fours, and was denied the chance of aiming for a six to reach three-figures when West Indies captain Jimmy Adams bowled a wide with his first ball to bring the formalities to a close. Man-of-the-match Johnson, normally a dashing performer at the head of the innings, knuckled down to play an anchor role and only began to become expansive once the game was in the bag.

West Indies 232 for 7 in 50 overs (Griffith c Brent b Nkala 10, Gayle run out 41, Hinds c Wishart b Grant Flower 51, Lara c Johnson b Grant Flower 60, Powell c Grant Flower b Brent 36, Jacobs not out 16, Rose lbw Brent 0, McLean run out 2, Adams not out 2, Extras-lb4, w7, nb3-14).

Fall of wkts: 1-33, 2-101, 3-135, 4-191, 5-222, 6-223, 7-225.

Bowling: Strang 10-2-32-0, Nkala 8-2-40-1, Johnson 3-0-14-0, Brent 10-1-59-2, Viljoen 10-0-41-0, Whittall 3-0-15-0. Grant Flower 6-0-27-2.

Zimbabwe 233 for 4 in 45 overs (Johnson not out 95, Wishart c Powell b Rose 7, Goodwin c Hinds b Rose 23, Campbell c Jacobs b Dillon 17, Andy Flower c Gayle b King 42, Andy Flower not out 26, Extras-lb6, w8, nb9-23).

Fall of wkts: 1-24, 2-57, 3-90, 4-160.

Bowling: King 9-0-43-1, Rose 10-0-50-2, McLean 9-0-63-0, Dillon 9-0-35-1, Gayle 8-1-35-0, Adams 0-0-1-0.
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Z I M N E W S

9 July 2000

In today's issue:

From The Sunday Times (UK), 9 July

Illegal ivory sale buys guns for Mugabe

THE bankrupt Zimbabwean regime of Robert Mugabe has illegally sold more than eight tons of ivory to China, sources in Harare have revealed. The cargo, flown to Beijing via Libya in May, is thought to have been part payment for thousands of Kalashnikov rifles that were flown into the Zimbabwean capital at the same time. Worth almost US$1m, the sale is a serious breach of rules covering the ivory trade, and is being investigated by Interpol and the Geneva-based secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).

News of the illicit operation has rekindled fears among wildlife organisations that the Zimbabwean government's official claim to be a protector of the elephant is a sham. Zimbabwe's tourist literature makes great play of a supposedly rising elephant population, but experts in the country believe the figures have been distorted as part of an attempt by Mugabe's cash-strapped regime to make Cites relax its ivory trading rules.

Brigadier Albert Kanunga, a retired army officer who heads Zimbabwe's department of parks and wildlife, appealed to Cites earlier this year for clearance to sell 10 tons of ivory, but failed in a complicated negotiation involving Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. At about the same time substantial quantities of high-calibre ammunition allegedly went missing from the wildlife department's armoury near State House in Harare, coinciding with an upsurge in poaching in the Zambezi Valley bordering Zambia, where experts claim up to 200 elephants have been killed this year alone.

The Zimbabwean government blamed much of the carnage on foreign animal rights groups, which it claimed were trying to thwart Mugabe's bid to have the Cites rules relaxed. Ivory commands a black market price of more than $100 a kilogram. Demand is greatest in Japan and China. The Beijing government is officially opposed to the trade, but wildlife experts in Harare say that unofficially, Chinese demand is high. They identified a string of Zambian and Senegalese middlemen who, they say, arrange deals through the close-knit Chinese community in South Africa.

The wildlife experts, many of them sacked by Kanunga's predecessor, Willas Makombe, claim Mugabe was approached by the Chinese shortly after his proposals for a new constitution were defeated in a referendum in February. Worried that his grip on power was slipping after 20 years, he knew he might need arms in the build-up to last month's general election, which he narrowly won. "The ivory order came right from the top," said one former government source. "They'll sell anything they can right now." The 8.1 ton consignment was allegedly flown out of Harare's international airport on May 14.

