Zimbabweans rush for food as Mugabe orders price cut

Yahoo News

by Godfrey Marawanyika Tue Jul 3, 11:56 AM ET

HARARE (AFP) - Shoppers went on a stampede in a leading Harare supermarket
Tuesday, heaping trolleys with groceries after the government slashed prices
by half in a bid to curb profiteering.

In another store down the street, gaping spaces testify to shoppers
stripping shelves of soap, sugar, bread, milk and other commodities.
Zimbabwe has been gripped by panic buying as consumers cash in on a price
freeze and stock up in anticipation of shortages likely to follow.

"The reason I am buying these things ... is that I do not know what will
happen tomorrow," said Tafadzwa Musemburi, an automobile electrician in
Harare.

"I was forced to borrow four-million dollars (16,000 US dollars at the
official exchange rate, but 36 US dollars on the parallel market) just to
get these few things," he said pointing to a trolley containing sugar beans,
peanut butter and other items.

Commodities are fast vanishing after the government forced shops to cut
prices and ordered a freeze on increases.

President Robert Mugabe has accused businesses of profiteering and working
in cahoots with the country's enemies to incite people to revolt against his
government.

Crack units of security force members and a pricing commission have been set
up to raid shops and arrest those who violate the directive.

On Monday, police raided spots where black market dealers are known to
operate and seized various groceries.

"We have started to deal with the parallel market dealers as they are
hoarding foodstuffs," police spokesman Oliver Mandipaka told AFP, adding
that 190 people were arrested for breaching the price ceiling.

Mugabe warned last week his government would seize and nationalise
businesses found to be profiteering, as well as mines taking minerals out of
Zimbabwe.

"This nonsense of price escalations must come to an end," the octogenarian
president told mourners at the burial of national hero Paul Armstrong Gunda.

"Those who are in construction and supplies, take note. We are following
you. It's not going to be an easy game. It's going to be a rough one. We
will never allow ourselves to be defeated by these British tactics.

"The companies must straighten their ways because those in gold mining are
externalising gold. We will nationalise them if they continue with their
dirty tricks."

Following Mugabe's statement, Industry and International Trade Minister
Obert Mpofu ordered a blanket freeze on the prices of all goods and
services.

Many shops in the capital have followed the government order and reduced the
price of commodities such as bread from 44,000 dollars to 22,000 dollars.

Analysts warn the price freeze would only worsen the lot of industries
already struggling against foreign currency shortages and frequent power
cuts.

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president, Marah Hativagone, told AFP:
"My heart is bleeding right now because this does not work and consumers are
the ones who will suffer.

"I just hope the government will see sense and revert to normal business
practices."

Hativagone said many companies would be unable to pay their workers after
being forced to reduce their product prices.

"Our laws do not allow us to cut wages or salaries."

Retail shop assistant Tapiwa Madzikana is not certain what the future holds.

"What will happen to us after all the goods disappear from the shops, nobody
knows and noboby seems to care," he told AFP on Sunday.

"Right now it is better to buy what you can and stock or re-sell it because
very soon the shelves will be empty. As you can see for yourself some
sections of the shop are already empty."

The Zimbabwean government introduced price controls five years ago to fight
a burgeoning black market in staples like cornmeal, cooking oil and bread,
but has failed to stem spiralling inflation.

Shelves go empty amid crackdown on prices in Zimbabwe

International Herald Tribune

The Associated PressPublished: July 3, 2007

HARARE, Zimbabwe: Store shelves normally stocked with staples such as corn
meal, cooking oil and sugar were empty Tuesday, as the government threatened
to take over manufacturers and retailers who failed to slash prices by half.

Smaller shops shut down after running out of stock, while at least 190
supermarkets countrywide have been charged with pricing violations, police
said Tuesday.

In Harare, police raided 40 open-market traders on Monday, detaining them
for allegedly hoarding sugar, soap and cooking oil for sale on the black
market, police said.

The raids by government inspectors and police - both uniformed and plain
clothes - began Friday, after a June 26 government directive ordering that
prices for goods be halved in Zimbabwe.

Authorities arrested 20 businessmen and a ruling-party senator over the
weekend on charges of overpricing.

Bakeries were producing a fraction of their normal output Tuesday, as what
they could now charge for a loaf of bread - 22,000 Zimbabwe dollars
(US$1.46; ?1.07) was higher than the cost of supplies, including flour,
yeast, packaging and transportation, the National Bakers Association said.
"We don't know where this madness is leading. If the suppliers can't supply,
people are going to go hungry, and then what?" said a store owner who asked
not to be identified for fear of government retribution.

During other recent shortages, many stores installed additional security to
guard against looters. On Sunday, a shop manager was hospitalized after a
near riot involving a mob of shoppers grabbing reduced items from a suburban
store. At another store, shoppers fought over scarce sugar, tugging and
tearing at packages until police intervened.

The government said Tuesday the price cuts would not be revoked.

"If anything, government wants to see prices further reduced," said Vice
President Joseph Msika, who was acting for President Robert Mugabe while he
was an African summit in Ghana.

"Those found on the wrong side of the law will be punished severely," Msika
said, according to state radio. "We will take their businesses; we will take
their licenses. They have raised prices to a level the people cannot afford
so they can die in agony with hunger."

Msika and Elliot Manyika, head of a new government task force on prices,
accused businesses of deliberately fueling inflation as a political ploy to
bring down Mugabe, the state Herald newspaper reported Tuesday.

"The campaign is political, and our detractors through business and industry
have been trying to bring down the government the Yugoslavia way. We have a
real war ... We will overcome them," Manyika said, according to The Herald.

Manyika said state-owned enterprises - including Air Zimbabwe, the railroad
and the telephone company - were ordered to cut fares and charges, and a
long-defunct state trading corporation was being revived to take over
businesses that collapsed or were seized due to what he called "delinquent"
manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.

In its worst economic crisis since 1980 independence, Zimbabwe faces
official inflation of 4,500 percent, the highest in the world, though real
inflation on basic goods is estimated at closer to 9,000 percent.

Disruptions in the agriculture-based economy has led to acute shortages of
hard currency, food, gasoline, medicines and most basic goods.

The United Nations estimates about one-third of the population will need
food aid over the next year.

At one supermarket's 10-meter (30-foot) shelf on Tuesday, the only two
packages of goat meat on offer sold within minutes of the store's opening.

One of the capital's main butcheries, usually open weekends and holidays,
was among the shops closed Tuesday for lack of supplies, no longer honoring
the pledge on its shop-front sign: Open 365 days a year.

Price Controls Backfire Again

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks

3 July 2007
Posted to the web 3 July 2007

Harare

Parallel markets are booming, businesses and industries are buckling and
consumers are paying the price as the Zimbabwean government's attempts to
forcibly control runaway inflation backfire.

In the face of soaring hyperinflation, President Robert Mugabe's government
ordered a 50 percent cut in the prices of basic commodities last week.
Defiance of the order was seen as a move to topple Mugabe and businesses
were raided and threatened with closure on Monday 2 July.

John Robertson, an economist based in the capital, Harare, told IRIN:
"Consumers are getting the worst end of it. While they had every reason to
be happy when the government ordered price slashes, that happiness is fast
waning, because the attempt to militantly control prices is boomeranging."

The government set up a taskforce to monitor and enforce compliance but a
mid mid-June salary increase for civil servants, which topped 600 percent,
sent the prices of basic commodities, clothing and transport fares shooting
up.

Mugabe accused industry leaders of attempting to discredit his government
ahead of next year's elections, calling them "snakes" and threatening to
nationalise businesses that refused to comply.

Co-Vice-President Joseph Msika told mourners at the burial of a top military
official and liberation war veteran in Harare that prices "are increasing in
the morning, afternoon and evening", and the government would not allow
business and industry, which he described as "sell-outs, renegades and
money-mongers", to "sabotage" the economy.

"Their [business and industry] actions call for retaliation. We will uproot
this rot within us, and if they don't agree they should close shop, or we
will do it for them and take over their businesses," Msika said.

Many commodities on the controlled list had already disappeared from shops,
but those available at reduced prices drew stampedes of consumers looking
for a bargain, or to resell at a profit on the parallel market. Everyday
commodities like sugar, cooking oil, bread, meat and maizemeal have become
increasingly scarce.

The power of the parallel market

Robertson warned that the price blitz would boost informal markets as
retailers and wholesalers redirected their stock to evade the order. "Price
controls have been attempted in the past and by now the government should
have learnt the lesson that policing business in that manner helps nothing.
The black market takes over and shops remain with things consumers don't
need."

The Herald, a government-controlled newspaper, reported last week that
tonnes of sugar and huge quantities of other goods had been found stashed
away in warehouses. It alleged that a ruling ZANU-PF party senator was among
the "culprits" who had been hoarding, and that some retail shop managers
were even taking stock to their homes to avoid cutting prices.

According to Msika, businesspeople were removing controlled, locally
manufactured goods from warehouses and shops to create an artificial
shortage and warned that basic commodity prices would be further reduced.

In the dormitory suburb of Chitungwiza, about 35km south of the capital, a
number of butcheries were forced to close after being visited by the police
and told to sell at the new lower prices. "Our boss instructed us to stop
selling meat because it was no longer viable, since he had bought it at
higher prices," said Gilbert Ncube, an employee.

"That will mean I and the other five employees would lose our only source of
income," Ncube said, and "instead of the meat being sold under hygienic
conditions, it is now out there in the dusty streets where people's health
is in serious danger. Stalls selling meat at old prices have sprouted
outside shopping centres.

Public transport operators have been unable to comply, arguing that they
source expensive fuel on the parallel market. Fuel station prices have not
been reduced because owners said they had to buy foreign currency on the
informal market, now at Z$120,000 to US$1, to import diesel and petrol.

Industry takes another hit

Industry has been operating at a third of its 2000 capacity, according to
the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industry (CZI). "There were signs of hope when
a price and incomes stabilisation commission was set up [in May] ... but now
that the government has taken such a step, all hope is gone," Robertson
said.

"The economy is going to shrink further. There is going to be reduced supply
by manufacturers to wholesalers and, in turn, to retailers," he predicted.

"Reductions in operations, shutdowns and layoffs, coupled with reduced
investor confidence and, of course, the vicious cycle of poverty, will
continue."

Jonathan Siyakurima, a Harare based accountant, told IRIN: "It is clear
that, out of panic and the fear that it might lose the presidential and
parliamentary elections, due to discontent in an electorate burdened by
eroded incomes, the ruling party and government made a rushed decision to
cut prices without considering other things; unfortunately, this is not
giving us any relief."

He said the government should have consulted business and labour. "To most
of us, the problem is not about business profiteering, or conspiring to
effect regime change, but the perennial shortage of foreign currency." He
doubted the capacity of the government to sustain the blitz, because
previous attempts had been abandoned due to the shortage of manpower.

Most Zimbabweans have been left reeling by an annual inflation rate of
around 4,000 percent, and unable to cope with steep increases in the cost of
essential services such as health, water and electricity, combined with
widespread shortages of basic commodities and foreign currency.

