Father & son doing 85 mile sponsored cycled ride - Saturday 24 July

Father & son doing 85 mile sponsored cycled ride from Elim Salisbury to the Zimbabwe Vigil London this Saturday (24th July)

Children are the future of any nation, and inspired by the documentary “Zimbabwe’s forgotten children’ I hope you will support this ride to raise much needed funds to enable children orphaned as a result of HIV/Aids to get the opportunity of an education and support to develop their full potential. I haven’t cycled seriously in 35 years but supported by my younger son Michael, will we be leaving Salisbury at 6am from Elim Christian Centre. Heading along the old London road we aim to arrive before 3pm having completed the 85 miles at 429 the Strand London, home of the Zimbabwe London Vigil. My older son David will be driving the support vehicle with my wife Joyce in the passenger seat to keep us going and for moral support!!

If you would like to sponsor us please email me for a postal sponsor form at adriansmale@virginmedia.com, and you can track our progress on twitter by following us www.twitter.com/adriansmale &/or www.twitter.com/mikeysmale

I look forward to seeing you at the Vigil on Saturday. God bless you,
Adrian Smale

Constitution Outreach: News Round-Up, 19 July - 22 July

Sokwanele - Enough is Enough - Zimbabwe
PROMOTING NON-VIOLENT PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVE DEMOCRACY

Constitution Outreach: News Round-Up, 19 July - 22 July
Sokwanele : 22 July 2010

The constitution outreach programme this week after a one week break. These are media extracts appearing between 19 July - 22 July. To review previous news items, or follow updates daily, please visit the Constitution Resource page on the Sokwanele website. Please note that links to sources and full articles are also available on the resource page. These extracts are being emailed to our subscribers today – click here to sign up for our newsletter or send an email with the word 'subscribe' in the title to info@sokwanele.com

19 July 2010

‘War vets’ want members to be apolitical

An organisation representing former freedom fighters says it wants its members to be apolitical and is fighting to have this included in the new constitution. The Zimbabwe Liberation Platform, ZLP, a liberal organisation that claims to be “a progressive section of former independence war fighters championing democracy and social equality” told The Zimbabwean that war veterans needed to regain their independence to avoid being manipulated by selfish politicians. Chairman of ZLP, Maxwell Mkandla said his organisation will demand radical changes to the War Veterans Act and call for the scrapping of all constitutional provisions that give ex-combatants preferential treatment ahead of every other Zimbabwean. The War Veterans Act provides for a monthly pension for life, free education for the former fighters children and for 20 percent of land acquired by the government to be reserved for ex-combatants among other benefits. “We now have a situation where some of those who participa ted in the armed struggle are holding the nation to ransom with endless financial and other demands as if they are a special breed of Zimbabweans.” Mkandla said. "That has to come to an end if we are to progress as a nation and the new constitution should guarantee that,”. [Via The Zimbabwean]

Association threatens No Vote if disabled needs are left out

Rehabilitation Technicians Association of Zimbabwe has resolved to oppose the constitution draft document during the referendum if the disabled are discriminated from participating in the on- going constitution making process. The Association members who met recently at St Giles Rehabilitation Centre to deliberate issues concerning the plight of the profession and those of the disabled people said they were not happy with the way The Constitution Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) was treating the disabled at the on-going constitution making process. “It has come to our attention that the disabled are being sidelined in the on-going constitution making process, and we want to put the record straight that we are definitely going to advocate for a NO vote to the draft constitution come referendum time if this continues. “We want to urge COPAC to respect the views of these people and recognise the injustices done to them. As rehabilitation technicians we value the rights of the disabled because that’s the people who make us exist. What we are saying is that the rights of these people should be captured in the new constitution,” said the Association’s Bulawayo province representative Hillary Chibaya in an interview. At the start of the outreach, COPAC in Matabeleland discriminated a disabled member of the team against attending the induction programme that was being held on the first floor of Governor Angeline Masuku’s offices [Via The Zimbabwean].