Cites first investigated rumours of the shipment last month, and was assured by Zimbabwe's wildlife department that just over 23 tons of ivory were stored at its Harare headquarters, one ton less than when Cites last inquired in April. Officials said the missing ton had been legitimately sold on the local market to craftsmen. But former wildlife department employees say the official statistics are almost meaningless, given that up to 50 elephants can be killed by poachers in a typical raid lasting between two and three weeks, bringing anything up to two tons of ivory onto the illegal market.

If Zimbabwe's claims to have an elephant population of 70,000 are anywhere near accurate, then scientists say natural rates of attrition would also yield several tons of ivory each year. "It's the ridiculous side of Cites," said one former senior official. "Elephants are dying all the time, and it's not too difficult to put a few tons to one side." Other former officials said Mugabe would ideally like to sell off the country's entire stock because of the cost of maintaining it at a constant humidity and temperature. Only a handful of trusted officials - all loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF party - have access to the stores.

Rick Swain, of the Humane Society of the United States, the animal protection group that alerted Cites to the sale, said the deal had angered officials in the wildlife department. After strong gains made by the opposition MDC in Zimbabwe's elections, questions were being openly asked, he said. The aircraft used to fly the ivory to China was said to be an Angolan-owned Ilyushin, routed via Libya. Mugabe has close ties with Colonel Muammar Gadaffi, the Libyan leader.

From The Zimbabwe Standard, 9 July

New cabinet this week

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe is expected to appoint his long-overdue cabinet this week, with the millennium legislators expected to be sworn in on 18 July (Tuesday next week), The Standard learnt last night. Although the director of information in the Office of the President and Cabinet, George Charamba, said he was not aware of the move, authoritative sources said last night that Mugabe himself confirmed on Thursday that he would name his cabinet this week, while the 150 parliamentarians would be sworn in on 18 July.

The announcement date for a new cabinet and for the swearing in of new parliamentarians came in the wake of questions that were asked of Mugabe at a Zanu PF closed meeting last Thursday. This paper has it on good authority that Chegutu legislator, Charles Ndhlovu, asked Mugabe when the cabinet was going to be appointed since the 2000 general election had been completed. Mugabe told the meeting that vice president Joseph Msika, and local government and housing minister, John Nkomo, were already two of the 12 non-constituency MPs he had already picked. Nkomo is the party"s national chairman. Msika was later elevated to the post previously held by the late Dr Joshua Nkomo. Msika and Nkomo refused to contest the June 2000 parliamentary election, arguing that their respective positions in Zanu PF were more important than seeking for a parliamentary ticket. Mugabe is said to have told the meeting that he was under pressure from women who wanted to be included as non-constituency legislators.

Other likely politicians to be picked by Mugabe as non constituency MPs are: Dumiso Dabengwa, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Simon Khaya Moyo, Patrick Chimanasa, Thenjiwe Lesabe, Oppah Muchinguri, and leading banker, Gideon Gono. On Thursday, The Standard understands, the new Chinhoyi legislator, Phillip Chiyangwa, complained that there were people in government who were failing to do their work properly. There was also mention of a lack of financial discipline, a complaint believed to have been targeted at the current finance minister, Dr Herbert Murerwa.

Although Mugabe has kept the nation guessing about his cabinet outfit, sources close to him said Mugabe was likely to retain Dabengwa as home affairs minister, while Mnangagwa was likely to be appointed as the security boss, a post that he held during the political disturbances in Matabeleland, with Dr Sydney Sekeramayi going to head the health ministry. Sources say minister without portfolio, Eddison Zvobgo, who is the most ideal candidate for the justice ministry, after Mnangagwa"s defeat, might not get the job due to health problems. Sources said the new cabinet to be appointed by Mugabe this week had been the biggest headache for the 76-year-old leader in the history of the country"s independence since 1980.