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

Leaders split over African unity

Tuesday, 3 July 2007, 11:12 GMT 12:12 UK

Not all the African leaders at the summit see eye to eye on unity Southern and East African leaders are split over plans for a pan-African government, as suggested by Libya's head of state Col Muammar Gaddafi. Uganda's Yoweri Museveni said he backed economic integration but said Africa was too diverse for one government. "Politically we should only integrate with people who are either similar or compatible with us," he said, according to Uganda's state-owned media. Senegal, however, backed the plans and said a breakaway group could be formed. 'Bottom-up approach' On the final day of the African Union (AU) summit, the BBC's Will Ross in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, says there are clear differences of opinion over the degree of integration and the speed. HAVE YOUR SAY I want to buy the idea of having a United States of Africa but let's first of all try to resolve the issue in Sudan and Zimbabwe Lucien Momoh, Freetown Send us your comments Ghana's Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo believes such problems were inevitable but can be overcome. "You know the problems that you have in the European Union with 25 members, now 27, to arrive at common positions - we have 53," he said. "So clearly there'll be problems involved for people to adjust and I believe that the 53 states will find a way of sharing and joining in the consensus as to the future direction of our continental organisation." Senegal, one of Africa's most stable democracies, is backing Mr Gaddafi's call for the immediate set up of a pan-African government. "We are ready to abandon partially or totally our sovereignty to join a unity government in Africa. So we have no problem. My president is here with his pen ready to sign," Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio said. He suggested a small group of states could sign up to a federation now and wait for others to follow. The leaders of Kenya and Lesotho, representing southern Africa, also expressed their doubts. "We recognise that Africa's interests would be best served through economic and political integration," AFP news agency quotes Lesotho's Prime Minister Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisil as saying. "However we must adopt a bottom-up approach, not a top-down one - We believe that such integration should be gradual rather than precipitous." Our correspondent says the majority of African leaders are likely to call for a gradual approach, preferring to strengthen the existing regional blocs rather than signing away some of their own sovereignty. 'Take the bull by the horns' The idea of a single pan-African government was first promoted by Kwame Nkrumah, who led Ghana to independence in 1957. On Monday, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said unity was vital to make the continent truly independent of the West, as he spoke to a crowd of cheering Ghanaians. My vision is to wake up the African leaders to unify our continent Muammar al-Gaddafi Reporter's diary Mr Gaddafi has called for the immediate establishment of a single government, foreign policy and army. Ghana's President John Kufuor said in his opening speech to the conference that the question of unifying Africa was not in doubt, but the key issue was how to attain it. AU Commission head Alpha Oumar Konare told the gathering that Africans needed to "take the bull by the horns and move towards a new country - Africa". But campaigners on the sidelines of the summit say delivery is the key problem, with leaders already having shown they are unwilling to give up power to regional economic blocs. "We have regional economy communities that were put in place for West Africa... but nothing is working. From one country to another... there are still a lot of obstacles," a campaigner for the organisation Call To Action Against Poverty told the BBC. This summit is the ninth since the AU was created five years ago.

African leaders struggle to forge common vision for future

africasia

 03/07/2007 18:10
ACCRA, July 3 (AFP)

African Union leaders were struggling Tuesday to agree on a road map for a
closer union at the end of a summit that has exposed deep rifts over how
fast they should move towards integration.

Libya's leader Moamer Kadhafi, the main advocate for what has been dubbed a
United States of Africa, urged his fellow heads of state to establish a
union government with common defence and foreign policies by the start of
next year.

However many of his fellow leaders appeared unconvinced and more inclined to
follow the European model, described by visiting EU commission president
Jose Manuel Barroso as economic integration before closer political union.

Although the speeches by heads of state were held behind closed doors,
delegates said that Kadhafi had proposed a union government of 15 ministers
to replace the existing AU commission which he wants in place by January
2008.

The cabinet would include ministers of foreign affairs, defence and trade,
according to Kadhafi's blueprint.

His enthusiasm for a fast-track process is in stark contrast to other
heavyweights such as Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua who argued on Monday
that integration could best be reached by first concentrating on regional
cooperation.

"Our perspective is mediated by the critical need at this point in our
continent's developmental process for the nations of Africa to focus more on
the strengthening and consolidation of internal governance and growth
structures and on more robust regional integration," he said.

Diplomatic sources said Kadhafi's chief ally in the debate, Senegal's
Abdoulaye Wade, had threatened to lead a breakaway movement that would draw
up its own plans for a union government and try to persuade others to sign
later.

The summit was initially meant to wrap up at 1:00 pm (1300 GMT) but the
leaders were still locked in their debate some five hours later.

"Everybody agrees with the idea of creating an African executive. This could
be the (existing AU) commission with enhanced powers or with a different
structure. But we must reach an agreement on this executive," Jean Ping,
vice-president and foreign minister of Gabon, told AFP.

"The differences are over the pace of the integration: should we have this
executive immediately or is it better to do it in stages, with a set
timetable? That's the problem and we will have to find a compromise."

Barroso said the EU's experience had been of pursuing economic integration
first, which had in turn led to greater political integration.

"If you cannot sell your goods to your neighbour then you cannot sell your
ideas," he said.

"I am not suggesting that you should follow it (the EU model), you should
find your own ways of doing it," he added.

The commission chief meanwhile announced that a major EU-Africa summit to be
held in Lisbon in December would in future be organised every two years,
alternating between the two continents, as part of a new drive to improve
relations.

"I will not accept a situation where EU-African relations are only based on
a donor to recipient relationship," he added.

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, whose country now holds the
European Union's rotating presidency, also told the summit that Europe
wanted a new and more equal partnership with Africa.

"It (the Lisbon summit) represents a new starting point in the relations
between the two continents. Our desire is that the Lisbon summit will allow
for a new strategic relationship."

Mugabe: Europe must stand firm and resist calls to invite Zimbabwe dictator to EU-Africa Summit

conservatives.com

Conservatives urged the Portuguese EU Council Presidency not to cave into
demands by African countries that they would boycott the EU-Africa Summit if
Mugabe was not invited.

Portugal, which assumed the EU Presidency on 1 July, is planning to
undermine the EU's targeted sanctions against the Mugabe regime by inviting
Mugabe to their proposed EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon on 8-9 December 2007.

Portugal is keen for the EU-Africa Summit to go ahead at any price, as the
showpiece of its Presidency. The first and last such Summit took place in
Cairo in 2000. Since then, African countries have refused to attend summits
in Europe unless all African leaders are invited. The EU's targeted
sanctions, first imposed in 2002, ban certain named members of the Mugabe
regime from travelling to EU countries - and Mugabe himself tops the list.

Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, who has led the opposition to the Mugabe regime in
the European Parliament over the last eight years, commented:

"If it is to have any credibility, the EU must stand firm. An invitation to
Mugabe would mean that the EU's targeted sanctions policy was not worth the
paper it was written on. Even talk of inviting Mugabe gives comfort to his
appalling regime.

"Without good governance there will be no meaningful improvement in the
lives of African people. The litmus test of commitment to good governance by
African countries is their attitude to Mugabe's regime. Is their solidarity
with fellow African regimes worth more than solidarity with their own
citizens?

"Diplomatic efforts should focus on persuading individual African
governments to withdraw all support for Mugabe - only in that way will
change take place and the miserable lot of the Zimbabwean people improve. If
the EU-Africa Summit does not take place it will be Africa's loss. We need
principled leadership on this issue from the major African countries and
from our own Government, not a vanity project from the EU Presidency."

Geoffrey Van Orden MEP is Conservative MEP for the East of England. He has
initiated the Parliament's many resolutions on Zimbabwe which have attracted
unanimous cross-Party and trans-national support.

He has written to the Portuguese Prime Minister, the President of the
African Union and the British Foreign Secretary calling for further action
against the Mugabe regime.

MEPs fume at ACP-EU Zimbabwe stance

EUpolitix

 Published: Tue, 3 Jul 2007 10:03:22 GMT+02
Author: Martin Banks

MEPs have condemned the failure of the ACP-EU joint parliamentary assembly
to pass a resolution on Zimbabwe.

The decision came after the Zimbabwean parliament refused to send a
delegation to last week's JPA gathering in the German town of Wiesbaden.

In the absence of a delegation from Zimbabwe, it was decided there would not
be a vote on a resolution on the situation in that country.

But UK Socialist MEP Glenys Kinnock said she could not understand the
reluctance to discuss the issue of Zimbabwe.

"People are suffering in the country," said Kinnock, who is co-president of
the JPA.

She pointed out that Nelson Chamisa, an MP from the opposition and spokesman
for the Movement of Democratic Change, was attacked and suffered a head
injury at Harare airport on his way to a JPA meeting in Brussels in March.

"The assembly has the responsibility to address this issue that signed the
Cotonou Agreement that governs EU relations with the ACP."

She added,"We must reflect on the mediation efforts entrusted to president
Mbeki by the South African Development Community.

"I hope that the initiative will bear fruit and Zimbabwe can move towards an
election conducted fairly and peacefully."

Kinnock's comments come in the wake of a furious row over Portugal's
invitation to Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe to attend an EU summit in
December.

The assembly also adopted a resolution calling for the deployment of an
international force in Darfur.

In the resolution, parliamentarians consider that the deployment of a hybrid
UN/African Union force "must take place as soon as possible".

Spanish MEP Josep Borrell, who is leading a five-strong MEP delegation to
Darfur this week, backed the call.

"We must avoid what happened in ex-Yugoslavia, where we were late taking
action in intervening and we all know the consequences that followed," said
Borrell, chair of parliament's development committee.

The JPA brings together MEPs and parliamentarians from 78 African, Caribbean
and Pacific countries.

European leaders urge cooperation with Africa

Reuters

Tue 3 Jul 2007, 14:54 GMT

By Axel Bugge

ACCRA, July 3 (Reuters) - European Union leaders on Tuesday urged closer
cooperation with Africa on tough issues like immigration and development,
saying an EU-Africa summit later this year should mark a turning point in
their relations.

At an African Union summit in Ghana, where leaders debated integration
similar to that achieved by the EU, European Commission President Jose
Manuel Barroso also called on Europe and Africa to develop partnerships in
energy and climate change.

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, whose country took over the
six-month rotating presidency of the EU on Sunday, said it was
"incomprehensible" that Africa and Europe have not had a permanent,
institutional dialogue.

"This hurts Europeans and Africans," Socrates told AU leaders at their
summit, which was the first to invite the leader of the rotating EU
presidency state to speak.

Socrates aims to use Portugal's EU presidency to launch dialogue with Africa
at an EU-Africa summit in Lisbon in December. It will be the first summit
between Europe and Africa in seven years.

"We hope that the summit will be a turning point for relations between the
two continents," Socrates said.

"It can be one of the most significant events of 2007," Barroso said. "It
must launch a process, not a one-off event."

A key hurdle for meetings between the African Union and EU in recent years
has been a European travel ban on Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.
Socrates has said Zimbabwe should not hold up closer EU-Africa ties.

Barroso said identified migration as a key issue for cooperation.

"We cannot, we will not stop migration," Barroso said. "Migration should be
a source of prosperity for both country of origin and country of
destination, not a human tragedy."

Countries in southern Europe, like Spain and Italy, have seen increasing
flows of illegal immigrants from African, often through risky boat trips
across the Mediterranean.

Barroso said Europe's ties with Africa must extend beyond development, to
include boosting trade and establishing en energy partnership. Europe is
increasingly seeking to diversity if energy suppliers.

Zimbabwe's Opposition Unhappy About Mugabe's Invitation

VOA

By Peter Clottey
Washington, D.C.
03 July 2007

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is reportedly going to be permitted by
Portugal to participate in the upcoming Euro-African Summit in December.
This comes after the African Union (AU) demanded that Mugabe be accorded the
same courtesy as other African leaders if the summit were to proceed. But
the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says inviting
President Mugabe IS an affront to the democratic efforts in the country.

Nelson Chamisa is the spokesman for the MDC. From the capital, Harare, he
tells VOA English to Africa reporter Peter Clottey that the ruling ZANU-PF
party would use Mugabe's invitation as a propaganda tool.

"It's quite a disturbing development, particularly, considering the fact
that it sends the wrong signal. It sends a wrong message and paints a
completely different picture to comprehend, considering the fact that people
are suffering in this country; people are being subjected to some kind of
oppression," he said.

Chamisa said President Mugabe's invitation is in bad taste.

"To invite President Robert Mugabe is to simply not be concerned about his
repression back home, and it's going to really confuse Zimbabweans; and it
would not go down well with a lot of democratic forces and indeed the entire
country," Chamisa noted.

He said the invitation would further encourage the Zimbabwean leader not to
allow the country's democracy to be entrenched.