20 July 2010

The MDC’s Constitution principles

The MDC-T publish their constitution principles via their official newsletter. We've posted them on our blog here: http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/5875 [Via The Real Change Times]

More Logistical Problems Reported in Zimbabwe Constitutional Outreach Process

More problems cropped up this week as Zimbabwe's constitutional revision outreach process geared up again following a one-week break as more than 40 outreach team members were refused access to hotel rooms in Orange Grove and Chinhoyi Caves in Mashonaland West province because organizers had not pre-paid accommodation. Parliamentary Select Committee Co-Chairman Douglas Mwonzora said the incident resulted from a misunderstanding between the United Nations Development Program, which is funding the exercise, and the hotels concerned. He told VOA Studio 7 reporter Jonga Kandemiiri efforts were being made to settle the dispute [Via VOA News].

Zim parties to talk reconciliation

The top leaders of Zimbabwe’s three ruling parties will tomorrow meet to discuss ways to end political violence and how to quicken national healing and reconciliation, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party said in a statement Monday. “The three national executive bodies from the three main political parties in the Global Political Agreement (GPA) meet in Harare on Wednesday to map out how best they can deal with the issue of the snail’s pace of national healing and politically motivated intimidation among other critical issues,” the MDC said in a statement. “This is a ground-breaking meeting in the history of Zimbabwe as the three executive bodies of the MDC, ZANU PF and Professor Arthur Mutambara’s party meet to hold a crucial indaba on how to deal with political violence and intimidation affecting the people of Zimbabwe. This historic meeting must deal with the intimidation and violence surrounding the Constitution-making process so that the people will make their contributions in an environment of peace and tolerance," the party said [Via ZimOnline]

Senior MDC official assaulted during COPAC meeting

A senior MDC official taking part in a constitutional outreach meeting was on Monday severely assaulted in front of the police, who shockingly did nothing to arrest the culprits who are alleged to be ZANU PF officials. The incident took place at Kaziro Business Centre, Madziva in Shamva North, Mashonaland Central province, on the day the consultative meetings resumed after a week long break [...] ‘The attack took place in full view of the police, the COPAC leadership and participants to the outreach program. The reason for the attack is that she submitted a written proposal to the COPAC team. The attackers are well known ZANU PF officials who branded our chairlady a sell-out for freely airing her sentiments during the meeting,’ [Morgan Komichi, the MDC-T’s deputy national organising secretary] said. He added; ‘They brazenly reminded her that in 2008, they burnt down homes belonging to MDC supporters and that this time they would kill people. What pains me is that instead of a rresting the attackers, the police simply escorted her to their vehicle and drove her home in order to calm the situation down.’ Komichi said the incident confirmed the lethargic attitude from the police, with regard to the way they deal with ZANU PF individuals who break the law. He said participants to that meeting were seriously let down by the law enforcement officers [Via Sw Radio Africa].

Nothing should stop us from writing our own Constitution

Comment by Lawrence Paganga in The Real Change Times, MDC: "The people of Zimbabwe want a Constitution that is progressive, which at the end of the day will be a lasting legacy to future generations. We don’t want a Constitution that turns a blind eye to basic human rights abuses like the current situation in Zimbabwe where even a 15 year-old school kid can claim to be a former freedom fighter [...] We know that the Zanu PF was against the drafting of a new, people driven Constitution in favour of the current one which it could use in manipulating the electoral system in order to fraudulently stay in power [...] What Zanu PF is doing is derailing the whole process so that Zimbabweans will not be able to make a Constitution that makes it difficult to rig polls.However, the people of Zimbabwe are going to shoot dead these Zanu PF positions in a free and fair referendum.As a country, the attitude being portrayed by Zanu PF will not take the country anywhere" [Via the MDC' s 'The Real Change Times'].

Zanu PF youth fails to disrupt Kariba meeting

In Kariba, a Zanu PF youth failed to disrupt a constitution meeting after the crowd demanded that the meeting should take place because it was cleared by the police. It was reported that members of the military are allegedly meeting church leaders demanding that they tell their parishioners to adopt Zanu PF's position on the content of the current constitution or risk facing unspecified action. COPAC is yet to conduct meetings in the report town [Via The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition].

