The ZIMBABWE Situation Our thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe
- may peace, truth and justice prevail.
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Zim Independent

CFU pleads with Mugabe
Augustine Mukaro
The Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) leadership has written to President
Robert Mugabe asking him to ensure that the Ministry of Lands and
Agriculture adheres to laid-down procedures in the implementation of land
reform. The letter has, however, caused a furore in the union as farmers
claim they were not consulted and that the union's leaders are grovelling
instead of standing up to the government.

They claim the letter sought to achieve a rapprochement with government
which has persistently refused to entertain dialogue with the farmers.


The letter, signed by CFU president Collin Cloete, complained that the
Ministry of Lands was diverting from the initial policy of one-farmer
one-farm. More than 1 000 farmers who owned single farms have lost their
properties to the resettlement exercise, it pointed out.


Justice for Agriculture (JAG), another farmers' representative body formed
to defend the legal rights of farmers, said the move was tantamount to
backtracking on the part of the CFU whose members were winning cases against
arbitrary land acquisition in the courts.


"Although we have not been privy to the contents of this letter, we are
appraised that the spirit of it is at variance with the views of JAG and the
majority of farmers," JAG chairman David Connolly said.


"Letters still abound in the press criticising the outgoing ZTA president
Kobus Joubert accusing him of 'selling out' and we encourage the CFU
leadership to avoid making the same error," he said.


Connolly said the CFU had failed to address the needs of the agricultural
sector.

"The Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) has failed to address the needs of
agricultural stakeholders," he said. "To be specific, the needs of the
farmers who are committed to staying and being part of the recovery; the
needs of our skilled farm workers who have not yet been considered for the
opportunity of owning land and title."

This is not the first time commercial farmers have differed over negotiating
with government on the land reform programme. Last year a group calling
itself the Zimbabwe Joint Resettlement Initiative offered an olive branch to
government and promised not to challenge the land seizures in court.


John Bredenkamp, who sponsored the initiative, has had his farm earmarked
for appropriation.


CFU director David Hasluck yesterday confirmed that Cloete wrote a letter to
Mugabe but he refused to discuss the contents.


"I can confirm that Cloete wrote to President Mugabe on the question of land
reform last week," Hasluck said. "But I can't give you details of the letter
before we get a response from the president," he said.


Highly-placed sources in the CFU said the letter appealed to Mugabe to
ensure the Ministry of Agriculture adhered to laid-down legal procedures for
acquiring land.


At the launch of the land reform programme, government promised it would
acquire under-utilised land and ensure that every farmer would be allowed to
retain some land.


This has not happened despite claims by Mugabe to the African Human Rights
Commission and other international bodies.


Connolly said his organisation was of the view there was a need to return to
the rule of law, and not just with regards to activities on farms but in
Zimbabwe as a whole.


"It is only once we return to normalcy and level the playing field that we
can together address land reform in a transparent and equitable manner,"
Connolly said.


"JAG members believe that we cannot as Zimbabweans concede to a disorganised
and chaotic land reform campaign. To do so will be betraying the hopes and
needs of the two million people whose livelihoods depend on agricultural
viability and the nine million people who depend on the sector to feed
them," he said.
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VOA

US Calls on Zimbabwe to 'Rectify' Obstacles to Food Distribution
David Gollust
State Department
11 Jul 2002 18:30 UTC


The United States is accusing Zimbabwe of impeding the distribution of food
aid to child famine victims in the country's southwestern Matebeleland
province. It said policies of the government of President Robert Mugabe have
"greatly exacerbated" the country's food problems.

Officials here said government interference is not systematic and that most
internationally-donated food aid in Zimbabwe is getting through.

However, the State Department said the Roman Catholic charity, the Catholic
Commission for Justice and Peace, has been prevented from distributing food
to needy children in the Matebeleland town of Binga for the past five weeks
in what is says is the "undisguised politicization" of local aid efforts.

According to U.S. officials, so-called "war veterans" loyal to Mr. Mugabe
have prevented the Catholic group from delivering food to needy children in
and around the town with the collusion of a top district official, and that
local police have refused to intervene.

They say food aid, at one point, was even kept from nearly 30 children
hospitalized for malnutrition, and that the blockade has caused local
schoolchildren to faint from hunger during classes or to become too weak to
attend school at all.

They also said attempts to resolve the matter through intervention by the
local Roman Catholic bishop and by the Papal Nuncio in Harare have failed.

A spokesman here called on the Mugabe government to "rectify" the situation
in Binga "at once" and to ensure that food distribution is carried out on a
non-partisan basis country-wide. He said the episode "makes a mockery" of
claims by Mr. Mugabe and other officials that the process would not be
politicized.

News reports from Zimbabwe say local officials have barred the commission
from the area because they allege it holds anti-government views and is, in
fact, an opposition faction. A state-run newspaper in Harare has also
accused the opposition Movement for Democratic Change of orchestrating
"artificial" food shortages.

International relief groups said as many as six million people in Zimbabwe,
half the country's population, are at risk due to food shortages.

The State Department said the southern African regional drought has
undoubtedly been a factor in Zimbabwe's food problem.

But it said the situation has been "greatly exacerbated" by government
actions, including often-violent seizures of white-owned commercial farms
and failed economic policies that have reduced food supplies and sent prices
soaring.

The spokesman said the United States will continue to provide food aid to
Zimbabwe but will do so, he said, "with our eyes wide open" to the fact that
the government bears much of the responsibility for the crisis.

The United States has sent 43,000 metric tons of food aid, worth about $28
million, to Zimbabwe so far this year, and shipments totaling more than
twice that amount are to be sent in the coming months.
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Daily News

Feature

      Money has become an instrument of coercion

      7/12/02 8:38:47 AM (GMT +2)


      By Mukazo Vunda

      IN today's world, money and weapons of war share more similarities
than people are aware of and this function is utilised in full by the
 "haves".

      Money, like a weapon, has become an instrument of coercion.

      In this, it becomes a means of contending against another, when the
threat of demise of the victim is the ultimate aim.

      Consider modern-day economics where the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and other feared monetary organisations have used money to subdue the
Third World into slavery to the West.

      Here, the threat of withdrawal of the much-needed funds has been used
to force Third World countries to structure their economies, even politics,
to be on the receiving end of the system.

      Unlike a weapon of war, money doesn't directly become an instrument of
destruction.
      It isn't a direct aid to injury, destruction or defeat of another.

      Where a weapon requires and aids direct physical force on the victim,
or threat of force, with death as the ultimate punishment, money reaches
this same goal by withdrawal, or threat of withdrawal, indirectly.

      The last two decades of our existence in this new global economy have
demonstrated this more than any other.

      Whoever didn't believe the interdependence of economies should just
observe how easily an African country can be made to starve.

      Whoever didn't believe Western influence was to blame for Africa's
decrepitude should just become acquainted with the Mobutu Sese Seko story,
and view how the IMF, the United Nations and other respected agencies
actually conspired to turn the country into a beggar.

      With this too should be shattered those beliefs in the integrity of
these same organisations.

      Listen to voices of discontent on the continent.

      Most are arguing that Africans are being punished for wanting to help
themselves, that the system requires that Africans become self-destructive
in order to qualify for help, which is the same thing anyway. It seems
insane, but the situation in African countries cannot possibly get worse,
yet this is exactly what the West is advocating.


      The point is, "worse" for Africa means one thing: extinction.

      And yet the haves of the world are pushing Africa in exactly this
direction, while stating their altruist intentions.

      Mozambique, a model pupil of the IMF, recently made statements which
in effect were complaints that following IMF dictates is counter-intuitive.

      Mozambique feels it.
      Mozambique knows.

      Even the debt relief that they recently received from the West was
more for maintenance than help out of a tight spot, since they still have
the burden of debt servicing.

      It becomes clear then that, ultimately, the aim of the industrialised
world is to see Third World countries to their demise.

      If they want to help Third World countries out of their misery, then
they would be going about the resolving differently.

      We understand that the West has its own problems, that they are fed up
with Africa's begging bowl, but we decry their direct involvement in the
eventual state of Africa today, which they continue to worsen by their
continued actions.

      On top of all this is the real fear that the West actually does not
know what it is doing, that the West is a mere blind player in a game which
will see humankind to a premature end, as they bend their knees to the God
of an inflation economy.

      Adherence or addiction to a fiduciary monetary system can become
lethal for both the empowered, as the powerless; the haves and the
have-nots, but then only when the West persists on interfering with a
natural process in the name of the profit economy.

      So much praise has been given to this unique human invention of money
that few can imagine life without it, could ever take the adverse effects of
abuse seriously, let alone consider replacing it with the alternatives that
have been put forward to date, which, in an age characterised by creative
bankruptcy, usually comprise propositions of standards that have been, like
the gold or silver, even barter. The arguments against have to date failed
to come up with an alternative that doesn't have holes in it, which could
outdo the disadvantages of fiduciary fiat money.