"I must emphasize that clearly it's going to be used for propaganda purposes
by Robert Mugabe and the issue has to do with a person who has become a tin
God dictator. and that is our grudge with this regime," he said.

Chamisa said the invitation would demoralize proponents of democracy in the
country.

"The losers are not just people in the MDC; the losers are people in
Zimbabwe who would want to see democratic change, people who would want to
see freedom and justice, prevail in this country. These kinds of invitations
would obviously give Mugabe an incentive and in fact this would catalyze and
fertilize his continued intransigence and stubbornness," Chamisa pointed
out.

He called upon the international community to force a change in the
direction where Zimbabwe is headed.

"A clear message has to be sent by the international community, by the
regions in terms of SADC (Southern African Development Community), by the AU
(African Union) in terms of the continental initiative to make sure that
Mugabe is made to understand that there is need to give democracy and
freedom to Zimbabweans without any resort to violence, without any resort to
the continuation of the suppression we are seeing in this country," he said.

Chamisa described President Mugabe's claim of being a Pan-African as a
façade.

"Mugabe would obviously be a parrot and a grandstand. But grandstanding by
Mugabe has nothing to do with the reality of what is on the ground. As MDC
we feel that Mugabe should not be listened to by way of his speech. People
should look at his actions; his actions are clearly anti-Africa; they are
anti Pan-Africanism because he is actually defeating the very essence of
being an African. It's not African to maim your children, it's not African
to beat up your parents in the rural areas, it's not African to repress and
oppress your own people. in fact he is a commitment to Pan-Africanism on
paper, but in practice he is completely the opposite, an antithesis of what
President Kwame Nkrumah stood for," he said.

Labour union braces for fresh protests

Zim Online

Wednesday 04 July 2007

By Prince Nyathi

HARARE - Zimbabwe's labour movement on Tuesday said it had begun
preparations for fresh protests by workers, in a development certain to
aggravate tensions in a country already on political knife edge due to a
rapidly deteriorating economic crisis.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) spokesman Khumbulani Ndlovu told
ZimOnline that a meeting of top leaders of the union that is the largest
representative body for workers in the country agreed at a meeting last
Saturday to "proceed with job action".

The ZCTU was now consulting its general membership on the nature and form of
the job action that the union says is necessary to pressure the government
and employers to link wages to inflation, which at more than 4 500 percent
is the highest in the world.

"The meeting (of ZCTU regional leaders) agreed to proceed with the job
action but after further consultations with our constituency. A general
assembly meeting will also meet soon to endorse the meeting's
recommendations," said Ndlovu.

The ZCTU, which in May had said it would call worker protests in the first
week of July, says in addition to linking wages to inflation, the government
must urgently act to end Zimbabwe's severe economic crisis.

Ndlovu said the nature and timing of the planned job action would remain a
secret in order to catch the country's security forces off guard after armed
police last September brutally assaulted ZCTU secretary general Wellington
Chibebe and scores of other union activists for attempting to organise
worker protests in Harare.

A two-day nationwide work boycott subsequently called by the ZCTU flopped
last April as workers turned up for work and business opened fearing a
government backlash.

Labour Minister Nicholas Goche and police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena were
not immediately available for comment on the latest threat by the ZCTU to
call protests by workers.

Inflation is the most visible sign of Zimbabwe's deep recession that has
left more than 80 percent of workers without jobs and left those still lucky
to hold a formal job unable to feed their families because of ever-rising
prices.

The government last week froze prices of all commodities following a spate
of price hikes that had seen prices of basic goods rising by more than 500
percent in the space of just three weeks.

Soldiers and police have since last week raided several shops in Harare to
force owners to lower prices. At least 194 retailers have been arrested and
the figure is set to rise as the police intensify the crackdown on
businesses defying the order to reduce prices.

Analysts say the government's latest effort to keep a lid on prices was
meant to pacify angry workers ahead of general presidential and
parliamentary elections next year but would come at a heavy cost as this
could force some companies to shut down and force more workers to join the
growing jobless list. - ZimOnline

Tourism sector expresses grave concern over price freeze

Zim Online

Wednesday 04 July 2007

      By Thulani Munda

      HARARE - Zimbabwean hotel and tourism operators have expressed concern
over a government directive to slash prices of commodities by half saying it
will lead to shortages of basic goods and chaos in the hospitality industry.

      Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) president Shingi Munyeza, on Tuesday
told a press conference in Harare that the sector faced an embarrassing
future where guests could find themselves in hotels that did not have basics
such as sugar because of shortages of commodities induced by price controls.

      "Some of the basic goods that we want are no longer available from
suppliers," Munyeza told journalists. "Already big players within the
industry have started importing, but that is not sustainable. You can
imagine a guest when he checking in and there is no sugar in the hotel."

      Munyeza bemoaned the price controls he said would cause disruption on
the market at a time Zimbabwe's tourism sector was beginning to show signs
of recovery after years of decline.

      The ZTA boss however said his sector would abide by the government
directive to reduce prices of all commodities and services by half.

      Munyeza spoke as police raided Irvines Chickens, the country's largest
poultry producer where they reportedly seized large quantities of chickens
from the company's storerooms.

      Police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka confirmed the blitz on Irvines
but could not be drawn to reveal more details.

      In the north-western town of Chinhoyi, the price enforcers reportedly
arrested a manager at a Bata Shoe company shop for allegedly refusing to
slash prices of shoes.

      And in Harare, till operators battled to serve hundreds of shoppers
who thronged shops to grab bargains following a raid on shops to enforce
price cuts.

      The government last week froze prices of all commodities following a
spate of price hikes that had seen prices of basic goods rising by more than
500 percent in the space of just three weeks.

      The Harare administration accuses business of conniving with its
Western enemies by unjustifiably hiking prices in order to incite popular
revolt against President Robert Mugabe and his governing ZANU PF party.

      However, economists say price increases reflect a sharp depreciation
in the value of the Zimbabwe dollar, which has lost more than 125 percent of
its value over the past three weeks and continues sliding faster than any
other currency on earth. - ZimOnline

Zimbabwe runs out of cattle vaccines

Zim Online

Wednesday 04 July 2007

By Nqobizitha Khumalo

BULAWAYO - Zimbabwe has run out of vaccines for the treatment of anthrax and
foot-and-mouth diseases as a senior government veterinary official warned
that an outbreak of the two deadly diseases that affect cattle could see the
entire national herd wiped out.

The shortage of vaccines could also scuttle lucrative deals clinched last
year to export beef export to Hong Kong, Democratic Republic of the Congo
and Angola as most governments ban beef imports from countries affected by
the especially contagious foot-and-mouth in order to protect domestic herds.

Zimbabwe lost a key beef export contract to the European Union in 2001
following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the country.

"There is not even a single dose of vaccines and this is tragic for the
country. If there are any outbreaks of diseases, then it will be a
 disaster," said Josphat Nyika, a health expert at the government's
Department of Veterinary Services.

Nyika, who was speaking at a Monday meeting called by the state's Cold
Storage Commission meat processing company to discuss rebuilding the
national herd, said Zimbabwe did not also have drugs to treat tick borne
diseases.

Zimbabwe's national herd has dramatically fallen from an estimated six
million cattle in 2001 to four million chiefly because of the government's
chaotic and often violent programme to seize white-owned farms to give to
blacks.

The farm seizures that President Robert Mugabe says were necessary to ensure
blacks also had a share of arable land saw militant government supporters
slaughter for meat whole herds, including special breeding cattle, left
behind by fleeing white farmers.

Nyika called on Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono to avail hard
cash to pay foreign manufacturers of livestock vaccines, adding that the
critical shortage of vaccines was because there was no foreign currency to
import them.

Zimbabwe was a major exporter of beef to the EU, delivering 9 100 tonnes of
top quality meat to the European market every year and generating much
needed foreign currency. - ZimOnline

Facing Supply-Side Revolt, Harare Threatens To Nationalize Key Manufacturing Firms

VOA

      By Blessing Zulu & Jonga Kandemiiri
      Washington
      03 July 2007

The government of Zimbabwe on Tuesday maintained pressure on businesses to
cut retail prices while maintaining the production of essential goods,
warning that it is prepared to take over and operate key manufacturing firms

The vehicle for such nationalization will be the Zimbabwe State Trading
Corporation, an entity that has been inactive since 1999 when it divested
most of its assets.

Minister Without Portfolio Elliot Manyika, acting as chairman of a cabinet
task force on prices in the absence of Industry Minister Obert Mpofu, said
the entity would take over from "delinquent manufacturers" and others "who
might discontinue service."

Extending Harare's effort to control prices by fiat, he also ordered
state-controlled enterprises such Air Zimbabwe and cellular operator Net One
to cut prices. Sources in touch with developments said most parastatals have
ignored state directives.

Police spokesman Oliver Mandipaka said about 200 business people and 40
illegal foreign currency traders had been arrested in a crackdown dubbed
Operation "Dzikamai," Shona for "Calm Down."

In Chinhoyi, police arrested the manager of a Bata Shoe outlet, charging
Leonard Chitendero with failure to comply with the directive. Many shops
there closed doors rather than cut their prices.

Authorities Tuesday focused on food producers such as poultry distributor
Irvens, ordering the company not to reduce production in response to the
price cuts.

Consumer panic buying, retailer inventory concealment, and manufacturer
production cuts have emptied shelves in supermarkets and smaller outlets.

Economist Eric Bloch told reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA's Studio 7 for
Zimbabwe that Harare's strategy of seizing the means of production is
unlikely to succeed.

Legal expert Lovemore Madhuku, chairman of the National Constitutional
Assembly said government moves to freeze or roll back prices are
unconstitutional.

Not only the business community but the central bank too has come under
attack for placing limits on how much cash consumers and businesses can
withdraw daily.

Vice President Joseph Msika in his capacity as acting president during
President Robert Mugabe's trip to an African Union summit in Ghana, said
Monday that the limit on withdrawals is keeping people and companies from
buying what they need.

Attempting to rein in hyperinflation, the central bank last year set a limit
on withdrawals of Z$1.5 million (US$10) a day for individuals and Z$3
million for companies.

Economist and consultant Luxon Zembe told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri he
agreed with Msika because hyperinflation has devastated purchasing power.

Benyon urges Zimbabweans to depose Mugabe

Newbury Today

Tue, July 03 2007

By Robert Rowlands, Reporter

People of Zimbabwe should rise up against the country's dictator, says MP

NEWBURY MP Richard Benyon made a startling foray into foreign policy this
week when he urged the people of Zimbabwe to rise up and depose leader
Robert Mugabe.
Mr Benyon, whose constituency includes hundreds of Zimbabweans, said that
the people of Zimbabwe should rise up in violent revolt against Mr Mugabe in
the same way that former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was thrown out
in 1989. Mr Ceausescu was executed after a popular revolt at the tail-end of
the Cold War.
The Newbury MP, who sits on the House of Commons' all-party group on
Zimbabwe, said he did not normally advocate violent revolution, but said the
damage caused by Mugabe's regime meant that there was no other choice.
Zimbabwe's economy has been in a spiral of decline in recent years since it
undertook a botched land reform programme. The once thriving farming sector
is now in ruins, and inflation has surged to 3,700 per cent, the highest in
the world.
Mugabe has also been criticised for brutally suppressing his opponents and
rigging presidential elections.
Mr Benyon said this must now come to an end.
"We are prepared to intervene in all sorts of places, but we seem to be very
shy of doing something there that would radically improve the life chances
of millions of people," he said.
"I am one of those people who says that on all counts, this has to be a
peaceful transition. In these circumstances, I don't say that. If they were
to rise up in the same way that Ceausescu was treated, I would not mind
being there to see it.
"I think he has been responsible for so many deaths, so much misery and for
the ruining of an economically viable country. That's the most evil thing of
all."
Mr Benyon has heard from many Zimbabwean expatriates living in West
Berkshire, and said the number of them in the district meant the issue was
as much a local one as anything else.
"There's thousands of Zimbabweans in West Berkshire. You find them in every
street. There are very moving stories from people with parents or
grandparents living there who are surviving on a dwindling pension.
"Teachers now can't afford to get the bus to work."
He accused other African states of failing to act, and said it was time to
consider imposing sanctions to force them to "turn the tap off" to Zimbabwe,
a move he said would force Mugabe out in days.
He also said the international community needed to act to bring Mugabe's
reign to an end, but said any such force would have to be made up of African
troops.
Mr Benyon urged African leaders to "show some guts", and had harsh words for
South African leader Thabo Mbeki, describing him as "the most disgraceful
leader in southern Africa" for failing to take action over the crumbling
state.
He also said that more aid needed to be channelled through charities,
thereby escaping the clutches of what he said were the country's corrupt
officials.