21 July 2010

Zimbabwe Assembles US$8M Supplementary Budget for Constitutional Outreach

Zimbabwean Minister of Constitutional Affairs Eric Matinenga said Wednesday that the government with the help of international donors has put together a supplementary budget of some US$8 million for the often-troubled public outreach phase of the country's constitutional revision process expected to conclude in September, followed by drafting [...] Co-Chairman Douglas Mwonzora of the parliamentary select committee running the constitutional revision process, said more funds were needed to complete the outreach as it was extended by 23 days on top of 65 days planned. Mwonzora said the outreach process, initially plagued by organizational and technical problems, is now running smoothly despite reports some drivers were threatening a strike because they had not been paid. Some outreach team members received allowances this week, but sources said drivers received no explanation as to why they were left out [Via Voa News].

Diasporans to have say on constitution

The MDC (Mutambara) in South Africa wants to present a united voice over the making of a new constitution on behalf of people living outside Zimbabwe. The administration secretary for Arthur Mutambara’s MDC said they represented Zimbabweans in South Africa in the political field and wanted to send people’s views to COPAC. Ngqabutho Dube said they would be holding a meeting with the MDC (Tsvangirai), Zapu and the Matabeleland Freedom Party at the weekend to talk over the issue. He said: “We have agreed to meet with ten people from each party to deliberate on the final draft to be sent to Zimbabwe.” The purpose of the meeting, he said, was to put differences aside, act in common purpose and submit a strong argument on behalf of Zimbabweans in South Africa. They would decide on the documents needed to qualify to vote in a foreign land [Via The Zimbabwean].

Mugabe embraces polygamy to win elections

Regurgitating what the polygamous apostolic sect members wanted to hear during their annual pilgrimage in eastern Zimbabwe, Mr Mugabe declared: “Our Constitution allows polygamy. We will not force people into monogamous marriages. It’s there in the Bible; Solomon wasn’t only given wealth but many wives too. But we say no to gays! We will not listen to those advocating for inclusion of homosexual rights in the Constitution”. Observed political analyst Mike Mgutshini, “Since Mugabe was already in an election campaign mood, he avoided telling the apostolic pilgrims about all the wrongs they are notorious for. He should have told them that they should avoid multiple sexual partnerships which spread HIV/AIDS rapidly. He should have also discouraged some of their so-called ‘prophets’ from lying to desperate people that AIDS can be cured by water or raping of minors. While we applaud Mr Mugabe for encouraging the sect members to send girls to school, we are dismayed that he forgo t to urge them to send their children for immunisation in order to avoid the child mortality rate from soaring. President Mugabe also forgot to discourage the apostolic faithful from illegally dealing in foreign currency at most street corners” [Via Radio Netherlands].

Copac sued over Press statement

Three men who last month lost a case against the Constitutional Parliamentary Select Committee (Copac) have once again dragged the body to the courts seeking an interdict from publishing any Press statement regarding them. Mr Qhubekani Dube, Mr Mqondisi Moyo and Mr Phathisani Nondo want Copac to prepare a public apology and retraction on all eight newspapers [...] with a minimum of two advertisements or publication of such an apology within seven days of granting of the order. [...] In his founding affidavit, Mr Dube states that they are members of a civic society organisation known as Ibhetshu likaZulu, which is a pressure group advocating for equitable development of all parts of the country. They say they were shocked after being initially selected to be part of the outreach teams when they read a notice published by Copac in Chronicle on 11 June 2010 listing the names of individuals who are part of the outreach teams set to commence the process of gathering people’s vi ews on 19 June. “As it can be gleamed from advertisements, the obvious insinuation is that I and the other applicants are criminals and members of the public should be wary of us. A stigma is attached to us that we are undesirable elements and have or are about to interfere with the constitution-making process,” said Mr Dube [Via The Chronicle - state-controlled media].

Constitution: A nation divided against itself

Comment by Psychology Maziwisa, Union for Sustainable Democracy: The point is that, while the involvement of civil society in a democracy is fundamental, the fact that it is not at the forefront of the drafting process does not render the resultant constitution any less people-driven [...] If there are reservations about the content of the new Zimbabwean constitution, it should not be because the ZCTU or, worse still, the NCA and ZINASU, elected not to be part of that process or merely because their ‘important’ input was disregarded. It will be because the people’s views were not sought or that their ability to express them was curtailed [Via Sw Radio Africa].