      To a large extent, the proponents of fiat money have got it right. It
is indeed the best system of exchange that can ever exist, the highest
development of a trend.

      All that has been is primitive in comparison, mere stages which had to
lead to the modern system of fiat money, whichever way you think of it, much
like barter had to give way to the first forms of real money.

      Unable to fully comprehend the system in which they live, these
thinkers forget, however, that, like so much that has been tried and failed
in recent human history (democracy, the virtues of an individualistic
society, socialism, capitalism),
      the idea of fiat money works in theory.

      The inevitability of the process that leads up to such a standard
makes sense in theory, but in reality, the system has always been
controlled, bent to suit the needs of select tribes, to gain them an
advantage.

      The system has been abused, and, as such, the advantages of the
functions of fiduciary fiat money have yet to be enjoyed by humankind.

      The solution to most of the problems confronting mankind with regards
to this monetary system lie not in finding a replacement, but in not
interfering with the value of the money.

      They say weapons do not kill, but people do, and this is exactly the
same with money.
      People have taken advantage of a product of human genius, and used it
as a weapon against others.

      By so doing, they have also inadvertently turned it in on themselves
in a twist that, when connected on a larger scale, has spelt the demise of
all.

      Living by the money, man has sentenced himself to die by it too.

      The question that remains is not whether these are portentous signs,
indicators of a system that has gone wrong, nor that the facts are simply
overdrawn and exaggerated by those with ulterior motives like primitivists,
pacifists, those on the wrong side of the system like blacks, or even
socialists.

      The issue is the need to find a coping strategy in a coagulated system
where, evidently, nothing has changed nor is about to change.
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Zim Independent

Industry sacrificed on altar of political survival
Vincent Kahiya
THE chickens have come home to roost for the Zanu PF government whose
policies have over the past two years reduced Zimbabwe to poverty and
hunger.

Last year's warnings of food shortages have become a sad reality which the
government has been quick to capitalise on accusing an ever-lengthening list
of critics of sabotaging the economy by creating shortages.

The diversionary tactics, which plainly suggest that the shortages gripping
the nation - from salt, mealie-meal, and sugar to milk - are acts of
sabotage by industry which is aligned to opposition forces, imply
Zimbabweans are unable to locate the epicentre of the economic earthquake
which has spawned shortages.

The biggest tragedy of Zimbabwe's situation is that those entrusted with
putting right the situation have failed to acknowledge that there are
problems needing urgent attention.

This week Minister of State in Vice-President Joseph Msika's office Olivia
Muchena said during a tour of wheat fields that shortages were only in the
papers and not on the ground. Lands and Agriculture minister Joseph Made
said of the bread shortages, which hit the country last week: "This is the
usual thing of undermining government and trying to create a situation of
despondency among our people."

In the last two weeks the state propaganda machinery has been told to
portray the shortages as artificial and caused by hoarding of commodities.
Giant food manufacturer National Foods has been accused of sabotaging the
economy by hoarding salt and flour. Anglo-American Corporation, a
shareholder in National Foods, was dragged into the fray to lend credence to
a wider conspiracy by the West to undermine the government.

"It is believed that the underlying cause is economic sabotage maliciously
intended to discredit the lawfully elected government of Zimbabwe," the
state media last week quoted a police statement as saying.

"The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was hoping to gain
political mileage by orchestrating artificial shortages."

Last week the MDC responded angrily to the claims describing them as
"grotesque" and "bordering on sheer madness".

The government has blamed all shortages like sugar, mealie-meal, cooking oil
and soap on hoarding by manufacturers.

It is labouring to situate the food shortages as foreign-induced in order to
escape accusations that the current problems are directly linked to issues
of governance. As the country crumbles around them the Zanu PF rulers are
now keen to portray themselves as champions of people's rights, keen to
fight off Western sabotage being effected through food shortages.

"There is no doubt that we have become the victims of a well-orchestrated
sabotage programme whose aim is to tarnish our image as a government and to
inspire a political rebellion," Vice-President Joseph Msika said last week.

The "war against sabotage" has seen a systematic subtraction of basic
freedoms through the crackdown on the media and any form of dissent.
Government has raided factory warehouses and people's homes in search of
hoarded commodities. There is a direct correlation between the democracy
deficit and the myriad economic problems gripping the nation. Government
policy over the past two years has militated against industrial expansion
and foreign direct investment. The future of industry is now being
sacrificed on the altar of political survival of a regime bereft of
solutions to deal with pressing issues.

Price controls on basic commodities effected in October and the threat to
take over companies accused of sabotaging the economy have seen
manufacturers deferring capital projects while retrenchments have become
inevitable. Olivine Industry has reportedly retrenched 100 workers and more
retrenchments are expected to follow in bakeries and milling companies.

On the other hand, industry has been trying to draw government's attention
to the looming crisis since February last year and made persistent calls to
import maize and wheat to stave off starvation.

Two weeks ago Made dismissed a plea by the chairman of the Bakers
Association of Zimbabwe, Armitage Chikwavira, for the government to import
wheat to avert bread shortages. He said the country had adequate stocks and
accused millers of rationing supplies to make money on the black-market.

Ironically though, the government-controlled Grain Marketing Board had cut
deliveries to millers by 50%. This has resulted in bread shortages from the
beginning of the month. The Independent warned of looming bread shortages in
its edition of June 14.

Government traditionally imported extra wheat to stretch local supplies, but
was unable to do so this year due to foreign exchange shortages. The
critical maize shortage has also created an unexpected switch to bread as a
staple food, pushing consumption up markedly.

The country also has a shortage of stockfeed, which was prohibitively
expensive for farmers who were granted licences to import quantities of
feed. This has led to shortages of milk and poultry. The country last year
produced only half its oilseed requirements, creating shortages of cooking
oil and margarine. A drop in the number of dairy farmers, brought on by land
reform, has almost halved milk production.

Government in August last year gave the GMB monopoly to trade in maize and
wheat and that, together with the attendant poor producer prices, have made
grain production unviable.

Vanessa McKay of the Zimbabwe Grain Producers Association was last week
quoted by Irin as saying: "By the end of July we will have a complete 'stock
out' situation and rely 100% on imports."

The scarcity of foreign currency has compounded the problem. In October 2000
the government capped the exchange rate at US$1 to $55 to stop a downward
spiral, but a shortage of hard currency brought on by reduced production and
exports has spawned a competitive parallel market.

Importers who don't have ready foreign currency turn to this market to pay
for their goods. The parallel rates have hovered around $350 to US$1 but
have been reported to top $1 000 according to demand. The increased expense
pushes production prices up and government price controls on basic
commodities have prevented companies from recovering costs.

"We need price controls to be abolished. If government is worried about
consumer spending power, they must introduce a fair system of consulting
producers to review prices and keep people in business," McKay said.

Economists say the government has failed to come up with policies to deal
with the parallel exchange rate. The investment policy is at odds with
archaic policies such as price controls. The government needs to put in
place an agricultural plan that ensures that new settlers on the land can
produce for the nation, earn forex and alleviate poverty. More importantly,
they believe the sentiment on Zimbabwe can improve if there is a return to
the rule of law. Meanwhile food stocks continue to dwindle.
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Zim Independent

Agriculture needs $32,5b to recover
Stanley James
ZIMBABWE'S ailing agricultural sector requires at least $32,5 billion in the
2003 budget - up from the current $16,9 billion - to recover from the crisis
created by the prevailing macro-economic instability, the effects of the
controversial land reform exercise and the drought, a parliamentary
committee has said.

The Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water Development, Rural
Resources and Resettlement recommended this week that the agricultural
sector's 2003 budget proposals should be high enough to meet the costs of
food imports, alleviating the effects of the current drought as well as
funding crop inputs.


Committee chairman, Zhombe MP Daniel Ncube, said there was need to allocate
adequate financial resources in order to ensure problems besetting the
sector were resolved.


"In real terms, there should be adequate allocation for the industry to meet
expenses in the coming year to the extent that an amount of at least $32
billion might be enough to sustain the sector," Ncube said.


Proposals submitted by industry stakeholders at a seminar in the capital
this week showed the agricultural sector, which has declined by about 40%,
would require $6 billion to prop up tobacco farming whose hectarage has
continued to drop because of land seizures and disruptions in productivity.


Drought relief would require between $15 billion to $20 billion to enable
the Grain Marketing Board to import maize and wheat. Movement for Democratic
Change agriculture spokesman Renson Gasela said it was crucial that resource
allocation for the industry went to core productive sectors.


"Though the industry has suffered one of its worst periods because of the
effects of the economic crisis and land reform programme, it is important
that the resource allocation should be chanelled to the productive sectors
of the industry such as tobacco, wheat growing, livestock production and the
restoration of infrastructure, among others," he said.


Gasela said that part of the budget allocation had to be channelled towards
drought relief as another drought was expected in the coming season.