 

The call to arms in a blighted land

The Independent, UK

Leading article:
Published: 03 July 2007

It is a chilling barometer of how desperate things are in Zimbabwe that the
Archbishop of Bulawayo has called on Britain to invade the country to
liberate it from the regime of Robert Mugabe. Zimbabweans should rise in
rebellion, says Archbishop Pius Ncube, offering "to lead the people, guns
blazing" to save millions from dying in the government-induced famine. But,
he says, that will not happen because there is too much fear in a state
where one in 10 people is a government informer.

The country is in a parlous state. Life expectancy has plummeted, GDP is
down by half and exports by two-thirds. Elections have been a sham, the
courts and the media are tamed and political opposition is suppressed by
violence. Zimbabwe has the world's highest inflation - officially 4,500 per
cent, but actually running at between 9,000 and 15,000 per cent. Most people
earn less than their bus fare, unless they are members of the Mugabe elite
of government ministers, party officials, judges, senior police and army
officers.

Invasion is, of course, not a realistic prospect. Britain's army is
overstretched in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even if we had the capacity, with
what justification could liberal interventionism be stretched to Zimbabwe,
but not to Burma or Darfur? As the former colonial power, Britain is,
perhaps, the least sensible candidate - even the mildest interventions by
British politicians have in the past served only to strengthen Mugabe. He
uses condemnation by Britain to further stoke the sense of injustice he has
induced over white-owned farms in Zimbabwe.

But there is much Britain can do. We can create incentives for Mugabe's
colleagues to oust him by promising a substantial aid package for after the
despot has gone. We can strengthen the moves by the leaders of those
neighbouring countries who are pressing for stronger action against Mugabe -
pressure which is starting to tell on President Thabo Mbeki in South Africa,
as his country seeks to cope with townships filling with hundreds of
thousands of Zimbabwean refugees. Gordon Brown, who has good relations with
South Africa's formidable finance minister, Trevor Manuel, should up the
ante here. And we can tighten the sanctions on the 180 named individuals at
the top of the regime, and their private companies.

Most symbolically, we should block the invitation for Mugabe to attend the
joint EU-African Union summit in Portugal in December. Britain is legally
entitled to do that alone, but we should lobby Germany, France and others to
join us. Invasion, despite the fervency of Archbishop Ncube's request, may
not be an option. But there is plenty more we could be doing behind the
scenes and we should redouble efforts to do it.

Mugabe deputy warns ‘greedy’ shopkeepers 

Business Day

03 July 2007


HARARE — Zimbabwe’s acting president yesterday backed plans by President Robert Mugabe to seize businesses flouting a government directive to halve the prices of goods and services.
“We will not allow sellouts, renegades and money mongers to come here and interfere with our good system of life,” Joseph Msika, who is Mugabe’s deputy, warned foreign investors and local businesses at the funeral of a former Mugabe aide in Harare.
“We don’t want to cause suffering, but if you continue with your selfish ways we will lend our support to President Mugabe,” he said.
Mugabe said last Wednesday his government would seize and nationalise firms profiteering excessively in a bid to incite Zimbabweans to revolt against the state.
Msika said: “If you continue, as cadres we will give 100% support to President Mugabe to uproot the rot that you are trying to bring to our country.”
He accused retailers and manufacturers of working in cahoots with former British prime minister Tony Blair, often accused by Mugabe of harbouring plans to recolonise Zimbabwe.
“Let me take this opportunity to warn these economic saboteurs that time is up for them to mend their wayward behaviour by curbing their unbridled greed, corruption and selfenrichment at the expense of the majority.”
Zimbabwe is in the throes of an economic crisis characterised by four-digit inflation, shortages of basic foodstuffs such as cooking oil and sugar, and massive unemployment.
This has spawned almost daily price increases, which prompted the government to impose the new price controls.
“You are liberated to serve the people you live with, not to exploit them by raising prices three times a day,” Msika told local firms. Sapa-AFP

So near for Zim

The Mercury

Editorial

July 03, 2007 Edition 1
Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party and the two factions of the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have reportedly agreed on an agenda for
formal negotiations for a new political dispensation in the country. That
new order would enable the opposition to compete fairly with Zanu-PF in next
year's presidential and parliamentary elections.
The agenda the two sides are reported to have agreed on is far-reaching. It
includes the MDC's demands for negotiations for a new constitution, the
unbanning of independent media, a return to the rule of law, the scrapping
of politically repressive laws and an end to the persecution of the
opposition.
The agenda also includes Zanu-PF's insistence that the root cause of
Zimbabwe's problems is international sanctions and that land reform remains
central to any new dispensation. Talks between the rival parties should get
under way early this month.
If this agenda has in fact been agreed to, President Mbeki, the official
Zimbabwe mediator appointed by the Southern African Development Community
(SADC), should be congratulated for having got that far. But there should be
no illusion about the long journey that still lies ahead.
The purported agenda dramatically illustrates just how far apart the two
sides are in their view of the Zimbabwe crisis. The MDC believes President
Robert Mugabe's gross mismanagement and flouting of the rule of law are the
problem. Zanu-PF seems to believe the entire cause of the problem is
external.
The big problem here is that Mugabe is a grudging participant in these
negotiations and is probably only there at all to appease his SADC peers. He
has no incentive to engage in real negotiations, which can only erode his
power.
This suggests that those regional peers will have to exert real pressure on
him as the negotiations unfold to ensure he makes the concessions which will
mostly have to come from his side. Whether those peers have the courage to
exert that pressure is going to be the real issue in these negotiations.

Mbeki's rehabilitation of Zanu PF

New Zimbabwe

By Mthulisi Mathuthu
(READ MTHULISI'S PREVIOUS ARTICLES)
Last updated: 07/04/2007 03:27:42
PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki's image today is that of a centrist, intolerant and
cold manager. So widely-held is the view that very nearly all his
biographers and critics have identified traces of authoritarianism in his
administrative style, so much so that it will be difficult to suspect a
hatchet job.

His mistrust for the media, his refusal to open up to new ideas on how to go
about tackling the Zimbabwean crisis and his persistence on his so-called
'quiet diplomacy' while the crisis deepens, have all conspired to lend
credence to the sorry image.

As the talks between the Zimbabwean belligerents got underway recently,
Mbeki's sorry image cast its shadow over the whole enterprise sending the
signal that this could be yet another waste of time.

Instead of the whole enterprise becoming a collective, inclusive drive
towards a better Zimbabwe with Mbeki leading the discourse, it has already
diminished into a shadowy exercise exhibiting directly, his personal
attitudes, moods, views and flaws.

To kick-start an exercise of such a magnitude and importance with an
individual's character holding sway is to fail at the outset.

The reports last week that a media black-out had been imposed on the
Zimbabwe talks were enlightening as they were disturbing. What this means is
that Mbeki -- a person who relishes in working in the shadows and mistrusts
journalists -- is not only playing a midwifery role but is already going to
be the outcome himself.

To say the media blackout is meant to forestall a Zanu PF boycott is very
difficult to fathom. This is a snake-oil attitude of Mbeki and his soul-mate
Mugabe who over the years have demonstrated deep dislike for open criticism
from the opposition and what they view as the 'liberal media'.

To want to muzzle the media in the middle of such an important story is a
demonstration that while the idea to bring the parties together is modern,
the tools and spirit employed to achieve this all belong to the earlier era.

Those who have spoken to diplomats will agree that it has always been Mbeki's
view that what is obtaining in Zimbabwe requires no regime change but
re-organisation. It is a revolution that slightly went off-track and the
remedy would be to reform Zanu PF.

Sources speak of how Mbeki has lined up Zanu PF reformists such as Dr
Ibbotson Day Mandaza as consultants on how to proceed on the issue.

To Mbeki, the likes of Welshman Ncube and Morgan Tsvangirai would do well to
join Zanu PF. They are the rebels who should be readmitted and not
politicians with a different world view seeking an electoral mandate to
steer the ship through the un-navigated waterways.

The 1987 Unity Accord between PF Zapu and Zanu PF was enough and its only
mistake was that it left out the young revolutionaries, Mbeki reasons. MDC
was occasioned by the frustration of the young revolutionaries whose upward
mobility was thwarted by the unyielding seniors.

So Mbeki's approach would be to convince Mugabe to create space for the new
blood and prepare for the party's continuation after he has left. In
achieving this, Mbeki would have killed two birds with one stone.

He would have beaten back the internal threats to the ANC and he would have
secured his legacy and cancelled any feelings that his quiet diplomacy was a
charade.

Mbeki, who wants to be known as intellectual is on a mission to secure his
legacy as a man who stopped the neo-liberal push for the destruction of the
liberation parties. He wants to renew their hold on the body-politic by
merging the young radical blood and the old blood and set an example for the
whole region.

He is not just in a laboratory to carry out a study, but is in the dark room
to work out his alchemy -- mixing deadwood with new blood. So Zimbabwe is
the right place to start because it has a ruling party that has refused to
yield and has a strong opposition with a huge following.

From the outset, Mbeki's agenda is at variance with the aspirations of
Zimbabweans as he seeks to preserve the revolutionary aspirations and to
renew his own party back home while the Zimbabweans hope for a new
dispensation free from the 'locust class' mentality of the post-liberation
aristocracy.

That is why he should work in the shadows with no journalist reporting on
his attempts to reform Zanu PF. If the CODESA talks that brought about a new
South Africa were almost under the full glare of the media, why shouldn't
journalists cover the Zimbabwean talks?

Another development of concern has been that right from the outset President
Mbeki's personal miscalculations and confusion are proving to be determinant
factors in the talks.

As is well-known it has always been his view that the Zimbabwean story is a
racial drama and Mugabe who knows all too well that he is himself the
problem long identified that stupidity on Mbeki's part and is exploiting it
to the fullest.

That is why Zanu PF's submissions are coined in such a manner so as to
strike a chord with Mbeki.

Just listen to the poppycock: The MDC must "drastically re-orientate its
attitude towards national events", stop forthwith its "promotion of
violence", commit itself to the "irreversibility of land reform", "respect
the country's sovereignty and its national laws", call for the lifting of
sanctions, and "stop calling for outside interference in Zimbabwe's domestic
affairs".

For Mugabe to proceed in this manner is an indicator that he doesn't take
Mbeki and his talks seriously. It is very difficult to imagine that Mugabe
himself and some of his most daft ministers believe in their submissions to
Mbeki but alas the South African President has embraced them.

That is why as Mbeki sets about his job, the incumbent in Harare will crank
up the gears towards repression, seizing passports of the opposition
leaders, haranguing journalists, passing new communication laws to limit
free expression (in resonance with the media blanket over the talks).

So Mbeki will come to a stage where he will find out that what he did was
nothing but to help up carry on with his agenda.

Mthulisi Mathuthu can be contacted on e-mail: thuthuma@yahoo.com

Former Zanu PF MP Mbalekwa joins MDC

By Lance Guma
03 July 2007

Former Zanu PF Member of Parliament for Zvishavane, Pearson Mbalekwa, has
joined the Movement for Democratic Change. Mbalekwa, a former member of Zanu
PF's influential central committee, was formally introduced to party
supporters at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru at the weekend. He remained unreachable
Monday through to Tuesday but Nelson Chamisa a spokesman in the Tsvangirai
MDC confirmed the development. He told Newsreel that every Zimbabwean who
was willing to 'realise' change was welcome into the party. 'Our broad
objective is to involve all Zimbabweans and we will be fishing in Zanu PF
rivers hoping to catch more fish,' he added.