Meanwhile, MDC spokesperson, Learnmore Jongwe, took a swipe at Professor Jonathan Moyo who said the MDC should have appointed a shadow cabinet after President Robert Mugabe had appointed his cabinet first. Jongwe, who described Moyo"s argument as "nonsensical and baseless", said what MDC was doing had nothing to do with Zanu PF politics. "What Moyo is saying is that if Mugabe appoints 100 ministers, then the MDC should appoint 100 shadow cabinet ministers as well. This is nonsense. There is no relationship between the decision making process in MDC and the decision making process in Zanu PF. The making of MDC decisions is not dependent upon Zanu PF having made its decision first," said Jongwe.

The Kuwadzana legislator said the 15 shadow cabinet ministers that were appointed by President Morgan Tsvangirai were not appointed to shadow Zanu PF cabinet ministers, but to shadow government ministries. "Even if Mugabe appoints 100 cabinet ministers, we will still remain with 15 shadow cabinet ministers since we believe they are enough to oversee government activities. Moyo appears to be missing the point by a significant margin. The appointment of shadow ministers was designed to monitor government business, in government ministries, such that even without Mugabe announcing his own cabinet, MDC could still go ahead and announce its shadow cabinet. We are not shadowing individuals to be appointed by Mugabe. We are shadowing government ministries," explained Jongwe.

From The Guardian (UK), 8 July

Cuban Defectors Fly To Sweden

STOCKHOLM - Two Cuban doctors jailed for more than a month by Zimbabwean authorities after they sought political asylum have been released and flown to Sweden, officials and relatives said Saturday. Leonel Cordova Rodriguez, 31, and Noris Pena Martinez, 25, who defected from a Cuban medical mission in Zimbabwe, flew out of the Zimbabwean capital late Friday headed for Scandinavia, said Dominik Bartsch of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in neighbouring Zambia.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry confirmed that immigration authorities had issued the pair temporary visas, but said they had no information about their present location and that the next step was up to them. ``The UNHCR has asked Sweden for assistance and the Swedish immigration service has granted them temporary visiting visas,'' Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Helena Gustavsson said.

In interviews last month, the Cubans said they tried to seek political asylum, but were kidnapped by Zimbabwean security officers who, along with Cuban officials, tried to force them onto a plane to Cuba. After that attempt failed, U.N. officials intervened and demanded their release under international law. The two doctors were freed Wednesday and UNHCR kept them at a secret location until their departure, Bartsch said, adding that the two were in good health and high spirits.

``They were obviously very relieved. As far as we're concerned, the matter is now closed,'' he said. He said U.N. rules did not permit him to reveal the Cubans' final destination. The doctors' whereabouts could not be confirmed Saturday afternoon, but relatives said they arrived in Stockholm on Friday. In Havana, Cordova Rodriguez's wife, Rosalba Gonzalez, said her husband had called his mother Saturday morning from Stockholm to say he was fine. Mina Fernandez, Pena Martinez's cousin in Miami, said that U.S. congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen had told her that Pena Martinez had arrived safely in Sweden on Friday.

From Sweden they would be able to go anywhere, including the United States, which offered to take the doctors shortly after Zimbabwe attempted to deport them. Officials at the U.S. embassy in Stockholm said they were pleased the situation was resolved, but cited long-standing policy not to comment on cases that may eventually fall under the U.S. refugee program. After the doctors sought asylum, both the Canadian and U.S. embassies referred them to the U.N.'s refugee agency, which helps asylum-seekers find countries who will accept them. But after leaving a Zimbabwean refugee centre to stay with a friend, the Cubans disappeared June 2, the same day of their hearing before a Zimbabwean asylum committee. The doctors were flown to Johannesburg, South Africa, where Cuban diplomats and Zimbabwean security agents tried to force them aboard a Paris-bound Air France flight with a connection to Havana. Air France crew members refused to allow the doctors to board after the pair wrote a note saying they were being ``kidnapped.'' South African authorities sent them back to Zimbabwe.

Cuba denounced the defectors, saying they betrayed the medical mission to aid Zimbabwe's health service, but denied any involvement in the kidnapping. Mina Fernandez said she expects her cousin to join her in Miami within two months. ``They have to wait for some documents, but she is coming to live with me,'' Fernandez said in a phone interview from her bridal shop in Coral Gables, Florida. Bartsch said the Zimbabwe government failed to explain why the two were detained through June to July 5 despite their refugee status under international rules.