He said the future of the industry now hinged on mechanisms to bring sanity
on commercial farms as well as lowering interest rates and inflationary
levels which had led to the costs of various agricultural implements
escalating at alarming rates.
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COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION
Farm Invasions And Security Report
Friday 12 July 2002 
This report does not purport to cover all the incidents that are taking place in the commercial farming areas.  Communication problems and the fear of reprisals prevent farmers from reporting all that happens.  Farmers names, and in some cases farm names, are omitted to minimise the risk of reprisals.

NATIONAL REPORT IN BRIEF
REGIONAL NEWS
MANICALAND
Middle Save - ARDA have planted the settlers’ wheat for them.  The DA has spoken about going down to see the farmers again.
Chipinge - ZFTU are very active and visiting all the farmers.  The Rosalie owners went to court and boundaries laid out to the DA and the owner in the courtroom.  The DA is not keeping to these boundaries.  At Canterbury, the settlers are ploughing in between the coffee damaging the crop.  They also built two huts in the coffee fields.  Wolverhampton had two people visit, each with maps of their plots, which they said had been marked out for them by Agritex.  One is an Army Major from Mutare and the other an employee at ZESA from Hwange.  They were very pleasant and told the owner his farm had been divided into 16 plots for A2 settlers.  This will leave no room for the owner to plant his crops.
Burma Valley - DDF were ploughing two weeks ago and have not been seen since.  Some of the smaller settlers have planted rape and tomatoes, while others have planted very small patches of wheat.  Farmers are putting in seedbeds but not as much as they normally plant for a season.
Mutare - Settlers are still ploughing.  They planted 6 ha of wheat on Fairview They are selling the equipment from Fairview and all seems to going well.  Settlers seem to be mostly making bricks.  Settlers are dividing into factions and seem to be fighting amongst themselves.
Odzi - Settlers are either stumping lands or are looking for jobs with farmers, otherwise all is quiet there.
Nyazura - Settlers are quiet at the moment.  Farmers are putting in seedbeds.
Rusape - Farmers are putting in seedbeds, but the settlers are quiet with not too many of them around.
Headlands - ZFTU are very active but appear to be listening to the farmers.  Again farmers are doing seedbeds.
Chimanimani - Charleswood Estate reports DDF tractors ploughing for the last two days.  On 06.07.02, three labourers from Charleswood Estate were stealing settlers’ maize.  One was caught and severely beaten up.  The settlers went into the farm village to find the other two culprits but, as they were unsuccessful, they resorted to beating up other men and women. The settlers burnt 50 ha of land.  In response to a report made, the police said that the 'war vets' could do what they liked, and issued a stern warning to the manager of the farm.  The police are very reluctant to take reports of such incidents.
General - Farmers are putting in seedbeds for next season for tobacco and paprika.

MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Mvurwi – report from 08.07.02: Ongoing labour strikes on 6 farms.  At Kamusha Farm, the owner was barricaded in by labour on 08.07.02 after a visit by ZFTU. Farmers in the area are doing their best to forward information on the ongoing labour situation to the Ministry of Labour in Bindura.
 
MASHONALAND EAST
Report from 01.07.02:
Beatrice - A couple living in a cottage on a farm had their Datsun 1200 and a bicycle stolen. A farmer had his security fence cut and goods to the value of ZW$ 300 000.00 stolen.  Another farmer had a visit by four Army personnel in a green Mazda.  One farmer reported Agritex pegging.  Two farmers received Section 8 Orders.

MASHONALAND WEST (NORTH)
The major points here are:
Section 8's delivered in Trelawney/Darwendale.
Section 7's delivered in Tengwe.
Doma - A farmer, who was not on his farm, was visited by an army major and some soldiers.  The guards were told not to let anyone into the premises.  The army contingent forced the guard at gunpoint to let the army into the premises and left several people there overnight.  They told the farmer he must move out of his house by 15.07.02.  They have taken the tractor keys and stopped labour from going to work.  The Doma farmers are facing major pressure from the settlers about moving their farm equipment.  One farmer has roadblocks set up outside his house.
Banket - there was a major problem where farmers were locked into their house/barn complex.  The settlers’ criminal activity included: -
1.  Breaking the gate and replacing the lock with their own.
2.  Cutting the telephone lines.
3.  Cutting off the water supply.
4.  Cutting ZESA.
Two days later the situation was defused.
Karoi  - settlers are stopping labour from leaving a barn complex.
General - Theft of everything steadily gets worse. MCB's and switchgear were stolen and three houses broken into.  Sand is taken from the Angwa River by the truckload, causing destruction to the ecosystem.  Some of the recent veldt fires are arson.  Grazing is burnt at a worrying rate.  Poaching is rife and stock theft is getting worse.  There is heavy pressure on farmers to pay out severance packages.

MASHONALAND WEST (SOUTH)
Norton - Very few Tobacco seedbeds have been allowed to go in.  Very few A2 settlers have done anything to comply with the conditions of their lease. 
Selous - On Lot A of Cromdale the owner continues to be hassled by the A2 settler living in his garden.  He has not been allowed to grow any Wheat and the A2 settler has used all the owners’ equipment and infrastructure to plant Wheat of his own without any payment being forthcoming.  The A2 settler has threatened to evict the owner on 12.07.02. 
Suri-Suri - On Kasama the owner had his car keys grabbed out of the ignition through the open window.  He was then dragged out of the vehicle and assaulted before the vehicle was stolen.  The vehicle is a khaki Mazda 2.2 registration No. 592-570X.  Thistle Farm was abandoned by the owners, who recently returned to visit.  In response, the settlers set up roadblocks then verbally abused and chased off the owners. 
Chakari - On Deweras Farm where Presidents' Office officials have planted Wheat illegally using the owner’s equipment, the officials have now ploughed down the owners Paprika that was still being harvested.  On Chevy Chase Farm the owner reports most of a herd of 200 cattle were stolen.  He still has not been allowed to put in any crops despite having done land preparation.  The farm has never been listed, but when this was pointed out to the DA, it was listed a few days later.  The owner has previously given up two properties to government and has negotiated with Government on his other two properties.  This is the last property he and his sons and their families own. 
Kadoma - A number of farmers are currently moving off their properties as a result of threats and the totally untenable situation where hardly a single farmer in these three associations is allowed to farm. 
 
MASVINGO
Masvingo East and Central - Dromore Farm owner has continued problems with wire theft.
Chiredzi - Ongoing poaching, snaring and theft of wire continue unabated in this area.
Mwenezi - Lot 21a Complete report still to come in.  Last week owner was severely beaten by a gang of youths, but managed to escape after biting off one of the youths fingers.  Poaching, snaring, breakage of water pipes and theft of cattle continue almost every day.
Save Valley Conservancy - Ongoing poaching and snaring.
Gutu/Chatsworth - Continued harassment to owners concerning wages and pensions etc. Snaring on the increase and wire theft out of control.
 