In 2005 Mbalekwa resigned from the ruling party protesting Operation
Murambatsvina which displaced over 700 000 people and destroyed the
livelihoods of many more. At the time he described the campaign as 'callous
and inhumane,' and told a local weekly newspaper, 'I am a man of principle
and could not be seen to be part of the whole exercise which has caused
untold suffering to people whom we claim to represent.' Interestingly
Mbalekwa is a close friend of former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, a
man credited with creating the repressive media environment in the country.

The two reportedly linked up with businessman Daniel Shumba under the United
Peoples Movement (UPM) but the alliance soon fizzled out to leave Shumba as
the only notable figure. Asked if Mbalekwa's joining signalled the
possibility of Moyo following suit, Chamisa said 'ours is a revolutionary
train with unlimited seats and we welcome anyone who wants to fight for
change.' Several other high profile citizens have joined the MDC in recent
years including academic Professor Heneri Dzinotyiwei, nationalist and
businessman Patrick Kombayi and former University of Zimbabwe Vice
Chancellor Professor Gordon Chavunduka.

Political analyst Innocent Mupara told Newsreel the latest development was
nothing new and that the country's history was dotted with people jumping
ship and joining other political parties. In Mbalekwa's case he warned the
MDC to handle him with care because of his long association with Zanu PF. He
however conceded there was benefit in political parties opening their doors
to new members since this was the whole objective behind their formations.
Mupara was a bit more hesitant to endorse an acceptance of Tsholotsho MP
Jonathan Moyo within the opposition ranks in light of the immense damage he
inflicted on the media environment.

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news

Hitschmann guilty on weapons charge, but cleared for treason

New Zimbabwe

By Lebo Nkatazo
Last updated: 07/04/2007 02:00:42
A ZIMBABWEAN weapons expert charged with an alleged attempt to cause the
death of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in a car accident has been
cleared of treason, but convicted on a charge of possessing firearms.

Peter Hitschmann will serve a three-year-jail term for the weapons offences,
High Court judge Alphas Chitakunye ruled Tuesday.

In a telephone interview shortly after emerging from court, Hitschmann's
lawyer Trust Manda said: "He was convicted under POSA for possessing arms.
They failed to link him to the other charge that carried life imprisonment."

"He was sentenced to fours years in jail, but one year was wholly
 suspended."

Hitschmann was arrested in February last year with a group of officials from
the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), including Mutare North
MP Giles Mutsekwa, following the discovery of an arms cache in the eastern
border town of Mutare.

They were accused of having intended to assassinate Mugabe, who was due to
celebrate his 82nd birthday on February 21 in Manicaland Province. All the
accused men were set free save for Hitschmann.

Former Chimanimani MDC legislator Roy Bennett was linked to the weapons find
by the police, resulting in him fleeing the country. He sought and was
granted asylum in neighbouring South Africa.

Police had alleged that Hitschmann was the ring leader of the alleged
insurgents. The plan, according to prosecutors, was to spill oil on the
motorway to cause an accident involving President Mugabe's motorcade.

"To achieve this, the group agreed to spill oil on (...a) highway when the
motorcade would be approaching so that the motorcade would slip and get
involved in an accident," according to court documents.

The bizarre plot was said to involve police and army officers. Initially,
eight men, including four police officers, had been charged with possession
of weapons to carry out an insurgency, sabotage or terrorism.

Hitschmann did not deny possessing weapons, but argued that he had a licence
to sell arms.

Zimbabwean authorities said the arrested men were members of the Zimbabwe
Freedom Movement, a shadowy rebel group whose last known statements were in
November 2003.

In a video released to the world media by British gay rights campaigner,
Peter Tatchell, hooded men were seen parading an assortment of guns and
threatening to down President Mugabe's plane.

Tatchell denies any links with the group, whose website was registered in
the Cayman Islands. The website, which had photographs of some of the
weapons which the group claimed it was ready to use, is now offline.

President Mugabe's critics never bought into the government's claims that it
had foiled a coup plot. Several other opposition activists have faced
similar charges and there has never been a successful prosecution.

MISA predicts gloomy picture ahead of Zimbabwe polls

Afrique en ligne

APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
has painted a gloomy outlook for the Zimbabwe media ahead of the 2008 polls,
APA learnt here Tuesday.

In addition, MISA downplayed prospects of the reopening of Zimbabwe's
four banned private newspapers in the face of unrelenting government
onslaught on freedom of expression.
In a report that chronicled the first five years of Zimbabwe's
controversial Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA),
MISA warned of tougher times ahead for the country's private media as the
country heads for the presidential and parliamentary elections next year.

The regional media rights body cited the ongoing tightening of
security laws as a sign that the government of President Robert Mugabe was
not ready to ease its grip on media space. Zimbabwean legislators this month
passed the Interception of Communication Bill, which gives state security
agents powers to spy on communication between individuals or organisations.

The bill, which now awaits Mugabe's signature to become law, seeks to
empower the chief of defence intelligence, the director-general of the
Central Intelligence Organisation, the Commissioner of Police and the
Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, to intercept
telephonic, e-mail and cellular telephone messages.

The bill also empowers state agencies to open mail passing through the
post and through licensed courier service providers.

"Viewed against the enactment of additional restrictive legislation,
AIPPA and POSA (the Public Order Security Act) are set to remain firmly
entrenched in the Zimbabwean statutes to serve the interests of the ruling
elite ahead of the 2008 presidential elections," MISA said in the report
titled AIPPA: Five Years On - A Trail of Destruction. It also noted that
there were slim chances for the return of The Daily News, The Daily News on
Sunday, The Tribune and The Weekly Times in the foreseeable future judging
by the time it has taken to conclude the court battles.

The Daily News was the first private newspaper to be closed in
September 2003 after its owners, Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ),
failed to comply with AIPPA requirements to register with the
government-appointed Media and Information Commission (MIC).

The MIC has subsequently thrown out ANZ applications for registration
since 2003.

"It is poignant to note that these developments continue to unfold
despite the existence of an adverse report by the African Commission on
Human and Peoples' Rights.

JN/nm/APA

2007-07-03

Zimbabwe coal firm signs US$40 million Chinese deal

Afrique en ligne

Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) - A Zimbabwean coal miner Tuesday announced it
had secured US$40 million in Chinese investment to expand its operations.

Chairman Tendai Savanu of Hwange Colliery said an unnamed Chinese
investor had agreed to invest cash and mining equipment worth US$40 million
into a new jointly-owned coal mine in the south west of Zimbabwe.
Under the deal, the Chinese company will buy all the coal mined and
export it to China and other foreign markets.

Investment in the new coal mine will start in the second half of the
year, with first exports expected early next year.

The venture will run for ten years, after which Hwange Colliery will
take sole ownership of the mine.

The colliery is Zimbabwe's sole producer of coal and has vast reserves
of the commodity in southwestern parts of the country.

Harare - 03/07/2007

Gold mine workers arrested in enforced holiday and retrenchment protest

Mineweb

Worker unrest erupted at PAM's Ayrshire gold mine in Zimbabwe over layoffs
due to the mining company not being paid for its output by the subsidiary of
the Zimbabwe Reserve Bank through which the country's gold production has to
be sold.

Author: Tawanda Karombo
Posted:  Tuesday , 03 Jul 2007

Harare -

The bubble of uncertainty has burst at Pan-African Mining Pvt. (PAM)'s
Ayrshire gold mine in Zimbabwe with several employees at the mine having
been arrested after staging protest action demanding their dues and
protesting being forced to go on leave.

The arrested mine workers are currently detained at Banket Police Station in
the south of Zimbabwe.

The country's mining sector has grown turbulent over the past few months
following the failure by Zimbabwe's central bank to pay for gold deliveries.
Investor scepticism has also gripped the country after Harare announced that
it will force all foreign owned mining companies to cede 51 percent of their
shareholding to black Zimbabweans.

At an emergency meeting held by the PAM board at its South African
headquarters it resolved that about 600 workers be put on forced leave
without pay as the Ayrshire gold mine could no-longer sustain operations and
workers salaries and wages.

A confidential source told Mineweb Tuesday that  "A delegation comprising
Ayrshire management and maybe some from the PAM headquarters in South
Africa, was supposed to have addressed the enraged workers early this week."

In the memo that was sent to Ayrshire gold mine workers, the PAM board said,
"No payment has been received from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the
(local official) gold price has remained at uneconomic levels," the memo
said.

The communication also highlighted that all employees who were not required
for the care and maintenance of mining equipment or who could not be
transferred to PAM's other mine - Muriel - would be "placed on leave".

The workers were enraged by the move that would have seen them being forced
to stop going to work without pay for a month. They accuse the mining
company of retrenching them without benefits.

They converged at the mine on Monday and started the demonstration that
eventually became inflamed, as the workers became rowdy. The delegation is
reported to have arrived at the mine to address the workers but preceding
developments had already angered the employees.

"Some of the workers overturned a vehicle belonging to one management
official and tried to set it on fire," said one committee member who
requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.

He added that riot police were called in and that they "whisked away several
workers including 10 workers' committee members".

Among the workers' committee members arrested was the chairman Richard Gutu
and the secretary only identified as Philemon.

The police are still carrying out investigations but early indications are
that Gutu and Philemon are likely to be charged under Harare's controversial
Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

Churches at the forefront of relief in Zimbabwe's spiralling decline

Tearfund

Date: 03 Jul 2007

Churches are fighting poverty, hunger and HIV among Zimbabwe's decimated
communities and helping to meet the basic day to day needs - says UK
Christian relief agency Tearfund. There is little food due to drought and
poor harvests, and the collapse of civil infrastructure has meant basic
services are no longer available to the majority of Zimbabweans.

Peter Grant, Tearfund's International Director, says the situation is
desperate with children now suffering from very high levels of chronic
malnutrition. "People are dying. It's the very young, the very old, and
those with Aids who are the most vulnerable," says Peter. "We heard recently
of a church leader who had to bury a grandmother and a baby from the same
family over the same weekend. As the year goes on with the continuing food
shortages, we can expect the situation to get worse, and more people to
die."

With inflation exceeding 4500% - some reports put the figure nearer 8000% -
currency no longer buys food and medical care. Even if people could afford
to go to hospital, there are no longer medical supplies to treat them. The
wages of hospital staff do not even cover the bus fare to work.

The crisis has engulfed the cities, where food distributions were rarely
seen previously. Middle income school teachers told Tearfund that they can't
even afford to buy sugar. Pastor Promise Manceda leads a church in Bulawayo
and sees the stark reality. "If the middle classes consider themselves poor,
then the most marginalised people in society are hit so much harder," says
Promise. "We have to help them - and it is only with God's strength that we
are still able to."

HIV and Aids related illnesses have compounded the suffering - leaving many
unable to work in fear and isolation. Unemployment is over 80% and those
that can find casual work often do so for small amounts of food. Others
search around for vegetables to supplement meagre amounts of maize, getting
by on one inadequate meal a day. Because of the lack of food over the last
five years many of Zimbabwe's children suffer from chronic malnutrition and
an increasing number are too sick to go to school.

Esinah is a grandmother in her 80's, caring for eight Aids orphans. Queuing
for maize, beans and oil at a food distribution funded by Tearfund she spoke
of the people dying in her community. "There have been many deaths and
people are starving," says Esinah. "Without this food we could be dead by
now. Only God knows what will happen."

