• No big bash for Mugabe
• Anglo American 'unaware of legal action'
• Chissano Takes the Baton
• 'Emerging Market' -- an Outdated Concept?
• Farmers ripped off
• Tourism attaches to take up posts in SA, France

Harare - President Robert Mugabe on Sunday postponed his usual reception
before the opening of parliament this week, an event that some diplomats,
civic leaders and opposition politicians had said they would boycott.

The government said Mugabe's usual lavish reception that was to take place
on Monday was "postponed to a date to be advised."

However, military aircraft, mounted police and troops rehearsed for
Tuesday's ceremonial opening of the parliament by Mugabe, which hadn't been
cancelled.

All invitations to Monday's event, including those to foreign diplomats,
civic and business leaders and ruling party officials, were cancelled, it
said.

No reasons were given but opposition lawmakers, some diplomats and civic
leaders said they would boycott it.

Mugabe's support has plunged to its lowest as Zimbabwe faces its worst
economic crisis since he led the nation to independence in 1980. Dwindling
crowds have attended his recent ruling Zanu-PF party rallies.

Lawmakers of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have in the past
boycotted Mugabe's opening of parliament party and have walked out of the
house when Mugabe began his opening speech.

At the annual state opening of the parliament two years ago Mugabe, riding
in an open, vintage Rolls Royce used by colonial era British governors, was
jeered by protesters.

Last year, police prevented demonstrations by sealing off the main square
opposite the parliament building.

Anglo American spokeswoman Anne Dunn said yesterday that Anglo American was
not aware of the legal action being brought by Zimbabwean farmers.

Hippo Valley said earlier that it had been taking cane from commercial
farmers and newly resettled farmers in terms of existing contracts.

The Sugar Production Control Act states millers are legally obliged to
receive cane grown in Zimbabwe.

Hippo has not paid any party for cane deliveries and has instituted
interpleader proceedings in the High Court for a ruling on the competing
claims.

Sunday Times (Johannesburg)

July 20, 2003
Posted to the web July 21, 2003

Johannesburg

The new AU chairman is a man of God on a continent where politicians think
of themselves as gods, writes Ranjeni Munusamy

'The best thing is for me to be as I am, not to be someone else. I admire
the qualities of President Mbeki . . . I may be tough in my own way. He is
tough in his own way'

JOAQUIM Chissano sits with his head bowed at the front of Maputo's Catholic
Cathedral. The early-morning sunlight diffused through the stained-glass
windows spills over him, making him look like an apparition in the dimly lit
church.

It's as if the heavens are participating in an elaborate scheme to project
the man as a saint.

Small birds flutter about the high ceilings, making a din with their
feverish twittering.

The Mozambican president is oblivious to the sound as he pages through his
Sunday Missal, searching for the day's readings.

The choir starts singing and the orthodox character of the church is
transformed by the rhythm of bongo drums and upbeat hymns. Chissano sings
all the hymns - in Shangaan and Portuguese - without a hymn book.

The congregation is unruffled by his presence. Nobody stares at him or tries
to push forward to greet their president. Obviously he is a regular.

It's the morning after a week of frenzy in Maputo. African heads of state,
ministers, ambassadors, officials, security personnel and hordes of
journalists flooded the Mozambican capital for the summit of the African
Union.

For a week, life in Maputo was dramatically altered, with traffic flows
sporadically interrupted by flying convoys, streets cordoned off, blaring
sirens and foreigners - particularly South African officials and security
personnel - taking over the city.

Chissano, 64, took over chairmanship of the AU from President Thabo Mbeki
and played host to about 40 African leaders attending the gathering.

It required chairing lengthy debates- some acrimonious - about pressing
issues and problems, including 11 conflict situations, the setting up of AU
institutions such as the Peace and Security Council, and the New Partnership
for Africa's Development .

The night before, he had presided over the closing ceremony at which members
of the new AU commission were sworn in, and sat patiently while Africa's
most flamboyant leader, Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, rabbited on for
about 40 minutes in what was meant to be a brief vote of thanks.

Chissano then addressed a media conference and later indulged journalists
with individual interviews. Late into the night, he fielded courtesy calls.

So it's somewhat surprising that he is up at the crack of dawn on this crisp
Sunday morning to pray. Considering the company he's kept over the preceding
days, men who think of themselves as gods, the image of him kneeling in the
pew is humbling.

But then Chissano doesn't quite fit the mould of a stereotype African
leader.

He arrived at the church in an Audi, escorted by one unmarked car of
bodyguards.

When the collection plate is passed around, he reaches into his pocket for a
bank note.