ZANU PF goes on a crowd shopping spree…

ZANU PF has gone desperate to the levels of busing party sympathizers to come and sail its party agenda through. This has been exposed during COPAC meetings that were convened in the CBD of Bindura. Most of the participants were offloaded by a green identified Nissan Van which was full of dust justifying the fact that it was coming from the rural areas. Most of the participants were seen holding mini-scripts, with some of the ZANU PF supporter’s failing to decode the information written on the uniform piece of papers [Via CHRA Constitution Watch - 21 July].

Mwonzora “cry baby” statement Sparks Outrage

Legislators and members of the constitutional outreach teams have expressed dismay in a recent statement (interpreted as an insult) by one of the Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) co-chairpersons who said they had become cry babies demanding for luxuries [...] Following COPAC’s one week break last week, teams staying in Chinhoyi for Mashonaland West’s outreach meetings have gone for two days without food at their respective hotels who are demanding settlement of bills which accrued in the first phase of the views gathering process ending last week and which neither government nor the Mwonzora-led organisation has managed to pay for. On Tuesday, 21 team members were evicted from Chinhoyi caves hotel owing to an estimated US$21 500 in arrears. The team members have since been booked at St Peters Catholic boarding house in the town. Team members staying at Orange Groove Motel and Chinhoyi University of Technology hotel are not getting food with the hotels demanding a sett lement of their dues: “Mwonzora’s utterances are an insult to us. It is disappointing to hear him claim that we have become cry babies when they (COPAC) are failing to provide basic food allowances let alone payment to hotels where we are housed. Mwonzora should just shut up and sort the rot at COPAC where there is a lot of bureaucracy and lack of respect for the people who are working in the field. We have not demanded any luxury but is it a crime to express ourselves when we are disgruntled,” said one member who refused to be named [Via ZimEye].

‘Allocate more days to outreach programme’

The proposal by the Constitution Parliamentary Committee (Copac) to hold its outreach exercise in Bulawayo for a day has sparked a war of words with residents saying the move was a deliberate move to deny them a chance to air their views. [Copac co-chairperson, Mr Edward Mkhosi] said the outreach teams would take one day to round up the whole of Bulawayo while Harare would take two days [...] The Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura) chairman, Mr Winos Dube, said it was impossible for the people’s views to be collected in one day. “It is a non-starter. We are saying what makes us different from other provinces. I do not see any system Copac can come up with to capture in one day all the views the people want considered in the constitution,” said Mr Dube. Mr Dube said if Copac went ahead and held the exercise in one day, a lot of people would not have a chance to take part in the important process of drafting the country’s new constitution. Mr Gerald Matiba from the Matabeleland Constitutional Consortium [...] said holding the exercise for one day during the week would be “atrocious” as most people would not be able to attend. Mr Owen Siziba from Emganwini said holding the exercise in one day would not capture the wishes of the people. “That would definitely not be enough unless they are telling us that they will hold the exercise in every suburb in the city. They said they would hold three meetings per ward and they have to stick to that. Maybe they want to write their own constitution and our views do not matter,” said Mr Siziba [Via The Chronicle - state-controlled media]

Zanu-PF denies Chivi outreach programmes’ disruption reports

Zanu-PF has denied reports that some party members were disrupting constitution-making outreach programmes in Chivi. Private media reports have claimed that some Zanu-PF officials had been fingered in disrupting activities of Copac outreach teams in Chivi. Chivi-Mwenezi Senator (Zanu-PF) Cde Josaya Hungwe charged that there was no grain of truth in those reports. Cde Hungwe said reports of alleged disruption of Copac meetings were unfounded and baseless. "Those reports are an act of mischief by those who peddle them and as a party we believe that those behind such allegations have a hidden agenda because there has never been any form of disturbances during the outreach programmes. We want to make it clear that those who have been making those allegations want to create unnecessary panic because they are not happy with what has been taking place on the ground," said Cde Hungwe. Zanu-PF district co-ordinating committee chairman for Chivi, Cde Sanders Magwizi, was accused by some sections of the media of scaring away people he suspected of having MDC-T sympathies from outreach meetings [Via The Herald - state-controlled media].