Supporting churches in wider relief response is at the heart of Tearfund's
vision. The UK agency is funding, assisting and standing with them as they
tirelessly work to fight poverty and social injustice. Tearfund's Peter
Grant talks of the churches having a biblical mandate to speak out against
poverty - as they continue to engage the public square while they can,
remaining non-political within civil society. "To speak out requires real
courage and they need our support in prayer," adds Peter. "They need
practical support and continued international pressure for change."

Tearfund is currently funding feeding programmes for some 9500 orphans and
vulnerable children. Working through churches and church based agencies this
is relieving some of the immediate suffering - providing essential, but very
limited, assistance. Many more need help.

Tearfund would welcome donations to sustain their church partner programme -
helping more children and families in communities devastated by Zimbabwe's
crisis.

Notes to Editors

Karyn Beattie, Tearfund's Disaster Management Officer for Southern Africa,
has just returned from the country and is available for interview. Contact
Jonathan Spencer in the Press Office on 020 8943 7901 or 07767 473516.

Pictures available: credit Karyn Beattie/Tearfund.

To make a donation please contact the Tearfund enquiries unit on 0845 355
8355

Tearfund has supported church involvement in relief, development and social
justice in Zimbabwe for over 25 years.

Tearfund is a leading UK Christian relief and development agency, committed
to addressing the causes of poverty in many of the poorest countries around
the world. Tearfund is a member of the Disaster Emergency Committee.

You can find out more about the work and activities of Tearfund at
www.tearfund.org.

Zimbabwe and scoring goals

righthinker.com

Written by Bhekuzulu Khumalo
Tuesday, 03 July 2007
Watching soccer, the statement it's a goal brings supporters to their
feet cheering and hugging each other. Why not? After all, their team has
scored justifying their passion and support for their team.

The problem comes with half baked revolutionaries and half baked
leaders. Why half baked; because they never really understood or desired
better conditions for their people. They were always power grabbers, and
they are to be found through out Africa and many other parts of the less
developed world.

A half baked revolutionary is one who talks a great a story but their
actions, because of lack of any convictions of any kind, will not support
the story they tell.

Zimbabwe is a country with nearly 4 000% inflation rate, but one will
hear the present government of Zimbabwe shouting they have done wonders for
the people, or in soccer terms that they have "scored a goal."

The problem with half baked leaders is that they do not mind. To them
a goal is a goal, even if it is an own goal. After scoring an own goal, they
will argue eloquently that after all a goal is a goal and their supporters,
those who expect to gain something by supporting their corrupt ideals, will
also say but it is a goal.

When one attempts to tell them the goal is supposed to be in the other
teams net, they will immediately come up with many excuses.  Excuses like
the other teams defense is too good and the other team keeps moving the goal
posts, or even worse, the other team is not giving them a fair chance to
score so they need a goal. Even if it is usually an own goal.

Mugabe's argument is that he has scored a goal. It is irrelevant that
people are hungry, it is irrelevant that inflation is at 4 000%, after all
economics does not make sense to him. So what if the inflation rate is 4
000%, it is irrelevant to the likes of Mugabe and their supporters that now
in many areas they have to use firewood instead of electricity. They have
scored a goal and they will talk of that goal high and low.

Now the Mugabe government is in fear of its on people, because some
people will say if our star striker has gone nuts we must say so. In
otherwords you are scoring own goals. This obviously has made Mugabe mad, as
after all, he eloquently argues a goal is a goal.

Mugabe instead of murdering and beating up his opponents needs to read
a letter written to him by Joshua Nkomo back in June 1983, especially the
last paragraph:
"Today our enemies laugh at us. What they see is a divided, confused
and frightened people, led by a divided, confused and frightened
government.Government which has the love, respect and confidence of the
people does not have to use the laws and weapons of colonial regimes to
protect itself. The people themselves will protect their government if they
have full trust in it. Fear is a weapon of despair, used by those who fear
the people. This is the time and opportunity to rebuild trust, find the
solution to our problems and defend the country as a united people."

Only the corrupt who hope to gain from the corrupt will be willing to
defend Mugabe. He has weakened Zimbabwe vastly and a divided country is
always weaker than a united country.

Mugabe's greed and failures are the sole cause of Zimbabwe's problems,
but then those who score own goals will never take the blame as the buck
does not stop with them. The buck stops somewhere there in the mystical,
somewhere else, but not with them. If a leader can not accept blame for 4
000% inflation, or believes this does not matter, what hope does Zimbabwe
have?

The reality is that Zimbabwe is weaker and it has no real economy,
except for the lucky 15%. Even Mugabe's defenders need to eat, hence they
travel away from Zimbabwe to countries such as South Africa, Canada, USA,
England, Australia and Germany.

Mugabe goes for medical checks in South Africa as he does not trust
the medical care in Zimbabwe. Due to the mess he has made, he must now fear
his own people; the people he has never done anything for.

The goal has to be in the opposing teams net, not in your own net.
There is no better goal than to see a prosperous nation actively seeking
knowledge to improve itself and sustain itself and increase its knowledge
base and say look at this, we have done this as a people.

Zimbabwe under Mugabe is the antithesis of such a place.

Star spangled water woes

From Bulawayo Morning Mirror

A few years ago at the Turk Mine Annual Hoe Down the theme was "Cave Men and
Women".... well I definitely should have paid more attention, as we have
been reduced to
that very status in Zimbabwe these days ...... apart from the wearing of
animal skins of
course, but I suppose that will not be too far away !!

As I sit here in the dark... typing by braille, its freezing cold.... we
have no power, no
water.

The police and war veterans are going from shop to shop trying to get the
shop keepers to
reduce their prices, and as fast as the shopkeepers reduce the prices, an
army of police
"supporters" follow behind and grab all the reduced items on the shelves
....

We had some American visitors here for two weeks and I have a feeling that
they were
very relieved when their "holiday" in Zimbabwe was finally over....

They were treated to some extraordinarily un- American experiences.....
either no tap
water at all or brown muddy tap water.... we had power for only 45% of the
two weeks that
they were here.... we had very cold weather and one hot water bottle between
the six of
us....(but no hot water !!)

So that took care of that .... and we are one of the few fortunate
functioning "make a plan"
houses in the country.

The Geriatric Nursing Home that we fund-raise for, houses 73 very elderly
and frail
people, they have no power on Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
They have
no water for the best part of three days in the week.

When I see how brave and determined our old people are, tottering off to the
loo (which
has no water to flush) candle in one hand, zimmer frame in the other, I
shudder in shame
at what has been done to our country...

However during a particularly long trip to the Victoria Falls the Intrepid
Star Spangled Six
whiled away the hours and solved the water and electricity problems of
Zimbabwe, you will
be very glad to hear.

MUST HAVES FOR LIVING IN BULAWAYO

Wear only black or brown until the next rains, in the cupboard for all the
white and cream
garments, unless you fancy wearing them dyed a coquettish khaki colour !!

Embrace the trendy new hair colour featuring "low lights" provided
automatically by the
H2o...

Get a friend to bring you a computer with a Braille Keyboard....

Drink less, so you piddle less, and so you flush less.....

Mentally re-label your drinking water "Botanical Surprise" and remember it
has
considerably more fibre now than it used to have !!

Forget the new fashion of taking "pro-biotics" Bulawayo water has them all
now ....

Mud baths can be fun, exfoliators are now "on tap" !!

Miners' lead lamps are great for use when applying mascara....

Diamonds were a girls best friend, but now matches are a Zimbabwe girl's
best friend...

Purchase one of those exciting new hair dryers that can be plugged into the
car cigarette
lighter.

Ask an inventive friend to invent a "lunar powered" electric blanket....

Rush into TM Supermarket once the price police have been there and find out
if they have
perhaps reduced the price of the mud brown, earth beige and dark slime-green
bath
towels ......

Keep your dinner warm in a new Zimbabwe style warming drawer - a Coleman
Cooler lined
with tin foil !!

Such a pity its winter, my legs are now a delightful shade of mud brown, no
need for leg
tanning oils any more !!

Join the "Charge of the Light Brigade" Zim style 2007... the moment there is
power,
shoulder everyone else out of the way to get to the chargers for cell
phones, computers
etc.

Remember - Baby Boomers look younger by Candle light !!

BUT HUSBANDS / LOVERS BEWARE .... There are four important things that you
must never
ever say to a Zimbabwean woman

1. You look like a Million dollars !!

2. How about a romantic candle light dinner ?

3 Why don't you take a long hot bubble bath ?

4 Cheese soufflé for dinner would be lovely !!

Paying for blackouts

Africa News, Netherlands

3 July 2007, by Munyaradzi Makoni in Gweru, Zimbabwe. Can someone explain in
simplest jargon, why we pay for electricity every month? This has nothing to
do with street activism neither is it bush economics. But, it defies logic
when we pay escalating bills at the end of each month yet we use less and
less electricity.

An average calculation clearly shows that people are denied electricity
three quarters of their working hours. Domestically, all hours put together,
people would be without electricity for a good 15 days in a month. Workers
who depend upon electricity for their operations are crippled. Unfortunately
some workers are now being paid for hours they actually worked as if they
are the cause of electricity blackouts. It's a real disaster.

The more affluent use their resources to buy generators. It works for them.
They keep the essentials of the business going. What about the poor? Those
companies that have been operating between the thin line of success and
failure. They are sinking deeper into penury and debt as they watch their
efforts and aspirations flounder away. How many small to medium scale
enterprises can afford generators and at what price?
These are depressing months. It is almost impossible to plan with targets in
mind. Ideally, one would think of finishing a task in the next 10 hours but
in the following six hours there will be no power. Sadly, the timetables for
blackouts are available but they only exist on paper.

One wakes up in the morning and finds electricity is already gone by 5 am. A
cold bath, a cold breakfast is all one has to fathom. On reporting for work,
there would be no electricity for a good six hours. The power utility ZESA
Holdings has been reported by auditors to be sitting on a Z$105 billion
deficit. A shocking revelation especially when one expects an end to
blackout see-saws soon.

The depression graph rises further when one starts to think how long the
blackouts will last? How long? Ben Rafemoyo was recently appointed ZESA
chief executive officer on a five-year contract. Does he have the stamina to
steer the crumbling parastatal? In the past we have been assured with
promises and lies that things will normalize. We can take it to be another
dosage of political hogwash. We sincerely hope that bread will be cheap next
season, we were told electricity is being saved for irrigating wheat farms.
If it does not, someone must resign. As the nation scrambles for innovative
ways to manage blackouts, its fair to say someone made a big mistake by
naming Zimbabwe after ruins. The whole country is now in ruins. Perhaps
naming it Republic of Zimbabwe Ruins would not be a bad idea!

Zim's GDP spiraled down to 12 percent

The Zimbabwean

(03-07-07)
 By Khanye Bhebhe

BULAWAYO:
ZIMBABWE'S manufacturing sector's contribution to the Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) has spiraled down to below 12 percent as a result of the country's
economic crunch that has severely hit the sector.

This is contained in a 2007 survey by the Confederations of Zimbabwe
Industries (CZI) Manufacturing Sector that raises concern over the
continuous decline in the sector's contribution to GDP.

According to the CZI Manufacturing survey, the sector now falls behind
agriculture in terms of contribution to GDP with capacity utilization.

"The manufacturing sector is estimated to have declined by 7 percent in the
2006. This compares with a growth of 3, 2 percent that had been registered a
year earlier," read in part the survey.

It added: "The highest level of capacity utilization registered by companies
in the sample survey was 70-80 percent and only two companies were in that
range."

Industry has cited perpetual foreign currency shortages with 69 percent of
the companies surveyed citing it as the major restraint while electricity
outages, water cuts, brain drain and unsound macro economic policies were
some of the major pull back factors.

The report advised that underpaying labour was not sustainable as that only
served to kill demanded for the produced goods and "as such companies were
urged to pay realistic prices for labour."- CAJ News.

Gross human rights violations at universities and colleges

The Zimbabwean

(03-07-07)

 By Natasha Hove

BULAWAYO: - A survey by a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) has unearthed
gross human rights violations at Zimbabwe' s colleges and universities,
which it says are linked to crumbling standards at higher and tertiary
institutions.