And when the priest announces at the end of Mass that Chissano is the new
head of the continental body and the congregation erupts in loud applause,
he looks embarrassed.

This from a man with a lifetime in politics, beginning in 1952 as a student
activist. Ten years later, he joined the Front for the Liberation of
Mozambique ( Frelimo) and climbed steadily up its ranks as Mozambique fought
for national liberation. In 1983 he was elected to the Political Bureau and
has been president of the Frelimo party since 1986.

In the same year, he became president of Mozambique. He managed the
introduction of a multiparty constitution and a peace agreement with the
rebel group Renamo.

Under his leadership, Mozambique, among the world's poorest countries,
having been devastated by a protracted civil war and socialist
mismanagement, is now renowned for having achieved one of the highest growth
rates in the world.

He confides that during the summit, someone asked him what his magic formula
was for the high-speed reconstruction of his country - an open invitation
for a politician to wax lyrical about his virtues. Chissano doesn't.

"It's not the state but ordinary people who are doing it," he says.

At the presidential palace, he agrees to be interviewed in the sprawling
garden, reassuring the photographer and cameraman that he doesn't mind
having to sit facing the blazing winter sun for an hour.

Liberties such as invading the president's privacy in church and at home are
rare for South African journalists. So when it is announced that Chissano
would like to have breakfast with us and aides march out into the garden
with crockery, food and drinks, we have to make an effort not to look
shocked.

When he speaks, it is difficult to resist the temptation to compare him with
Mbeki, his AU predecessor.

Asked what the major achievements of the AU summit were, the first thing
Chissano lists is a discussion on HIV/Aids.

He says a video conference during which six cities around the world were
linked to Maputo was a milestone in advancing the Aids cause. Never before
has Africa's political leadership been engaged in such a dialogue.

Mbeki's pet project, Nepad, is second on Chissano's list, followed by the
progress reports on Africa's conflicts.

Disappointments? The fact that the delegates were so immersed in serious
discussions that they did not have time to see all the cultural shows, art
exhibitions and theatre productions that ordinary Mozambicans had put on.

It's hard to imagine Mbeki even thinking about art while attending a
political summit.

Under Mbeki, the AU took on a very distinct character as he attempted to
drive it with military precision, focusing on programmes he regarded as
being of primary importance - conflict resolution and advancing the Nepad
mission to bring democracy, good governance and development to Africa.

Chissano identifies the same targets, but makes it clear he will go about
things differently.

"The best thing is for me to be as I am, not to be someone else. I admire
the qualities of President Mbeki, [he] has had a good impact on the AU.

"I have my way of doing things and it will have the same impact, the same
results.

"I may be tough in my own way. He is tough in his own way . . . I don't
think we can compare."

Mbeki's biggest challenge was to propel his 52 counterparts on his desired
trajectory. Chissano recognises why this is difficult.

"We are united in a common cause [ Africa's development], it is a matter of
approaches. Because of the differences in countries, we are not at the same
level in our economies, education and development.

"Our countries were not born at the same time or in the same way. There is a
diversity in the perception of issues."

He says it is therefore necessary to develop common agendas among countries
in the five regions of Africa .

Another mission he has identified is to engage the media in Africa.

"There is a disparity of opinion-makers. It is necessary to engage in
dialogue with the media to build a common perception between policy- and
opinion-makers so that we deliver the same message to our people.

"The message should be the same from Mozambique to Algiers and Ethiopia."

Mbeki muddied himself by brawling with Gaddafi. The Brother Leader is
eccentric and does not argue logically, so Mbeki ended up looking indignant
and irritated.

Chissano will be more tolerant, but persuasive. "Everyone has their own
temperaments. The thing to do is adapt yours to theirs," he says.

And Zimbabwe?

"We are all critical of Zimbabwe but we did not live their history, their
struggle," he says.

Mbeki is facing the heat over his approach to Zimbabwe, but this should not
deter the mission to rescue Zimbabwe from its malaise, Chissano says.

"If we believe in what we are doing, we must go ahead. President Mbeki
belongs to a team, our team . . . People will be doubtful until there are
more convincing signs of progress."

Next year, Mozambique will elect a new president, as Chissano has indicated
he will not be available for re-election. His last year in office is set to
be feverishly busy.

In addition to the AU demands, he is determined to meet the
poverty-alleviation targets of Mozambique's five-year development programme.

He has publicly endorsed Armando Guebuza, Frelimo's presidential candidate,
as his successor. But what will he do afterwards, having reached the
pinnacle of a political career as a president of a country and leader of a
continent?

"I still have one year to think. I will concentrate on the programme we
have. I'll care about myself later."