Report from 11.07.02:
Masvingo East and Central – on Dromore Farm late last week, the owners dip tank was emptied out allegedly by settlers occupying the property. The owner reported the incident to the Police and the DA. Both could not attend the scene immediately. The owner informed the authorities he would fill the dip tank with water, to stop the tank cracking. When the owner’s son arrived on 05.07.02 to replenish the dip tank, it had been filled up with thorn branches cut and aligned so as to prevent entry. There was also a note left informing the owner that if he continued to pursue the matter he would be killed. This was immediately reported to the authorities, but they were unable to attend to the problem immediately, as they were allegedly experiencing vehicle problems.  On 09.07.02, "war vets" and the CID approached the owner’s wife, making enquiries as to why irrigation pipes were removed from the property and stored at a safe house. The owner has already lost ZW$ 10 million worth of irrigation equipment due to continued theft. The owner’s wife was asked to report to the CID Office.  It appears the matter has been temporarily resolved with the owner’s wife producing the relevant legislation allowing this action.
Chiredzi – at BJB Estates cattle were refused access to water last week. The situation was eventually defused when the owner transported the Police to the property. This week again the cattle were refused access to water. Three settlers intimidated and pushed around the Manager. Report again made to the Police, but no action taken. The property in question has not been served with a Section 8 Order and accusations are made the Farm Manager is the person responsible for the owner not selling off his cattle.  At Palm River Ranch on 09.07.02, the owner received information a delegation was to visit him over the issue of cattle to be compensated since 1940. The owner went to the Police and the DA to ask for assistance, and managed to get a police official and a representative from the DA’s office. While in town a large delegation of about 30 people arrived on his property. The owner was refused permission to talk to any of them, but was verbally abused. He was accused of “avoiding the meetings set down” and told he had “started a war” by obtaining help from the Police and the DA’s office.  The main instigator was a man by the name of “Njana”. The Police official and DA representative were reported to have gone back to their superiors and relayed the aggressive attitude of the delegation. The owner has since decided to remove his cattle, but has not conceded anything.  In general, poaching and snaring continue unabated. Many meetings are held, but confusion reigns over the status of the properties. Many fires are reported.
The Hippo Valley Settlement Holding 36 owner was beaten up in his cane field early on the morning of 09.07.02. Five people held down the owner, who was assaulted by well known "war vet" Mutemachani. The reason given was the owner was allegedly cutting cane on an A2 Settlers allocated plot. Mr. Kanda of the Provincial Land Committee was not present, but it appears he initiated this assault with a threat the previous evening stating:” if you cut and burn this cane you will find out what I am.” The perpetrators took the owner away in his own vehicle intending to visit the DA’s office. When the owner refused to go, they eventually took him to the Chiredzi Police Station. Although the assault was not severe, it is understood the owner will lay charges of abduction and assault against his perpetrators. A Chiredzi Police official said if these charges are laid they will investigate, but the owner will be charged under Section 8 of the Land Acquisition Act for interfering with the Resettlement process of the Acquiring Authority. It is not clear if the owner has signed any cautioned and warned statements. That afternoon Mr. Kanda (PLC) arrived on the property and once again threatened the owner.
Cane Farmers / Chiredzi - There is general disapproval from the A2 Settlers concerning the cutting of cane. Many threats and insinuations have been made. Ongoing harassment continues with some cane farmers over farm equipment. On one incident an A2 settler laid a charge against the owner he had stolen a motor off the farm. On investigations, the police were shown the motor in the farm workshop. As the A2 settler could not identify the motor, the Police took it to the Police Station. The next day, the owner enquired about his motor and was told by Police to remove it and go home. He requested a report number as he was accused of theft and wanted to make a charge, but no report number was given. He intends to bring a civil suit against the A2 settler.  This same A2 settler has erected a tin hut in the middle of the owner’s road. Reports were made to Police and owner has obtained a report number.
Mwenezi – the Kleinbegin / Joco owner’s son was severely assaulted on 04.07.02. A group of youths attacked the son with the intention to kill. He had gone to uplift the diesel engine and other movables from a borehole the owner is unable to use due to pressure from illegally introduced communal cattle. 16 staff members were present with 2 vehicles and a tractor and a trailer. After the diesel engine had been loaded and some of the borehole pipes had been lifted the situation deteriorated rapidly. When the owner’s son attempted to hitch the trailer to the tractor he was attacked by 15 youths. The staff drove off in the two vehicles. The son was held face down by all four limbs while the youths took turns at kicking him, jumping on him, beating him with axe handles and finally bashing his temple on a rock wielded by one of the youths. The repeated intention by the youths was to kill. Fortunately the opportunity to escape presented itself when one of the youths kicked one of the youths holding the son down. As a result his hand was released allowing the youth’s brought within biting distance. The son bit the youth’s finger, causing confusion allowing him to escape on the tractor. The youths tried to stop him by pelting the fleeing tractor with large rocks.  He abandoned the tractor when his way was blocked by one of the vehicles found to have stopped near a gate guarded by another group. He escaped through an opening in a fence some distance away previously cut for use by settlers and their scotch carts. The tractor and some equipment were recovered with slashed valves. To date not all the equipment was recovered, despite attendance by Police, or arrests made. The second house on this property has also been occupied and the Police have yet to ensure the recovery of fridges, stoves and other furniture.  It is estimated that in excess of 15 tonnes of sugar cane is lost to theft daily on Mwenezana (Triangle Ltd.). This occurs both in the fields and from the transporting trucks on their way to the railway line.  At Battlefields Ranch another Nyala was killed in a snare.  Valley Ranch reports indicate large groups of communal cattle moving on to the property.  In general, snaring, poaching with dogs, cutting, burning, pipe destruction, fence theft and building ongoing. Section 8s were served last week starting 03.07.02.
Gutu / Chatsworth – the Bath Farms P/L owner once again received threats on his life and made plans to be off the property as a precautionary measure. He was also told to expect a delegation from the ZFTU demanding terminal benefits for labour. He is accused of removing a cattle bale from the property and therefore removing Government property.  At Makanya Farm P/L approximately two weeks ago, the owner was approached by a person known as Farai Tsingisie from the ZFTU. He was forced to retrench workers and pay out large sums of money and a percentage to ZFTU amounting to millions of dollars. On 09.07.02 he was again approached and again forced to pay out money with a 75% return to ZFTU on contract workers.  In general, it has been noted the ZFTU are actively moving around the area.
Save Conservancy - It is reported to be reasonably quiet, however poaching and snaring are ongoing.
 
MIDLANDS
No report received.

MATABELELAND
No report received.
 
aisd1@cfu.co.zw    Visit the CFU Website www.mweb.co.zw/cfu


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

      Ndlovu, Paradza apply for permission to appeal to Supreme Court

      7/12/02 8:46:07 AM (GMT +2)


      Staff Reporter

      WAR veteran leaders Andrew Ndlovu and Anna Paradza yesterday applied
to the High Court for permission to be allowed to appeal to the Supreme
Court against their denial of bail pending the outcome of their appeal
against both their conviction and sentence for contravening the Prevention
of Corruption Act in 1998.

      The application for leave to appeal is expected to be heard today
before Justice Mahomed Adam.

      The judge on Tuesday slapped Ndlovu and Paradza with a four-year jail
term each for contravening the Act.

      Ndlovu is the secretary for projects in the Zimbabwe National
Liberation War Veterans' Association and Paradza is the administration
secretary of Sankorp Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, a company formed by ex-combatants
to invest in projects for their benefit.

      They are both trustees of the Magamba eChimurenga Housing Trust, a
housing scheme for war veterans. They will serve an effective three years in
prison each, after the judge suspended one year of the sentence for five
years on condition they do not commit offences involving dishonesty or
corruption.

      Ndlovu and Paradza were whisked to prison after Justice Adam declined
to grant them bail pending appeal to the Supreme Court against both
conviction and sentence.

      He agreed with Joseph Jagada of the Attorney-General's Office that
there were no prospects for success on appeal.

      The war veterans' lawyer, Advocate Charles Selemani, instructed by
Aston Musunga, filed their notice to appeal in the Supreme Court on
Wednesday.

      They were, however, required by Section 44 of the Rules of the High
Court to first seek leave from the High Court when applying against the
decision of that court to deny bail on the grounds of law and fact.

      Ndlovu and Paradza, who had pleaded not guilty, were convicted of
corruptly receiving gifts in July 1998 from a Chinese national, Zhao Fun Yin
(now deceased), alias Zhao Williams, as an inducement or reward for
facilitating business between him and the Magamba Trust.
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Daily News

      State officials blast State paper

      7/12/02 8:45:28 AM (GMT +2)


      From Brian Mangwende in Mutare

      TWO top government officials on Wednesday questioned the authenticity
of a story published by the government-owned Manica Post newspaper in
Mutare, claiming the opposition MDC was smuggling arms into the country
through the Forbes border post in preparation for war.

      Oppah Muchinguri, the Governor of Manicaland Province, and Ignatius
Chombo, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing,
challenged the story during a meeting with the reporters.

      A government source at the meeting said the two lashed out at the
reporters for not checking their facts before printing the story, as it
involved national security.

      Chombo, head of the land task force committee, was in Mutare to assess
the progress made in the land reform programme.

      The government official at the meeting said: "Chombo said the
government reporters must first ask them (ministers or other government
officials) what to write and they would be told what to write."

      Soon after the tongue-lashing, the reporters from the State-run
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Manica Post and the Zimbabwe Inter-Africa
News Agency were ordered to leave the room. The reporters then shuffled out,
their heads bowed, said the source.

      Muchinguri and Makuwerere Bwititi, the editor of The Manica Post,
refused to comment, while Chombo could not be reached .

      Rudo Muchemeyi, the provincial police chief in Manicaland, who claimed
that a number of people had been arrested at the Forbes border post while
smuggling arms of war into Zimbabwe from Mozambique, was said to have sat
silently as the Zanu PF officials lashed out at the reporters, said the
source.

      It could not be confirmed that the report of the arms smuggling may
have raised official eyebrows in Maputo.

      Earlier, Muchinguri, through the same newspaper, blasted the British
and America governments for allegedly using the MDC to wage a war against
Zimbabwe.

      Giles Mutsekwa, the MP for Mutare North and MDC shadow minister of
defence, denied the allegations and challenged the police to produce
evidence of their claims, which they had not done by last night.

      Mutsekwa dismissed the allegations against his party as an illusion
and a figment of the fertile imagination of the police and the governor,
Muchinguri.

      To date, the police have not released the names of those arrested, nor
have they disclosed the type and whereabouts of weapons they claim to have
retrieved.

      In the past, journalists from the private media have been prosecuted
under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) for
allegedly writing falsehoods.