From The Zimbabwe Standard, 9 July

Defections could rock Zanu PF if no radical leadership change occurs

RECENTLY-elected Zanu PF members could defect to the opposition MDC if there are no radical changes in the ruling party"s leadership, a local political analyst has said. Dr Alfred Nhema, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe political science department, said there was need to revitalise the Zanu PF leadership and bring new blood if the party was to avoid defections in the party. Said Nhema: "Zanu PF"s lack of a coherent succession plan will weaken the party further. Given that some of its heir apparents have lost the election, it is unclear as to who will be at the helm should the current president decide to step down. Should there be no radical leadership changes in Zanu PF, some recently elected young Turks may feel frustrated and may eventually defect to the MDC."

Nhema was speaking at a breakfast meeting in Harare on the implications of the result of the election to business, the economy and the nation at large. Defections have already started to rock the ruling party with Masvingo deputy mayor, Famias Chakabuda, announcing last week that he wanted to contest the town"s mayoral election on an MDC ticket. Two other senior ruling party members also defected to MDC last week. These are Petros Mukwena, the chairman for Gwanda East and a councillor in the town, and former Harare town clerk, Edward Kanengoni. He said the results augured well for the nation as they enhanced democracy. The showing by MDC had prevented Zimbabwe from becoming a one party state. He also said it would not be proper for MDC members to join Mugabe"s cabinet.

"What the nation needs at this stage is an opposition party that is vibrant. In our political system, the opposition is expected to have its own official opposition leader assisted by a team of "shadow" cabinet ministers. They are in fact an alternative government in waiting. The moment they join government as cabinet ministers, they are automatically compromised," he said. The MDC president, Morgan Tsvangirai, last week appointed a shadow cabinet of 15 members of parliament to spearhead the party agenda in the house. The inclusion of MDC MPs into cabinet has been ruled out by both Zanu PF and by the MDC. President Mugabe has said he cannot include MDC into his cabinet because they did not have a "track record" while the MDC has said they cannot discredit themselves by joining a sinking government.

Nhema also said the trends of the election result indicated that MDC could win forthcoming local government elections. "The MDC"s dominance in almost all urban areas and Matebeleland is a clear indication that in the forthcoming local government elections the MDC will probably control all the major cities in the country in addition to rural district councils in Matebeleland and Manicaland," stated Nhema.

From The Zimbabwe Standard, 9 July

Zanu PF stalwarts asked to explain their defeat

SENIOR Zanu PF members who lost their seats in the just ended parliamentary elections, were last week asked to undergo the embarrassing task of offering an explanation before a party meeting, of their losses despite the resources at their disposal. This move was taken following pressure from sections within the politburo and the central committee for party stalwarts to explain - before they could be considered for any major post by President Mugabe - why they had lost to novice politicians.

A highly placed source told The Standard on Thursday: "We felt there was need for a post mortem of the elections, to hear their side of the story in order to justify why they should be considered for the next cabinet and should remain holding senior party positions." The feeling among Zanu PF members, said the source, was that the "old guard" of the party had possessed the resources and machinery to campaign, but had failed to convince the electorate. Those who presented reports were minister of home affairs, Dumiso Dabengwa; minister of justice, legal and parliamentary affairs, Emmerson Mnangagwa; minister of national affairs employment creation and co-operatives, Thenjiwe Lesabe; minister of gender, Oppah Muchinguri; minister of mines, environment and tourism, Simon Khaya Moyo; and the planning commissioner in the president"s office, Richard Hove.

Earlier in the morning, President Mugabe had consoled some of his senior party members at a meeting which had included new Zanu PF parliamentarians and members of the politburo, following their narrow victory over the MDC in the elections. Senior Zanu PF officials who had lost in the elections are reported to have been visibly sombre at the meeting, prompting President Mugabe to describe them as "weeping willows". "I commiserate with the losers for the good work they did for the party as I know it was an extremely difficult period and they must not lose heart from their defeat," said Mugabe. Seated in the front row of the meeting were politburo members, a sizeable number of whom are no longer members of parliament.