22 July 2010

Copac teams resume outreach programme

The constitution outreach programme resumed yesterday with officials saying the response in most parts of the country had been good. Parliament Select Committee co-chair Cde Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, however, said the turnout in Matabeleland North and South was low. Copac chairpersons will today visit the two provinces to ascertain causes of the low turnout [...] Addressing members of civic society yesterday; Cde Mangwana said the issue of allowances for outreach teams needed redress. He said all the teams had returned to duty "with a few dropouts" who did not agree with the allowances they have been getting. "There are still complaints with regards to the issue of allowances. The disparity between the allowances is a cause for concern," he said. Rapporteurs are receiving US$100 per day while other outreach team members are getting US$25 [Via The Herald - state-controlled media]

Constitutional Outreach on Verge of Collapse

Constitutional outreach members from all the ten provinces, with drivers and technicians included, are threatening to down their tools due to poor working conditions and a breach of agreements by COPAC. Barely a month after the launch of the Constitutional Outreach, aimed at coming up with a new constitution under the auspices of the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee, threats of its cessation are growing everyday as problems mount. Most hotels have either thrown outreach members onto the streets or have withdrawn meals, leaving outreach members with no choice but to go for weeks buying their own meals. COPAC has failed to come up with a reimbursement scheme or any form of allowance to cover up for their failure to provide full board services, leading to almost everyone affected to complain. There was pandemonium on Wednesday this week in all provinces when finance officers decided to pay team leaders and rapporteurs, leaving out drivers and technicians [Via SW Rad io Africa].

Zim Constitutional Team Heads To Get CIO Security

Zimbabwe’s dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) has been assigned to provide security to the three co-chairpersons of the constitutional parliamentary select committee (COPAC) after one of them was threatened by Zanu (PF) thugs recently. The armed officers have already been deployed with reports that Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) co-chairperson Douglas Mwonzora had refused to take the CIO on board claiming that he had his own aides. The MDC is generally uncomfortable with CIO officers who harassed them while they were still in the opposition. But another co-chairperson Paul Mangwana of Zanu (PF) has reportedly already accepted to move around with the CIO operative while the third co-chairman Edward Mkhosi is also expected to take on board his new bodyguard. The President’s office decided to employ the dreaded CIO on the co-chairmen after Mwonzora was nearly manhandled by overzealous Zanu (PF) supporters in Mashonaland central recently [Via RadioVop].

Two-term presidency ideal — villagers

Villagers in Insiza District, Matabeleland South, have called for a two-term presidency and the devolution of power in the new constitution. In separate interviews with Chronicle yesterday villagers said the two-term presidency was ideal in the running of the country as it allowed for smooth handover of power that did away with conflict. “The constitution that we have so far is not explicit on the actual term that the presidency should have. “The inclusion of this guarantee in the constitution will help limit conflict when someone's term has expired,” said Mr Mandlenkosi Moyo of Ward 12. He said the two-term presidency would allow for newer approaches of leadership. “Most countries in Africa are starting to adopt the two-term presidency and it will be wise for us to adopt it as well,” said Mr Moyo [Via The Chronicle - state-controlled media]

‘Use constitutional process to achieve gender balance’

Zimbabweans should use the ongoing constitutional reform process to ensure 50-50 gender participation in politics and the national economy, Vice President John Nkomo has said. Addressing delegates at the launch of Miss Lozikeyi beauty pageant in Victoria Falls on Saturday, VP Nkomo said Government was committed to promoting women’s interests. "During the Second Chimurenga, women fought alongside their male counterparts until the shackles of colonialism were completely removed," said VP Nkomo in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of State in his Office Flora Bhuka. "Clearly, the spirit of Queen Lozikeyi and other female luminaries like Mbuya Nehanda was their enduring inspiration." [Via The Herald - state-controlled media]

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International court urged to prosecute Mugabe

SW Radio Africa News Stories for 22 July 2010

By Alex Bell

22 July 2010

A leading advocacy group has called for urgent international action to prevent the “looming carnage” in Zimbabwe, warning that the next presidential election will condemn thousands of people to violence, unless there is immediate action.