      Innocent Gonese, a Mutare lawyer, said AIPPA should not be applied
selectively.

      "A thorough investigation should be carried out into that story (of
arms smuggling) and if proven to be fictitious the newspaper should be taken
to task," said Gonese. "Journalists from the state-controlled media are
being treated like sacred cows and that has to stop. The law must be applied
across the board."

      Two Ministers of State, Olivia Muchena and Flora Buka, attended the
meeting. Also present were senior army officials, CIO top brass and
provincial district land committee members.

      A report-back meeting was scheduled for today.
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Zim Independent

Agriculture needs $32,5b to recover
Stanley James
ZIMBABWE'S ailing agricultural sector requires at least $32,5 billion in the
2003 budget - up from the current $16,9 billion - to recover from the crisis
created by the prevailing macro-economic instability, the effects of the
controversial land reform exercise and the drought, a parliamentary
committee has said.

The Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water Development, Rural
Resources and Resettlement recommended this week that the agricultural
sector's 2003 budget proposals should be high enough to meet the costs of
food imports, alleviating the effects of the current drought as well as
funding crop inputs.


Committee chairman, Zhombe MP Daniel Ncube, said there was need to allocate
adequate financial resources in order to ensure problems besetting the
sector were resolved.


"In real terms, there should be adequate allocation for the industry to meet
expenses in the coming year to the extent that an amount of at least $32
billion might be enough to sustain the sector," Ncube said.


Proposals submitted by industry stakeholders at a seminar in the capital
this week showed the agricultural sector, which has declined by about 40%,
would require $6 billion to prop up tobacco farming whose hectarage has
continued to drop because of land seizures and disruptions in productivity.


Drought relief would require between $15 billion to $20 billion to enable
the Grain Marketing Board to import maize and wheat. Movement for Democratic
Change agriculture spokesman Renson Gasela said it was crucial that resource
allocation for the industry went to core productive sectors.


"Though the industry has suffered one of its worst periods because of the
effects of the economic crisis and land reform programme, it is important
that the resource allocation should be chanelled to the productive sectors
of the industry such as tobacco, wheat growing, livestock production and the
restoration of infrastructure, among others," he said.


Gasela said that part of the budget allocation had to be channelled towards
drought relief as another drought was expected in the coming season.


He said the future of the industry now hinged on mechanisms to bring sanity
on commercial farms as well as lowering interest rates and inflationary
levels which had led to the costs of various agricultural implements
escalating at alarming rates.

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Zim Independent

Deadline for accreditation Oct 31 - Mahoso
Mthulisi Mathuthu
AS journalists and other media practitioners prepare a legal challenge to
the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aipa), the Media
and Information Commission has declared October 31 the "absolute deadline"
for submission of applications for registration of media companies and
accreditation of journalists.

Media and Information Commission executive chairman, Tafataona Mahoso, this
week said applicants should submit their papers in ample time to provide 60
days for process-ing applications before the mandatory date of December 31
when everyone has to be registered.


This includes all media entities as well as practising journalists.

"The answer lies in Sections 8 and 9 of Statutory Instrument 169C of 2002 as
gazetted," said Mahoso in response to earlier queries from the Zimbabwe
Independent.


"Everyone should be registered by 31 December according to Section 9. The
Commission may take up to two months, 60 days, to respond to an application,
according to Section 8."


The new law requires mass media services to pay an application fee of $20
000 and a registration fee of $500 000. Practicing journalists are expected
to pay $1 000 for application and accreditation respectively, while
freelance journalists should pay $500 and $2 500. Foreign journalists
intending to work temporarily in Zimbabwe are required to pay US$50 and
US$100 for application and registration. Foreign media houses will have to
part with US$2 000 and US$10 000.


Some local journalists have vowed that they will not seek registration
because it undermined their constitutional right to freely practise their
profession.


The Independent Journalists Association of Zimbabwe (Ijaz), the Foreign
Correspondents Association (FCA), the newly-formed Zimbabwe National Editors
Forum and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa)-Zimbabwe are
proposing to mount a legal challenge to the repressive law.
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Zim Independent

Police instrument of repression - Amnesty
Dumisani Muleya
HUMAN rights group Amnesty International has accused the government of
transforming the Zimbabwe Republic Police into a partisan force.

In a report titled Policing to protect human rights released this week,
Amnesty said police in the region, in particular Zimbabwe, were perpetrating
human rights abuses by using repressive methods.


"Everyday in countries of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc),
human rights are under attack from the police," Amnesty International said.
"Excessive or unjustified lethal force is used to suppress peaceful protest
and government opponents are arbitrarily detained."


Amnesty said police cells in some countries were now being used as torture
chambers.


"States which tolerate such acts are not helping to reduce crime or to find
fair solutions to political problems," the group said. "Instead, they
gravely undermine the professionalism of the police and fail in their duty
to protect victims of crime and prevent human rights violations."


Amnesty said Zimbabwe was one of several countries in the region where the
police now acted as an instrument of repression. President Robert Mugabe's
ruling Zanu PF has been accused of reducing the police force to a party
militia.


"In Zimbabwe, the undermining of professional and impartial policing has
taken an extreme form in the past two years," it said. "Police have been
directly involved in the torture, ill-treatment and arbitrary arrest of
members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). They have
also been complicit in nationally widespread acts of violence, arson and
rape committed by state-sponsored militia against supporters of the MDC."


However, two weeks ago Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri told the
African Commission on Human and People's Rights in the country to
investigate rights transgressions that the police were professional and
non-partisan.


Amnesty said despite rights abuses in Zimbabwe, the Southern African
Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation was taking the lead in
promoting professional and effective policing through training in ethical
and human rights standards.


"In countries such as Botswana, Malawi and South Africa, non-governmental
and community-based organisations have cooperated with police to improve
services to victims of crime, particularly women and children, and to
develop effective partnerships with the police to implement crime reduction
plans based on careful intelligence and lawful methods," it said.


"Enhancing the security for all living in the Sadc region must be built upon
good governance, the promotion and protection of human rights for all
without distinction and respect for the rule of law," Amnesty said.


It said impunity, which some governments in the region tolerated, should be
reversed.

"In order to break the cycle of impunity and to encourage best practice,
there must be effective mechanisms for the independent investigation of
police abuses," the rights watchdog said. "Few countries of the region have
set up effective mechanisms to detect and remedy abuses and Amnesty
International is calling on the majority of remaining states to do so
urgently."


The body said most countries still needed to repeal or amend repressive
laws, particularly those which permitted excessive use of force like
Zimbabwe's Public Order & Security Act.


Biased policing in relation to minority and vulnerable communities and the
political opposition has been a problem in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia,
Swaziland and Tanzania, Amnesty pointed out.


"Elsewhere in the region, growing public concern over violent crime has
pushed governments and police authorities to respond 'by all means
necessary' to combat crime, particularly where police officers themselves
have become victims of armed criminals," Amnesty International observed.


"In several Sadc countries, including Angola, Mozambique, South Africa and
Zambia, this has led to suspected criminals being arbitrarily arrested,
tortured or killed. The violent activities of some anti-crime vigilante
groups in countries such as Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa have
added to a climate of crisis."
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From News24 (SA), 11 July

Mugabe's time has come

Johannesburg - There can hardly be a more melodious or cheerful way to send someone to blazes than co-opting South Africa's international music star Hugh Masekela to do the job. While singing and trumpeting, Masekela sent Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe a farewell message, during the African Union (AU) concert at the Sandton conference centre. The concert, held in conjunction with the AU's official launch in Durban, was sponsored by the South African government. "Mugabe should have gone long ago. What is he still doing there? Charlie Taylor [of Liberia] must also go. Thank you Daniel Arap Moi [Kenya] for deciding it's time to go," Masekela declared in his song, Everything Must Change. Following President Thabo Mbeki's explanation of the aims of the new African organisation - without identifying problem countries by name - Masekela liberally laid on the diplomacy. And in the process unsettled a number of Zimbabweans dancing in the concert halls. A few Zimbabweans yelled, "Leave him [Mugabe] alone!" and "Why are you singing about these issues?"
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From The Independent (UK), 11 July

Gaddafi's African roadshow sets off with 400 guards, three jets and a ship

Durban - The Muammar Gaddafi roadshow has left Durban on a tortuous drive home after the Libyan leader and his heavily-armed entourage upstaged an African summit called to map out a new path for the continent. The Libyan President's security detail, several dozen strong, have taken with them a special jamming device installed in one of his vehicles. So people on his route are likely to suffer sudden interruptions of their cellphone conversations as the convoy passes by. Bemused Swaziland residents living on the South African border said yesterday they thought South Africa was invading, after being confronted by the Libyan leader's massive security apparatus. In Durban, there were some near-catastrophic encounters between South African security officers and the Libyan guards. More than once, proceedings at the summit had to be halted while the Brother Leader railed against the West, Africa's new development plan and other obsessions of the moment. One security officer said: "He works totally above the law. They came here with the attitude that Gaddafi is the Golden Leader and that they, as Libyans, are above all of us."