This is according to a study by the Students Solidarity Trust (SST)
titled -State of the Higher and Tertiary Education Sector in Zimbabwe 2006:
Inside Pandora 's Box. The study was carried out at Zimbabwe 's state
tertiary institutions and universities.

The violations-according to SST- included unlawful arrest, unlawful
detention, torture, expulsion and suspensions, assault, political
discrimination and death threats.

'The year 2006 saw a number of unwelcome and catastrophic developments for
students and the student movement. This was mainly due to the existence of
repressive legislation in the name of the Public Order and Security Act
among others.

"It was further exacerbated by the fee hikes, which constituted the centre
of most demonstrations by students in the year, " read in part the report by
the SST.

SST, which was founded in 2002 by former student leaders and provides
solidarity to the student movement in Zimbabwe also notes in the 30 page
report that incidents of assaults and torture of students were also
widespread last year.

"It almost became the order of the day as the police (not only) tortured
students to get information about their leaders but also as a form of
punishment as if to warn students never to demonstrate again, " it added.

It also notes that the introduction of fees at tertiary institutions and
reduced government grants had made access to higher education a privilege of
the rich.   Educationists say Zimbabwe's declining education standards
mirror the seven year economic decline- CAJ News.

Thousands deported from South Africa

The Zimbabwean

By Nokhutula Khumalo
 More than 165 000 so called illegal imigrants were picked up and deported
from South Africa in the past year and the number of Zimbabweans seeking
asylum in South Africa has increased dramatically since Robert Mugabe's
police assaulted the country's opposition leaders on March 11 this year,
according to figures released by the International Organisation of Migration
(IOM).

South Africa has not officially recognized the human rights abuses of
Mugabe's regime. As a result those seeking refugee status face a difficult
time  at refugee reception centres.They are being turned back and the
process slowed.

The flow of Zimbabweans fleeing the country, both legally and illegally,
because of political persecutions increases on the face of galloping
inflation now at around 5000 percent and is predicted to hit a staggering 1,
5-million percent by year-end.

Thousands of Zimbabweans are jumping the border into South Africa every week
and many are falling quarry to robbers who prowl the border zone. It is
Africa 's most extraordinary exodus from a country not at war, according to
experts.

South Africa 's President, Thabo Mbeki, accepted in May that the enormous
human influx "is something we have to live with".

Last week the Consortium for Refugees and Migration in South Africa (CRMSA)
urged South Africa to seriously consider issuing Zimbabweans fleeing from
political persecution in their own country with a special document
recognized by the police in order to avoid unnecessary deportation back
home.

South Africa deports between 600 and 6 000 Zimbabweans every week from the
Lindela repatriation centre, with the country being the destination of
choice for illegal Zimbabwean who number over three million, according to
unofficial estimates.

JAG Classifieds dated 3 July 2007

ZNSPCA APPEALS TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

With the uncertain times that lie ahead of us, we are appealing to all pet
owners to think responsibly with regards to their animals.  If in the advent
that families have to leave the country, please make a plan for your
animals.

There IS a fate worse than death - abandoned animals suffer huge amounts of
cruelty at the hands of people ignorant to their needs.

Please contact your nearest SPCA branch or National SPCA if you require our
assistance.

National SPCA - 04 497574 / 497885

National Inspectors - Glynis 091 2 367 260, Simon 091 2 696 308, Mathius 091
2 696 311

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As a JAG member or JAG Associate member, please send any classified adverts
for publication in this newsletter to:

JAG Classifieds: jagma@mango.zw - JAG Job Opportunities: jag@mango.zw

Rules for Advertising:

Send all adverts in word document as short as possible (no tables, spread
sheets, pictures, etc.) and quote your subscription receipt number or
membership number.
Notify the JAG Office when Advert is no longer needed, either by phone or
email.
Adverts are published for 2 weeks only, for a longer period please notify
the JAG office, by resending via email the entire advert asking for the
advert to be re-inserted.

Please send your adverts by Tuesdays 11.00am (Adverts will not appear until
payment is received.). Cheques to be made out to JAGMA.

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1.  For Sale Items
2.  Wanted Items
3.  Accommodation
4.  Recreation
5.  Specialist Services
6.  Pets Corner
7.  Social Gatherings

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1. OFFERED FOR SALE
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1.1  Generators & Inverters for Sale

The JAG office is now an official agent for GSC Generator Service (Pvt) Ltd
and receives a generous commission on sales of all Kipor generators and
equipment.  Generators are on view at the JAG office.  Please could all
those JAG subscribes who deal directly with GSC, rather that through the JAG
office, clearly stipulate that the commission if for JAG.

The one stop shop for ALL your Generator Requirements SALES:
We are the official suppliers, repairs and maintenance team of KIPOR
Equipment here in Zimbabwe.  We have in stock KIPOR Generators from 1 KVA to
55 KVA.  If we don't have what you want we will get it for you.  We also
sell Inverters (1500w), complete with batteries and rechargeable lamps.  Our
prices are very competitive, if not the lowest in town.

SERVICING & REPAIRS: We have a qualified team with many years of experience
in the Generator field.  We have been to Kipor, China for training.  We
carry out services and minor repairs on your premises.  We service and
repair most makes and models of Generators - both petrol and diesel.

INSTALLATIONS:  We have qualified electricians that carry out installations
in a professional way.

SPARES: As we are the official suppliers and maintainers of KIPOR Equipment,
we carry a full range of KIPOR spares.

Don't forget, advice is free, so give us a call and see us at: Bay 3,
Borgward Road, Msasa.  Sales: 884022, 480272 or admin@adas.co.zw
Service: 480272, 480154 or gsc@adas.co.zw

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1.2  For Sale

So Far and No further! Rhodesia's Bid for Independence during the Retreat
from Empire 1959-1965 by J.R.T. Wood

533 pages; quality trade paperback; pub. Trafford ISBN 1-4120-4952-0
Southern African edition, pub. 30 Degrees South : ISBN 0-9584890-2-5

This definitive account traces Rhodesia's attempt to secure independence
during the retreat from Empire after 1959. Based on unique research, it
reveals why Rhodesia defied the world from 1965.

Representing Volume One of three volumes, Two and Three are in preparation
and will take us to Tiger and thence to 1980;

To purchase:

Zimbabwean buyers contact Trish Broderick: pbroderick@mango.zw

RSA buyers: WWW. 30 degreessouth.co.za or Exclusives Books

Overseas buyers see: http://www.jrtwood.com
and a link to Trafford Publishing http://www.trafford.com/04-2760

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1.3 Pet Food for Sale

Still supplying pets food which consists of 500g of precooked pork offal and
veg costing $15000 and 250g of pigs liver $20000 or heart costing $15000 for
250g.

Collection points:      Benbar in Msasa at 09.00
Jag offices in Philips Rd, Belgravia at 11.00
Peacehaven which is 75 Oxford St at 12.00

This is on Fridays only. Contact details: phone 011 221 088 or E mail at
claassen@zol.co.zw

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1.4 For Sale

Road motorcycle for sale. YAMAHA - Model YZF 600cc - Thundercat - in
immaculate condition.

Highest cash offer secures.  For further details contact Dave on 011 600 770

or 091 22 55 653 or email dapayne@zol.co.zw

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1.5 For Sale (Ad inserted 26/06/07)

Toyota Landcruiser 100 series, Africa specification GX turbo diesel.
Year 1st used 2005, 23000km, Ex Aid org vehicle White. To view at Mike
Harris, or phone 0912-731147.

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1.6 For Sale (Ad inserted 26/06/07)

FREE TV! Buy a Wiztech 222 Super Satellite Receiver and receive satellite TV
FREE! This is a one-of payment - NO subs to pay. No hidden costs. SABC 1,2,
3, Botswana, e-TV, SA News International, CNBC, Trade and Travel, several
religious channels, Radio stations like RSG, Radio Pretoria, SAFM, 5 FM,
2000 Fm etc. Contact Joe Esterhuizen on Harare 339378 or 0912 338414 or
e-mail countryjukebox@hotmail.com

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1.7 Items for Sale (Ad inserted 26/06/07)

Coarse salt Z$ 97,500 per 50kg bag delivered Harare.

Lady's buffalo hide slip-on slippers Z$ 100,000.

Wheat Bran US$ 1 for 25 kg bag collected Ruwa [ currently Z$ 14,000]

Apply mnmilbank@zol.co.zw

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1.8 For Sale (Ad inserted 26/06/07)

Bass boat, wrangler x13, complete with as new 60hp Yamaha, electric start,
trim and tilt, 29lbs thrust bass motor, live well, boat cover, motor cover
price equivalent of USD 5500 phone 741913

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1.9 For Sale (Ad inserted 26/06/07)

Overlocker Empisal - Brand New (Boxed)
Domestic

4 Thread

Differential Feed

1200 stitches per minute

Trim trap for excess fabric

Colour coded threading system

Includes DVD for Instructions

Hard copy manual

55 million Negotiable

Phone 0912 425 468 (self) 0912 708 343 (sister), E-mail:
julietjokomo@yahoo.co.uk

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1.10 For Sale (Ad inserted 26/06/07)

Colour Printer - Brand New (Boxed)

Lerxmark Z730

25 million Negotiable

Phone 0912 425 468 (self), E-mail: julietjokomo@yahoo.co.uk

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1.11 For Sale (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

Mobile Southern Cross irrigation pump powered by 22kw electric motor.  US
$3000.

If you are interested I will take it to WrighRain for checking and testing
before purchase. Phone 04-701940 or 011-649 310

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1.12 For Sale (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

New Landcruiser gearbox for sale.  75 Series. For more details:  Email -
edelafr@mweb.co.zw or tel: 091 223 6317

BMW Motorcycle for sale - R850R.  For more details: Email -
edelafr@mweb.co.zw or tel: 091 223 6317

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1.13 For Sale (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

Brand New Laptops, Latest new processor not just Duo core but Duo Core 2
(newest processor in world, 64bit)

Brand new Big screen, Acer Aspire 9424WSMI Centrino Core2 Duo T5600 @
1.83GHz / 17" Crystalbrite color TFT LCD / up to 256MB NVIDIA graphics /
120GB hard drive / DVD Super Multi Drive (Dual Layer) / Bluetooth / Wireless
Lan / 1.3mp Web Cam / Video out / Windows XP Media Center Edition / includes
laptop bag. (Has side number pad)

Price cash $280 000 000 RTGS $480 000 000

Brand New, Toshiba Core2 Duo T5600 @ 1.83GHz / 1GB DDR2 RAM / 80GB HDD
/15.4" Truebrite Wide View TFT Color Display/Bluetooth / DVD Super Multi
Drive (Dual Layer)/ Intel 945GM Express Chipset 128MB RAM / 5-1 Card Reader
/ SRS TruSurround System/MS Office OneNote/Win XP Home and Express upgrade
to Vista  / 2.71 Kg. Includes Laptop Bag, plus wireless HD mouse

Price $238 000 000 RTGS $408 000 000

Contact Zane on 0912301396 or email me @ zane@yoafrica.com I can send you
pics.

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1.14 For Sale (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

Motorbike:   Suzuki TF 125 --- excellent condition: Price US$1500
equivalent.

For further details and viewing, contact: zanadu@zim.co.zw

Engine parts:  Hino FF 177, including Injector pump and Cylinder head ---
Offers.

For further details and viewing, contact:     zanadu@zim.co.zw

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1.15 THE WEAVERY (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

Going Overseas or down South? Why not take hand woven gifts for your friends
or family?  These super articles which are light,easy to pack, take or send,
and fully washable. Contact Anne on 332851 or 011212424.Or email
joannew@zol.co.zw

Crocheted oven gloves--$810,000.
Cotton oven gloves--$765,000.
Small woven bags--$665,000.
Large woven bags--$810,000.
Crocheted bags--$945,000.