Referring to the minister of state and national security, Sydney Sekeramayi, who polled 10 692 votes in his narrow win over the MDC's Didymus Munenzva in Marondera East, Mugabe said: "I remember speaking to you and urging you to look and celebrate the precious victory we won," he added. Sekeramayi beat Munenzva by a paltry 63 votes. Mugabe also urged his party members to hold victory parties where they had won and not leave it to the MDC alone to do so. "You have left it to the MDC to celebrate. I thought you were saying to them "celebrate, you have won" and I was beginning to wonder whether we had won the elections," he added.

The only time his party members cheered him was when he announced that he would choose his cabinet ministers from Zanu PF members. "We will form the next government for five years and it will be our government. We ran the race and we won," said Mugabe. The sombre mood of the meeting was in sharp contrast to that which prevailed at another meeting Mugabe held before the elections in June when all of Zanu PF"s 120 aspiring parliamentarians were in a jovial mood, anticipating a landslide victory.

From The Sunday Times (UK), 9 July

Hot Campbell leaves England in the soup

ZIMBABWE'S unheralded but hardy cricketers had beaten England six times in 12 one-day meetings before yesterday. They had beaten them in up-country Australia, they had beaten them three times on home soil, they had beaten them by a country mile in Cape Town. But they had never before beaten them in the dark. Until yesterday.

This game, the second in the new-fangled NatWest Series – a three-way tournament also involving West Indies - was disappointing for England, who were riding high after their Lord's Test triumph, and disappointing for the crowd. It was played in light more in keeping with a chill November afternoon and was rarely free from the threat of rain. Just trying to get it finished in one day - there was no reserve day as England play West Indies today - was a struggle.

Chasing England's 207, Zimbabwe lost three wickets for 35, shortly after which it went so dark that the umpires, who normally take some persuading to take sides off in limited-over cricket, offered Andy Flower and Alistair Campbell the light. They refused because they had no other choice: Zimbabwe were well behind the required run-rate and faced defeat either way. In 29 overs, this pair added 123 runs in the best partnership of the match. Their backs were right up against the wall and conditions could hardly have been more unfavourable.

By the time Campbell fell, for a belligerent 80 that will salve memories of his recent failures, the match was effectively won and England's self-belief punctured with an irreverently large pin. The home side looked slow and uninspired in the field, a throwback to last year's disorganised and embarrassing World Cup campaign. Their only consolation was an encouraging debut innings of 79 from Marcus Trescothick, the Somerset left-hander, who produced the most entertaining and carefree first one-day innings for England since Ben Hollioake knocked Australia's attack around Lord's for a run-a-ball 63 three years ago as though he was knocking the heads off daisies with a walking stick.

The most heartening aspect to this performance was the complete ease with which Trescothick, long touted as a future England player but without the runs to suggest that his time had arrived, stepped up to the higher level. Zimbabwe may not have struck terror into his heart as other sides might have done, but he skipped along as though this was just another day's fun in the westcountry. Late on, he enjoyed a couple of slices of luck - he might have been run out twice and perhaps should have been had David Shepherd done the right thing and referred one appeal to the third umpire - but with England anxiously scouting around for alternative opening partners for Michael Atherton in the Test side, this was a significant innings in several ways.

But even here England made a bloomer. Trescothick had barely unstrapped his pads before the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that it was still the intention to send Trescothick and Matthew Maynard back to county cricket once Nasser Hussain and Nick Knight have recovered from their injuries. This might happen as early as Tuesday. Vikram Solanki, with a string of failures to his name, will stay. One also has to ask whether England erred in not drafting Dominic Cork into the squad after his inspired performance at Lord's. He is on a roll and, while in him England clearly possess a proven match-winner, they continue to experiment with a pretender.

Yesterday A. Flintoff was only one of several statuesque figures in the field. He also bowled four overs for 20 runs and drove his third ball brainlessly to long-off when his side needed him to play a responsible knock. While England frittered away a strong position here - and A. Caddick led the attack in splendid isolation - Cork was in Derby, taking six wickets against Lancashire to add to the half-century he had scored the previous day. England will also reflect on why Alec Stewart, acting captain in the absence of Hussain, chose to bat first when unsettled weather suggested there was more to be gained going in second, but most of all they will rue collapsing so miserably against a depleted attack.