On Saturday, there was a stand-off between South African and Libyan security forces. "It was almost a war," the South African officer said. "There were 40 of us against almost 400 of them. We were totally outnumbered and outgunned." South African security officials had already grounded 60 armoured vehicles accompanying Colonel Gaddafi. Their ostensible purpose was to provide a safe return by road for the Libyan leader through Africa. But South African government officials feared he would use the vehicles to visit black townships in an attempt to steal the limelight from the summit host and chairman of the new African Union, President Thabo Mbeki. On Wednesday, one of Colonel Gaddafi's planes was grounded in Mozambique after rocket-propelled grenade launchers were discovered on board. The President arrived with two Boeing 707s and two more planes, including an Antonov, among the largest freight planes in the world. An initial search of some cargo turned up 27 sub-machineguns.

Along with weaponry and a fleet of vehicles, Colonel Gaddafi also brought a container ship filled with goat carcasses and two 46-seater buses. "Each vehicle was packed to capacity and we even found $6m (£3.8m) in hard cash in one car," the security officer said. "They point-blank refused for some of their baggage to be searched." With tension mounting, the South African contingent called for back-up, and within minutes, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad, arrived in an effort to restore calm. Shortly afterwards, he sent a fax instructing security personnel to release everything to the Libyans. Although the Libyans were issued with permits for 21 AK-47 assault rifles, when the weapons were checked in at a Durban hotel, they had multiplied to 48. Protocol allows for four firearms to be carried by a president's personal detail, although special permits are sometimes issued. Once a foreign leader is in South Africa, his security is regarded as the responsibility of the South African President.

There was another near-calamity when heads of state convened for a meeting and there was a scuffle between security forces and the Libyan bodyguards. The security officer said: "He [Colonel Gaddafi] jeopardised security here and now he's going to jeopardise the security of all the civilians all the way to Mozambique." Although Colonel Gaddafi's travel arrangements are supposed to be a closely guarded secret, insiders say his convoy will pass through Swaziland, Mozambique and Kenya on a self-promotional tour that will continue all the way to Libya. There are indications that Colonel Gaddafi will fly to each country along the route, leaving a brother to anchor the roadshow. A source close to Colonel Gaddafi's delegation said one of the 10 armoured cars in his entourage was fitted with a jamming device which disrupts all electronic and radio signals in the vicinity of the security-conscious Libyan leader. The device, which is clearly visible on the roof of one of the vehicles, is reputedly designed to ensure that any electrical remote-control to detonate a bomb in the vicinity of Colonel Gaddafi's car would be neutralised until the leader was well out of range. Libyan officials declined to comment on the jamming device. A South African police spokesperson refused to discuss "security issues" or whether South Africa had given permission for the device to be used.

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The Herald

Murder victim cremated

By Elton Dzikiti
ROBERT THOMPSON, the Harare teenager who was shot dead by suspected robbers
early this week, was cremated yesterday after a heart-rending funeral
service at a Borrowdale church.

The 17-year-old St John's College pupil was shot in the head by one of four
suspects who broke into their Greendale North house on Monday night and
threatened his mother with pistols. Thompson had jumped onto one of the
suspects trying to wrestle away the gun pointed at his mother when another
suspect shot him at point blank, killing him on the spot.

Hundreds of people of mixed races, including pupils from St John's College,
Chisipite Senior School and Gateway High School, attended the service at the
Northside Community Church.

As the coffin, draped in a navy blue velvet cloth with gold embroidery, lay
just below the stage several people gave testimonials over the life of the
sixth form student they were bidding farewell.

His younger brother, Alex, described his sibling as an honest, reliable,
friendly, determined, trustworthy and caring person. He recalled their
upbringing when they would have sibling rivalry that would at times end up
in fights but said: ". . . I would go through the pain and fight a million
times over without regret."

He described the Monday incident that robbed them of his only brother as
tragic.

Robert's cousin and best friend, Duncan Gard, said the teenager was of a
stable character and had an easy and affectionate smile.

Robert's father, Peter, eulogised his son, whom he described at one time as
an independent child who, however, made friends easily and quickly.

The teenager was also courageous, he added, as could be evidenced by the
episode that sadly ended his life at a tender age.

"He is another victim of circumstances . . . but he is just not another
victim, he is our son."

After the ceremony, Mr Thompson recited to The Herald events of the fateful
night that led to his son's death. After hearing screams from his wife,
Ingrid, who was in the dining room alone, he and his sons, who were
elsewhere in the house, ran to investigate. They found about five males, two
of them armed with guns, threatening her.

"Robert tried to tackle one of them but another simply shot him at point
blank. They left the house thereafter without taking anything," said Mr
Thompson, his voice filled with emotion and his fingers shaking.

Asked if he thought the murder could have been as a result of a botched
robbery, Mr Thompson said he was not sure.

"It could have been anything."

Meanwhile, a police spokesperson for Harare Province said reasonable
progress had been made in investigations to arrest the suspected murderers.
She, however, could not give further details for fear of jeopardising
investigations.
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From the govt mouth-piece - The Herald...................
US judgment illegal

Court Reporter
ZIMBABWE does not recognise the judgments of foreign courts, which arrogate
to themselves jurisdiction over matters that have nothing to do with the
sovereignty of their own countries, the Zimbabwe embassy in the United
States said yesterday.

The embassy was commenting on the judgment by a New York court on a case
brought by Mr Elliot Pfebve, the MDC losing candidate for Bindura in the
June 2000 Parliamentary election and other party activists against President
Mugabe and Zanu-PF.

The MDC activists had sued President Mugabe under a 211-year-old law which
gives United States courts jurisdiction in cases where international law has
been violated.

A judge dismissed the case against the Zimbabwe Government and President
Mugabe on premises of diplomatic immunity, but New York judge, James Francis
ruled against the President.

Francis awarded US$73 million (Z$4,02 billion) in damages to the alleged
victims of political violence, most of whom are MDC activists allegedly
tortured or killed by alleged ruling party supporters.

The embassy said neither the Government of Zimbabwe nor Zanu-PF had ever
been party to the proceedings in New York.

"The alleged case brought by Elliot Pfebve and others against President
Mugabe before a New York district court has no legal nexus with New York.
The events are supposed to have taken place in Zimbabwe, the plaintiffs and
the defendants are Zimbabweans and none have any connection with New York.
There is a system of courts in Zimbabwe and the highest court is the Supreme
Court," said the embassy in a statement.

There was no basis for a court of a foreign state assuming legal
administration over any Zimbabwean citizen, it said, adding that the
so-called trial was no more than political harassment.

"Whether such a court sits in New York, or on Anti-Arctica, or on the moon,
the effect is the same: it is just a kangaroo court bereft of jurisdiction."

The Zimbabwe Government had warned the US government that the New York court
was acting in violation of international law by trying President Mugabe in
their courts.

"The US government accepted that point of view and duly made representations
to the court on a point of law that President Mugabe and his ministers are
covered by diplomatic immunity and cannot be served with process or tried in
any USA court, even if the case had happened in New York.

"The New York judge had to accept the force of the legal argument. Having
done so the honourable next step was to dismiss the case altogether," said
the embassy.

But the New York judge, said the embassy, was determined to "convict" at all
cost and decided to try President Mugabe as a leader of his political party,
Zanu-PF.

"That is clearly shifting the goal posts. Next time the judge might try
President Mugabe as Chief of the Zvimba tribe or some other capacity."

By its persistent attempts to harass and embarrass President Mugabe, the New
York court had only succeeded in entangling itself into knots of legal
contradictions in the eyes of all thinking andfair minded people.

"If there was any service of process it was only on the President of
Zimbabwe and his ministers and this was illegal and null and void ab
initio," the embassy said.

"Neither the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe nor Zanu-PF have ever
been to the court proceedings in New York. They will therefore not recognise
any purported judgment emanating from Marero's kangaroo court. They dismiss
them as illegal and null and void from beginning to end."
MDC launches UK-funded campaign to taint Zim

Phillip Magwaza
A British-funded "Save Zimbabwe Campaign" was recently launched in Durban by
the MDC secretary for External Affairs, Ms Sekai Holland.

A British public relations company called Chelgate is running the campaign.

The launch, which was done through a pre-recorded video clip, according to
the Business Tribune, was played at a Press conference in Durban.

Sources have said that the Westminster Foundation and the Labour government
fund the campaign.

The campaign, which has also been endorsed, according to Ms Holland, by
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, a grouping of non-governmental organisations
is aimed at demonising the country and sending false video clips on the
alleged human rights abuses by the Government.

The media campaign is also aimed at national and international
organisations, individuals and governments with the help of the British
government.

The video shows MDC leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai appealing to the African
Union to condemn President Mugabe and his Government.