Single Duvet cushions(open into a duvet)--$4,080,000.
Other sizes to order.

3 piece toilet set--$1,610,000.
Bath mat--$1,140,000.(small rug).

Decorated cushion covers--$810,000.

Table runner--$473,000.
Set(4)Bordered table mats + serviettes--$1,610,000.
Set(6)Bordered table mats + serviettes--$2,420,000.
Set(4) crocheted table mats only--$1,280,000.
Set(6)fringed table mats + serviettes--$2,420,000.
The table mat range is to be discontinued once present stocks are sold.

Small(approx.105x52cms) plain cotton rug--$1,140,000.
Medium(approx.120x65cms) plain cotton rug--$1,610,000
Large(approx.150x75cms) plain cotton rug--$2,420,000.
Ex.Large(approx.230x130cms) plain cotton rug--$5,210,000.
Small patterned cotton rug--$1,610,000.
Small rag rug--$1,140,000.

Medium rag rug--$1,610,000.
Medium patterned cotton rug--$2,420,000.
Large patterned cotton rug--$3,230,000
Ex.Large patterned cotton rug--$6,390,000.
Small patterned mohair rug--$3,180,000.
Medium patterned mohair rug--$4,010,000
Large patterned mohair rug--$5,210,000.
Ex. Large patterned mohair rug--$8,810,000.

Lots of other articles.PLEASE be aware that prices may change without
notice and orders take some time as they have to be woven and sent from
Gweru to Harare.

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1.16 For Sale (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

Boat

Cougar 16' Hull on trailer with Mercury redline 125 motor, electric start,
ride glide steering system, two built in fuel tanks, one carry tank.

Various '94 Peugeot 405 body parts

Windscreen - cracked

Rear window (with heater lines)

Bonnet

Boot

4 Doors (one bit of a dent)

3 glasses for the doors

Door panels

Headlights

Grill

Rear tail lights

Back seats

Rims x3

Front & rear suspension

Boat motors:

Mercury Blue line 40hp motor, running but needs minor attn, complete with
controls, plus many spares

Contact:  Sandy on 661220 or 091 2908262 for further details.

Car for Sale

Datsun 180U 1800 Automatic  in good running condition

Contact Tyron on 091 2 317961 or 772156 for further information

Motorbike for Sale

Suzuki Bandit 400

Contact Tyron on 091 2 317 961 or 772156 for further information

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1.17 For Sale (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

Armoured Cable:  102m of new 4 core 16mm armoured cable

Contact B Carter: 701 940, 011-649 310

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2. WANTED
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2.1 Wanted

By way of loan or donation to the JAG Trust.  The Trust is Capacity Building
a New Project which necessitates the furnishing of an office with desks,
chairs, cupboards and shelving. Any surplus office furniture or trimmings
will be welcomed.  Phone 799410.

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2.2 Wanted

Sheila Macdonald (Sally in Rhodesia) - If you have any of Sheila Macdonald's
books for sale, please let JAG know the details including condition etc with
your name, telephone number and price wanted.

Telephone JAG - 04 - 799410

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2.3 Shotgun Wanted

Good quality, Baretta or Browning, 20 bore over/under shotgun.  In excellent
condition.  Please contact the JAG office on 799410.

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2.4 Wanted (Ad inserted 26/06/07)

Looking for Langford Beehives complete with supers.  Phone Hannes on 490847
or 0912243018

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2.5 Wanted (Ad inserted 26/06/07)

Wanted Britidh motorcycle spares B.S.A., Matchless, A.J.S. or bits and
pieces.

Phone Harare 747953

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2.6 Wanted Maid/Baby Sitter/Cook (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

Looking for an honest reliable maid/baby sitter/cook with a traceable
references.  I have two kids and expecting a third so would like someone
with hands on experience.

Contact: 04-480079, 011-231914 or Email: devon@mweb.co.zw

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2.7 Wanted (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

Urgently is a working / Non-working Colour TV, VCR, Hifi, Satellite Dish &
Decoder. Cash paid on spot & can make collection arrangements.

Please contact Joel on 011 569 194 OR Email: joelsonwozhi@yahoo.com

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3. ACCOMMODATION WANTED AND OFFERED

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3.1 Accommodation Wanted

Ex farmers daughter, husband and two young children looking for 3/4
bed-roomed, 2 bath-roomed house, with domestic quarters to rent. Prefer a
long lease.  Please call on 0912258491.

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3.2 Shareholder Wanted (Ad inserted 26/06/07)

Be a shareholder in a beautiful Ranch Style Home over looking Knysna heads.
Fully furnished with all mod cons -7 weeks per year.

Contact shell@it.bw - view web:wwweastwestford.com

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3.3 EXECUTIVE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (26/96/07)

HOUSES FOR RENT

MT PLEASANT - Executive Home, or upmarket offices, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms,
2 lounges, newly fitted modern kitchen, borehole, very secure  - available
1st August.

HIGHLANDS - 6 Bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, ideal for offices (10 offices) or large
home, borehole - available immediate.

EMERALD HILL  -  House with Cottage available 1st September

BORROWDALE BROOKE - Newly built, stunning home - available 1st August

EASTLEA  -  6 Offices , double storey, neat and secure, close to old
Parklane Hotel - available immediately.

MAZVIKADEI - Lovely waterfront home on a hill with a view, fully furnished,
pool, can sleep 18.

HIGHLANDS:  On Enterprise road, 1 office with store room and kitchen,
sharing property with other companies. No phone line in this office.
Available immediately.

MAZOE SPRINGS - 2 Townhouses under construction will be available 1st
August.  AVONDALE WEST -  Garden flat, 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms - available
mid July

Finding the right premises or home for you.

Contact : Junelee Ziegler 091 2 248 468, or  Nola Dollar 091 2 401 134,
Email :  ziegler@zol.co.zw

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4. RECREATION

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4.1 Need a break

Getaway and enjoy peace and fresh air at GUINEA FOLWS REST
Only 80kms from Harare, Self-catering guest-house
Sleeps 10 people, Bird-watching, Canoeing, Fishing, DSTV

REGRET: No day visitors.  No boats or dogs allowed.
Contact Dave: 011 600 770 or Annette 011 600 769
or 091 22 55 653 or email dapayne@zol.co.zw

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4.2 GACHE GACHE LODGE (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

KARIBA. CONTACT Andrea or Fatima for info on the JULY SPECIAL OFFER or to
book for the 4 day LONG WEEKEND in August (11-14).

Tour Leaders Harare Office: 301889 or 0912 208 836

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4.3 Savuli Safari (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

Self catering chalets in the heart of the Save Valley Conservancy. Game
watching, fishing, horse riding, canoeing, walking trails and 4x4 hire. Camp
fully kitted including cook and fridges.  Just bring your food,  drinks and
relax.    Best value for money. U12 are 1/2  price

Contact John : savuli@mweb.co.zw or Phone 091 2631 556

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5. SPECIALIST SERVICES

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5.1 Vehicle Repairs

Vehicle repairs carried out personally by qualified mechanic with 30 years
experience. Very reasonable rates.

Phone Johnny Rodrigues:  011 603213 or 011 404797, email:
galorand@mweb.co.zw

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5.2 SpeedWorx - WYNN'S

Intelligent Car Service has arrived!

Why pay ridiculous prices and be without your car for days.

Our services are done while you wait & cost a fraction of the normal repair.

At SpeedWorx we will:

Service your car

Increase your engine's performance and improve your fuel economy

Completely flush your engine oil to prolong your engine life

Restore your Power steering performance and stop it leaking

Restore your Automatic Transmission performance and stop it leaking

Completely flush your brake system and make you safe

Stop your car overheating and reduce the risk of leaks

Remove bad odours from the interior of your car and keep it fresh

Services done at your home or office.

Contact: Bryan 011 612 650 or Russell 011 410 525.

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5.3 VIDEO PRODUCTION

Filming & Editing of Weddings & Special Events. DVD Production, Broadcast
Quality.  DVD & VHS transfers. Call Greer on 744075 / 0912 353 047

Greer Wynn - Focused Video Productions:  0912 353 047 / 744075

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5.4 HUNTING TROPHY EXPORTS (Ad inserted 26/06/07)

Fast and efficient dipping and shipping

Professional administration and storage of trophies

Taxidermy in the USA

Convenient drop-off

Contact me, Joe Wells on - Tel/fax (263) 04 490677, Cell: (263) 0912 239305

Email: josh@zol.co.zw or Joobie62@yahoo.co.uk

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5.5 Creative Minds (Ad inserted 26/06/07)

Advertising and Concepts

Copywriting and editing

Print media (including annual reports and magazines, brochures, stationery,
posters, logos)
Illustration, Artist Impressions, Portraits

Fine Art Commissions

We handle a project from concept through design and production of the
finished article, supported by many years of industry experience and using
only quality suppliers.

Tel: 091 2 400 759, email: creative.minds07@yahoo.co.uk

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5.6 Dichwe Implements (Pvt) Ltd (26/06/07)

No1 Charles Prince, Airport Rd, Mt. Hampden, Harare

General Engineering Specialists in grain handling including:

Grain cleaners, Seed maize graders and seed treater's

Conveyor belts, augers, bucket elevators, cob sorters, bins and hoppers.

All made to clients exact specifications

We also do 150 Litre Sunshine solar water heaters and water tank stands up
to 10.000 Litre's

Contact: John or Philip Brown - Tel/fax: +263 4 334865 - PB Cell: +263 912
235579 - Office Cell: + 263 912 757479 - Email: Dichwe@mweb.co.zw

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5.7 Extra Lessons (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

Extra lessons / homework tuition for the following primary school subjects:

-         English

-         Mathematics

-         French

Please contact Tarryn - 091 2 413 323 (cell), 04 851 873 (home)

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5.8 INVESTMENT (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

Are you leaving Zimbabwe and wanting an investment to take with you? For
sale (Valuation certificate by Sharon Caithness available):-

Solid silver tray (2.836 gms), Solid silver tea set - Teapot,sugar bowl and
milk jug (1.307gms).

Valued by Sharon Caithness at Z$2,201,000.000.00 (two billion, two hundred
and one million dollars) or US$ 14,000.

Will accept R75,000, US$10,500, or 5,250 pounds. NO chancers. Phone 332851
or 011212424.

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6. PETS CORNER

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6.1 Wanted (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

ANY FEMALE TERRIER (about 2yrs old) to keep our Jack Russel male company.
Good home.

Contact: 860477 or townsend@zol.co.zw

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6.2 Pet looking for a home (Ad inserted 3/07/07)

Lovely cat -bout three years old, fat and fluffy, looking for a home.  She
is very loving, but doesn't like big dogs.  Or lets say she isn't used to
them.  Her name is Ginger.  Please urgently looking for a home for her!!!
Contact Sandy  on  091 2 908262 for further information.

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7.  SOCIAL GATHERINGS

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7.1 CUTTY SARK HALF MARATHON KARIBA

MONDAY 13 AUGUST 2007 (over long weekend)

All serious runners, fun runners/walkers, family and friends are invited to
take part in the second Kariba Half Marathon, sponsored by Cutty Sark Hotel.

Disco, full bar and catering at Cutty Sark after the race.

Email: kiara@zol.co.zw or guyhammond@zol.co.zw for more information or
telephone 011 208 218 / 0912 275 714

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7.2 Country Juke Box (Ad inserted 26/06/07)

Come and dance with Country Juke Box. Bring the family. Children allowed.
Reasonable bar prices, club menu and a great atmosphere. A wide selection of
dance music from the 60's to 90's, Country, Tiekkie Draai, Rock and Roll
etc. Contact Joe on 339378 or 0912 338414 for details.

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JAG Hotlines: +263 (011) 610 073, +263 (04) 799 410.  If you are in trouble
or need advice, please don't hesitate to contact us - we're here to help!

To advertise (JAG Members): Please email classifieds to: jagma@mango.zw
with subject "Classifieds".