Before Graeme Hick fell for 50, having miscued into the hands of cover, he and Trescothick had added 106 in 19 overs and England were 136 for one. From there, they lost their last nine wickets for 71. Their final total was nothing like enough. They had fallen for the old trick against Zimbabwe, and it is one they should have learned by now. When Zimbabwe are up against it, their strategy is simple but effective: set defensive fields, take the pace off the ball, sit back and wait. With England, this is usually enough to induce a collapse.

Paul Strang tormented England in Zimbabwe three years ago in just this fashion and he did so again now, only weeks after returning to action after a serious arm injury. He inspired the collapse by claiming the wickets of Hick, Trescothick and Maynard and gave nothing away. Neither did Grant Flower, who mopped up the tail, or Dirk Viljoen. This trio of slow men returned combined figures of 23 overs, no maidens, 90 runs, six wickets. Later, Grant Flower, taking over from Campbell, saw his side to victory in uncomplicated manner by thumping 33 from 29 balls, but his brother Andy fell for an outstanding 61 with only two more wanted. With the light having deteriorated again, he was bowled by a ball from Alan Mullally that he probably did not see.

England did have a few cobwebs to brush off. Maynard, recalled after a four-year absence, was again a disappointment, while Graham Thorpe, 11 months away from the national side, looked like a man trying to summon up a steelier frame of mind. But the rest, apart from Mark Ealham, who manfully bailed water from a rapidly sinking ship, were nowhere. Unfortunately for Ealham, he later gave one of his more profligate performances with the ball, conceding 44 runs from his 10 overs, though he did take the important wicket of Murray Goodwin with his second ball.

This victory leaves Zimbabwe riding implausibly high in the competition, with two wins from two matches, while West Indies and England have yet to open their accounts. Today, the much-vaunted also-rans will slug it out at Lord's. Even if the rain stays away, do not discount catching sight of an absolute shower.

From The Sunday Telegraph (UK), 9 July

Swimmer takes on the Zambezi

Johannesburg – A 48-year-old South African adventurer is planning to swim the length of the 1,700-mile Zambezi river, braving crocodiles, hippos, treacherous whirlpools and sharks in an attempt to enter the record books. Louie Greef embarks on his quest this week, two years after he dreamt up the challenge. Although he has no pedigree as a swimmer, Mr Greef, who stands 6ft 4in tall, insists that he has the willpower to conquer one of the world's most dangerous rivers.

He said: "I have survived nine African jails and nine attempted car hijackings, so this is not so worrying. The crocodiles are obviously something to watch out for, but I am more worried about the sharks and the hippos. I'll have to keep an eye on the whirlpools too because they can suck you under and some are big enough to swallow boats whole. One went down a whirlpool in the Zambezi just two weeks ago, killing the guy on board."

Mr Greef's 13-week journey begins at the source of the Zambezi, deep in the Zambian bush. The river then meanders through Zambia, before weaving its way into Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and into Mozambique, flowing out into the Indian Ocean. Two legs of the swim will be particularly hazardous: a 250-mile stretch through war-torn Angola and the treacherous lower Zambezi. According to Mr Greef, there are 14,000 crocodiles in the lower Zambezi plus thousands of hippos. He will reach speeds above 30 miles an hour in the faster flowing currents and will be accompanied by sharks that swim more than 200 miles upstream from the Mozambican coast in search of food. The Angolan section of the trip is also challenging - fishermen on the river have recently been attacked and killed by Unita rebels who control the area.

Mr Greef, who once survived 49 days in an Angolan jail after being accused of illegal trading, is not unduly alarmed. He said: "When I was arrested and thrown into an underground jail with 18 Angolans only nine of us came out alive. We were stripped naked and shoved into cells. The others died of dehydration and various illnesses. I pulled through by placing myself into a 'mental yoga', where you put mind over body, and that is what I will do on the Zambezi."