Ms Holland is quoted as refusing to divulge the people sponsoring the
campaign. The launch was marred by the media's attack on the campaign as a
foreign-funded political gimmick run by international intelligence units and
the British government.

British High Commissioner Mr Brian Donnelly is suspected of being an
intelligence diplomat.

His role in the Yugoslav Milosevic era is well chronicled and sources said
he was brought to Zimbabwe, specifically to ensure that President Mugabe's
government goes out of power.

Mr Donnelly has, however, dismissed the claims that he is a man on a
mission.

Ms Honey yesterday refuted that the Labour Party was involved in the
exercise. But this is because under the Foreign Funding Act, it is illegal
to get funding from foreigners and organisations.

The MDC has been handing out flyers headlined The Changing Times, which ran
an article called MDC Backs "Save Zimbabwe Campaign".

The campaign, couched in MDC language, calls for a re-run of the
presidential election.

Meanwhile, the British High Commission has described as false reports
circulated in British and South African newspapers that the British
government had seized assets belonging to Zanu-PF worth £76 000 ($7
million).

A spokesperson for the British High Commission, Ms Sophie Honey, described
as incorrect yesterday's Herald front page story "UK fakes seizure of Party
assets" which was carried by both The Daily News and Independent said it was
incorrect.

"This is of course untrue. The UK has frozen the accounts of two members of
Zanu-PF who are subject to targeted sanctions under the EU Common Position
of 18 February. The accounts contained a total of £76 000.

"These are the facts as stated by members of the British government in
Parliament on 21 March and July 8.

"The British government is under legal obligation to provide true and
accurate information to Parliament,'' read Ms Honey's response.

The Zanu-PF deputy secretary for information and publicity, Professor
Jonathan Moyo, said: "What Zanu-PF members own can never be said to be
Zanu-PF property except in the minds of incompetent and desperate British
intelligence operatives."

It is understood that as part of the campaign against Zimbabwe, British
intelligence operatives were planning smear campaigns and character
assassinations of certain key figures in Government.

Ms Honey refused to divulge the names of the two Zanu-PF officials that the
British claimed had assets frozen.

"It is privileged information that we cannot divulge the personal accounts
of people," said Ms Honey.

Zanu-PF has more than three million members and any business entrepreneur or
sympathiser could have his assets frozen, and this used for propaganda
purposes to demonise the country.

The story by British papers with coincidentally the same wording was
headlined "Britain Freezes Mugabe Cash".

Ms Honey could not explain why cash belonging to the so-called Zanu-PF membe
rs could be linked to President Mugabe.

Professor Jonathan Moyo described the story as relying on phantom assets.

The only asset that the government had was the Zimbabwe High Commission and
the British have been challenged to produce evidence of a single cent that
President Mugabe owes and this they have failed to do.
More from The Herald.....

Farrakhan arrives on three-day visit

Political Reporter
THE leader of the Nation of Islam of the United States Mr Louis Farrakhan
yesterday arrived in the country on a three-day visit where he is expected
to deliver his solidarity message to President Mugabe.

Speaking soon after his arrival from South Africa where he had gone to
witness the launch of the African Union, Mr Farrakhan said he was in full
support of President Mugabe's policies especially the land issue as it was
aimed at correcting a historical injustice.

Mr Farrakhan, who is on a peace mission of the Middle East and Africa, said
he respected Cde Mugabe for his stance against Western manoeuvres to
undermine the sovereignty of Zimbabwe.

**********
Manicaland Runs Out of Resettlement Land: says Muchinguri ...

July 12, 2002


Manicaland province, which has 40 000 people awaiting resettlement, has run
out of land, the Governor, Cde Oppah Muchinguri, has said.

Briefing the National Land Task Force team led by Minister of Local
Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Ignatius Chombo, in
Mutare this week, Cde Muchinguri said the province had an acute shortage of
land.

and more.........
Farmer vandalises property

Herald Reporter
A white commercial farmer destroyed and vandalised property and equipment
worth several millions of dollars at his Buena Vista Farm in Ruwa after the
Government issued him with an eviction order.

The farmer, with the help of some of his workers, this week destroyed part
of the farmhouse, irrigation pipes, engines, a tobacco drying plant and a
vast flower garden. He also vandalised electrical cables and uprooted some
vegetables from his garden.

Newly resettled farmers at the farm said they watched helplessly while the
farmer, who set loose his two ferocious dogs and was armed with a pistol,
ordered his workers to destroy the farmhouse and vandalise equipment on the
farm.

The farmer is understood to also own Cynabbar Farm in Ruwa where he is now
staying.

Community head of the newly resettled farmers Cde Sebastian Tabvakare
yesterday said all irrigation overhead pipes had been vandalised while other
pipes were sealed with cement. "In some parts of the fields trenches were
dug and the pipes smashed," he said.

The Commercial Farmers Union spokesperson, Mrs Jane Williams, said her
association would make a full investigation of the matter.

"There is need to investigate the background of the matter first."

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, Cde Joseph Made,
recently said commercial farmers who vandalised farm equipment and property
to frustrate the land reform programme would be arrested.

Police spokesman Inspector Andrew Phiri last night said they would fully
investigate the matter. "Section 8 of the Land Acquisition and Amendment Act
makes it unlawful for farmers to vandalise or remove all the equipment on
designated farms. We regard vandalism of equipment on the farms as a very
serious offence and we would urgently investigate the commercial farmer's
activities," Insp Phiri said.
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MSNBC

Zimbabwe's government threatens to seize British property, even that of
charities

ASSOCIATED PRESS

HARARE, Zimbabwe, July 12 - Zimbabwe's government has threatened to seize
British property in retaliation for British efforts to freeze the ruling
party's assets abroad, state media reported Friday.
       Meanwhile, the government of President Robert Mugabe has set an Oct.
31 deadline for media organizations to obtain licenses under strict new
rules governing the press, the privately owned Independent newspaper
reported.
       The government has said all journalists in Zimbabwe must pay for
expensive state licenses. Critics call the move a threat to press freedom.
Twenty four independent journalists have been charged with publishing false
reports under a media bill that became law in March.
       On Wednesday, the British government said it had frozen $117,511 in
assets belonging to Mugabe's party under sanctions imposed by the European
Union against the Zimbabwean leader and his top aides.
       In an interview in the state-run Herald newspaper, Information
Minister Jonathan Moyo said British property here could fall to a similar
fate.
       ''Somebody should remind them there are real British assets in
Zimbabwe, including British donations to non-governmental organizations and
other groups that are bent on causing havoc for the ordinary people,'' he
was quoted as saying.
       Many of those organizations are working to alleviate the nation's
food crisis, which threatens about 6 million people, but the government
accuses them of channeling funds illegally to the opposition.
       Ruling party officials denied the party had any assets in Britain
anyway.
       ''They should not use phantom assets to dare us to take real action
here,'' Moyo was quoted as saying.
       Zimbabwe and Britain, the former colonial ruler, have been in
conflict since Mugabe began his plans two years ago to seize white-owned
farmland. Britain has also protested politically motivated attacks against t
he opposition and a breakdown of law and order across the country.
       Despite the tensions, Britain has given tens of millions of dollars
for famine relief. The British charity Oxfam announced plans on Friday to
supply 11,000 tons of food a month.
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Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 8:37 PM
Subject: INSPIRATION

Hi there, please circulate this letter as widely as possible.
 
12 July 2002 

Dear Friends 

“When the wall is cracked, it will come down;  it’s just a matter of time.”  Dr Caroline Myss

Among the few heartening reports to come out Zimbabwe in recent weeks are two articles in the ZWNEWS of 16 June that reflect a change in attitude: 

The first is from the Sunday Telegraph (16 June), headed: 

Mugabe’s Hungry and Unpaid Stormtroopers Threaten Revolt.

One militia commander (part of the 40 000-strong youth militia), who asked to be known only as David, … said, "We've turned ourselves into killers and thugs - and for what?" asked David, 35. "We have no money, no jobs and no future. All we have is hungry stomachs and bad dreams about what we've done."

He described the missions of murder, abduction and arson on which he sent young men and women earlier this year to help keep Mr Mugabe in power. "We did everything they wanted," he said. "We won the election for them, but they have treated us no better than donkeys. They have used us and thrown us away.

The second is from the Zimbabwe Standard (16 June) and is headed: 

Villagers Shunned in Land Grab

"The so-called fast-track land reform programme swept past us like a whirlwind," a kraal head in the dry Zaka communal area said last week….

“We were just used as pawns by Zanu PF in its desperation to ward off a stiff challenge from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change," said one of the villagers who was last week evicted from a farm near Chivhu……

"We hope one day, by the grace of the Lord, we will have a fair and transparent land reform exercise which will cater for us all," said a distraught farm worker.