Mr Greef has been jailed nine times in several African countries. He was jailed in Uganda for running over and killing a drunken man, in South Africa for possession of too many passports, and twice in the Central African Republic - first for running over a chicken belonging to the head of immigration and later for running over a man who "walked into his car". He was also incarcerated in Namibia on diamond smuggling charges, in Morocco accused of spying for the United States and in Botswana he was charged with spying for South Africa. He also saw the inside of a Zambian jail after being accused of harbouring political dissidents. Along the way he has escaped nine attempted hijackings of his vehicles in different parts of Africa, most memorably in Uganda where an armed man pushed a gun in his face and demanded the car, only to back off when Mr Greef refused.

Mr Greef says he has long been driven by wanderlust. For 15 months he lived and hunted, using a bow and arrow, with the bushmen in the Kalahari desert and has trekked through some of the remotest corners of Africa. He had wanted to swim the Amazon but was beaten to it by another explorer. He believes that the Zambezi is a worthy substitute. He said: "This has never been attempted and probably no one will ever try again. For me, life is about the next event, what is going to happen and how I can survive it within a hair's breadth, knowing I was close to dying. Looking ahead to the Zambezi, the hippos scare me the most because they attack boats and canoes and most fatalities in Africa are caused by them. "There is an old trick where you can throw pieces of clothing at hippos to scare them off so I will carry plenty of old T-shirts with me. As for the Zambezi sharks, I have no answers to that so I'll just have to take it as it comes. The funny thing is I am not a natural swimmer, in fact I hate swimming, but this is part of the challenge."

Mr Greef will be accompanied by a photographer and a film crew in a four-wheel drive vehicle to record his adventure. He is paying for the trip out of his own pocket, hoping to establish himself internationally as an intrepid explorer. He said: "If I do this one then I've got seven other feats that are just as crazy."
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WIRE:07/09/2000 17:46:00 ET
Teargas and bottles fly at Harare stadium tragedy
 



 HARARE, July 9 (Reuters) - Rioting at African soccer games  is nothing new, especially when the home team is playing badly.  

So I was not surprised when bottles rained down on the  Zimbabwean bench after arch-rivals South Africa took a 2-0 lead  in their World Cup qualifying game in Harare.  

But it was the start of violence which left at least 12 fans  dead in a stampede.  

Spectators threw glass bottles, big and small. They lobbed  plastic containers still full of soft drink.  

One bottle hit South Africa"s Delron Buckley and the team  doctor as the goal scorer was being treated for a hurt ankle  after his second goal.  

At that moment, a policeman on the running track surrounding  the pitch, just five metres (yards) from where I was sitting,  fired a teargas canister up into the crowd.  

No command was given to fire, but other police quickly  followed their lone colleague"s lead. Some spectators said  police had been angered by opposition salutes and taunts from  the crowd.  

Chaos erupted in the stands as fans turned on their heels  and fled to the narrow exits at the top of the stadium.  

One spectator turned to pick up a teargas canister, hurling  it back onto the pitch.  

I tried to grab my equipment but the gas blew right over me  and the others sitting nearby. We jumped over the advertising  boards and onto the pitch.  

The referee abandoned the game as police kept firing more  and more teargas canisters.  

People were running in all directions. Some carried small  children. The players lay down on the ground, their faces  pressed into the turf to avoid the gas.  

I took shelter in the dugout where the coach and substitutes  normally sit. A troop of teenaged drum majorettes who had  performed at half time, were crying and coughing amid the  teargas.  

Players and officials sprinted to the dressing rooms, with  the Zimbabweans under a rain of bottles from angry fans.  

Police were still firing cans of tear gas as the stadium  holding 35,000 fans virtually emptied in about four minutes.  

Amid the chaos the hospitality tents kept serving drinks,  but we were forced from the dugout by the drifting teargas and  made our way out through the VIP stand.  

It was only afterwards that we heard of the tragic deaths of  at least 12 fans and the injuries to scores more in their own  desperate attempt to escape from the stadium.


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