Open Letter:  The End Game by Ben Freeth – June 2002

In his recent open letter, Ben Freeth, a regional Commercial Farmers’ Union Officer for Mashonaland West, said that the real question is, “What should we do? What is the right thing to do?  What will happen if we do not do what is right?  ….  If we just ‘hang in there’ without doing anything more than dialoguing, the ethnic cleansing of Nazi Germany scenario is surely not without the realms of possibility. 

In JP Sterms’ book, “The Furher and his People”, he expresses the view that if the church had stood up against the ethnic cleansing of the Jewish people, the holocaust would never have happened.

He says that, in Poland in the mid 1970s, the workers’ defence committee decided to start acting in the way they thought society should become.  If you want freedom of speech, speak freely.  If you want an open society, act openly.  If you love the truth, tell the truth.  They started to hold meetings with known informers in their midst…  They wrote newspaper articles  and handed them out on street corners ….

They discovered that inner freedom gives sustenance, even when external freedom is snatched away.  Against all odds they clung to the fundamental principles of truth and justice, despite the fear of imprisonment and worse.  One man wrote, ‘the power of fearlessness is astonishing.’”

Man’s Search for Meaning

In the final section of Dr Victor Frankl’s book on the Nazi Holocaust, “Man’s Search for Meaning”, Dr Frankl discusses the fact that life is potentially meaningful under any conditions, even those which are most miserable.  He writes: “This in turn presupposes the human capacity to creatively turn life’s negative aspects into something positive or constructive.”

“… I speak of a tragic optimism, that is, an optimism in the face of tragedy and in view of the human potential at which its best always allows for:

·         Turning suffering into a human achievement and accomplishment

·         Deriving from guilt the opportunity to change oneself for the better, and

·         Deriving from life’s transitoriness an incentive to take responsible action.

…The world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best.   Since Auschwitz we know what man is capable of….”

The Diary of Anne Frank

In July 1942 Anne Frank and her family, fleeing the horrors of Nazi occupation, hid in the back of an Amsterdam warehouse.  She described vividly in her diary the frustrations of living in such confined quarters, the constant threat of discovery, the hunger and fear.  Despite being exposed to the horrors of the holocaust, however, she was still able to write in her diary, “I still believe that man is basically good.”

Crimes Against Humanity

If this is the case, and if man is basically good, then it follows that the majority of those who have been drawn into crimes against humanity in Zimbabwe are doing so against their own beliefs and value systems, which is a very painful place to be.  The newspaper articles quoted confirm this:  “We have turned ourselves into killers and thugs… and all we have is hungry stomachs and bad dreams….”

Shift in Consciousness

I believe that we can use this shift in consciousness taking place right now in Zimbabwe to turn the situation around.  If enough people want to effect change, and are prepared to work together as a cohesive unit, then change can be achieved, despite what may at this point appear to be insurmountable difficulties.  If the overwhelming numbers want and demand change, it has to happen.   The minority can only hold down the majority for so long.  Good has to triumph over evil.

Power

There is a quotation:  “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”  The government thrives on inertia and, if we are to achieve change, we have to overcome the inertia that is currently dragging so many people down. 

According to Dr Caroline Myss PhD, “power is the life force…” and one of the reasons we are on this earth is to learn the management of our power.  Every situation relates to power.  If we give away our power to people or situations, the experience will be repeated in different ways until we learn the lesson.

She writes:  “The appetite for power can become an addiction that challenges the will of God.  The craving for power for power’s sake alone is the subject of numerous scriptures and myths of humans who are ultimately humbled by Divine design….  Gandhi had a clean rapport with power.  His desire to improve the lives of the people of India had transpersonal more than personal motivations…”

Caroline continues that: “Managing the power of choice, with all its creative and spiritual implications, is the essence of the human experience…. Choice is the process of creation itself…. Make your choices wisely, because each choice you make is a creative act of spiritual power for which you are held responsible….  Further, any choice made from faith has the full power of heaven behind it – which is why ‘faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain.’   And any choice made from fear is a violation of the energy of faith….”

William Jennings Bryan says that “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.”

In “Illusions”, Richard Bach says:  “Within each of us lies the power of our consent…. to freedom and to slavery.  It is we who control these, and not another.”

Courage

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”  Anais Nin

What is most admirable about so many Zimbabweans during this traumatic time is the immense courage they have shown in the face of overwhelming odds.  The stories that continue to inspire us will, one day soon, inspire the whole world.

As Ben Freeth said in his letter:  “If everyone does what is right and exposes what is wrong and evil, and does so with courage and direction, not counting the cost, we will win through.”

The Way Forward

Everybody I have met – without exception - who has visited Zimbabwe in past years talks about the wonderful people they met: how warm, friendly, open, genuine and thoroughly decent they were.  They talk about the beauty of the country and of how much they would like to return again one day.

All Zimbabweans need once again to believe in themselves.  We have amazing people, live in a remarkable country and, despite overwhelming difficulties in past years, we have achieved so much.  We cannot let all of this slip from our fingers and allow the country to slide into chaos and anarchy.  We cannot let Zimbabwe die.  We owe it not only to ourselves, but to our children.  The Native American Indians say that you have to look to seven generations ahead, not just to one generation. 

This is indeed a responsibility.

Having suffered immensely themselves throughout their painful history, their message is that we should all be respectful, humble, compassionate and loving.  “Only when we love one another can we get along together - it is quite simple…. We have two options:  either we are faced with more chaos, or we learn to unite spiritually.”

They say that everyone learns from their nation and, “from our Buffalo Nation we have learnt to always face the wind.”

Co-creation

It is time now for Zimbabwe to face the wind.  It is time for everyone in the country to reach out to his or her fellow beings and to unite in a common purpose.  Consider Dr Stephen Covey’s principles:  “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”:

·         Be proactive

·         Begin with the end in mind

·         Put first things first

·         Seek first to understand, and then to be understood

·         Think win-win

·         Synergise (capitalize on each other’s strengths to achieve a common purpose)

·         Sharpen the saw (take time out, spend time in reflection and prayer, re-energise)

All of us are in this together.  It will take everybody’s commitment to get us out.  We need to reach out to our friends and associates, colleagues, co-workers, employees – everyone, to come up with solutions together.  How can we help those who are starving, those without clothes, those who incarcerated in prison, with no recourse to the law, those who have been beaten and injured, those without hope….?

Co-creation requires us to take the first step in faith.  “Leap and the net will appear.”  Remember, whatever we put into the act of co-creation, God, or the universe, will put in – in equal measure.  “Begin to weave, and God will provide the thread.   In the delightful little book, “Mister God, This is Anna”, Anna – who is just six years old – says: “We have to become a working part of God.”

Zimbabwe Rescue

An international Zimbabwe Rescue Operation is currently being mounted.   It requires the support of people around the globe - and there are many, many people committed to giving Zimbabwe their support.  Numerous people are already doing so behind the scenes.  The project will involve people of all ages and from all walks of life.  It will be a powerful force for good.

Internal Campaign

On its own, however, an external programme cannot succeed.  It also needs overwhelming commitment from within the country to effect urgent change.  All of us, during this painful, turbulent and destructive period, will have been asking ourselves why this has happened.  We have had to dig deeply and honesty for answers and collectively find solutions.

Vision

As a Zimbabwean said to me recently, we have lost our vision.  To move forward, we have to rediscover that vision and broadcast it countrywide.  

The Bible says that, “Without a vision, the people perish.” 

Ben Freeth concludes in his letter:  “So long as evil is allowed to flourish, our people will leave and death and destruction will continue.  I have heard it said that it would be suicide to do what is right.  I believe it is suicidal not to.   Let us not be afraid, for with God we shall always be in the majority.”

Let’s take courage from the words of President Mandela.  We have to believe in ourselves and we have to believe in the future of Zimbabwe.

FROM NELSON MANDELA’S INAUGURAL SPEECH

AS PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA – 1994 

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant,

gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God –

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.

There is nothing enlightening about shrinking

so that other people will not feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God

that is within us.

It is not in just some of us;  it is in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

We unconsciously give people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.

 Take heart, may God bless you all and lead you out of this darkness. 

G.S.
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Guthrie was one of the VERY many who stood up & told his story 2 Saturdays ago at the interdenominational service( against torture) at St Mary's Cathedral in Byo . He is one of thousands who have been tortured by this thug govt...he got off comparitively lightly.....many have died, whilst others have suffered permanent physical & psychological  damage.  We listened to some of their stories too. It was heartbreaking, & extremely harrowing to hear those terrible testimonies coming from the victims themselves....we all wept...& I came home feeling absolutely crushed. Perhaps by listening & witnessing one feels tainted by the incomprehensible evil involved in those terrifying & nightmarish experiences? One can't help but feel that it is indeed true that when  these soulless monstrously cruel creatures(they can not be human) exact their barbaric acts on helpless , terrified people, they in fact destroy themselves.
 
 Let us all pray that with God's grace, there is an end to it soon.                       C.
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