The group, AIDS-Free World, has urged the United Nations Security Council to take the lead in confronting Robert Mugabe, warning that the “writing is on the wall” for more politically motivated violence ahead of possible elections. The group expressed particular concern for the safety of the country’s women, warning they could face a “grisly repeat” of the politically motivated rape campaign orchestrated by Mugabe during the 2008 elections.

Last year AIDS-Free World released a shock report detailing the horrific rape campaign against Zimbabwe’s women, as part of ZANU PF’s violent strategy to hold on to power. The report, ‘Electing to Rape: Sexual Terror in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe’, documents 380 rapes committed by 241 perpetrators, who all identified themselves to their victims as ZANU PF members. The report also detailed that the figures are just the tip of the iceberg, as many other rape victims are too fearful to come forward. Any kind of justice for the crimes has been nonexistent, and there has been no condemnation or action from either the African Union or the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

AIDS-Free World this week used the report to highlight its concerns at the World Aids Conference, currently underway in Vienna. The group said it is critical for the AIDS movement to act to prevent more violence in Zimbabwe, saying: “Protecting those who are exposed to human rights violations that put them at risk of HIV is a crucial part of HIV prevention.” They explained that 37% of the women they interviewed for their report have since tested positive for HIV.

The group said the evidence contained in their report is enough to prosecute Mugabe and his henchman in ZANU PF for crimes against humanity, and they are now making good on this threat. A meeting has been scheduled for next month with officials from the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where a dossier on the crimes will be handed over for investigation. AIDS-Free World legal and gender advisor, Shonali Shome told SW Radio Africa this is one strategy to end the impunity and silence that still prevails over the rape campaign.

“We are very disappointed at the absolute silence from the (Southern African) region,” Shome said. “We have also yet to see a strong response from the United Nations and again we’re very disappointed.”

Shome explained that there is a sense of urgency to advocate for international action, saying that “all the evidence points towards this kind of violence starting up again.” She expressed concern that there are growing reports of violence across Zimbabwe, where the constitutional outreach programme has seen ZANU PF return to its violent ways. Shome said that it is unacceptable for Africa and the international community to stand by passively and watch as Mugabe “gears up for another campaign of rape and terror to hold on to power.

“The writing is on the wall that this will happen again and it is on us now,” Shome said. “If the international community does not respond, then we are absolutely complicit in what happens.”

The AIDS-Free World report details how the rape campaign unleashed on the country’s female opposition supporters, and often their children, was both widespread and systematic, with recurring patterns. This included the uniform physical and emotional brutality of the rapes, the modes of detention and even location of the rapes, the specific types of beatings, and the consistent refusal by the police to investigate the attacks. Some women were forced to watch the rape of their daughters and murder of their husbands and other family members before or after they were raped. Other women were held as sex slaves in ZANU PF camps for weeks at a time.

The report states that the ZANU PF government was well aware of the rape campaign that, along with the election violence, was masterminded by the Joint Operations Command (JOC). The report goes on to detail Mugabe’s own complicity in the rapes, explaining how he not only knew about the campaign, but also refused to prevent it or punish those responsible.

http://www.swradioafrica.com/pages/Documents/23919945-Electing-to-Rape-Final.pdf

Constitutional Outreach on Verge of Collapse

SW Radio Africa News Stories for 22 July 2010

Simon Muchemwa

22nd July 2010

Constitutional outreach members from all the ten provinces, with drivers and technicians included, are threatening to down their tools due to poor working conditions and a breach of agreements by COPAC.

Barely a month after the launch of the Constitutional Outreach, aimed at coming up with a new constitution under the auspices of the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee, threats of its cessation are growing everyday as problems mount.

Most hotels have either thrown outreach members onto the streets or have withdrawn meals, leaving outreach members with no choice but to go for weeks buying their own meals.

COPAC has failed to come up with a reimbursement scheme or any form of allowance to cover up for their failure to provide full board services, leading to almost everyone affected to complain.

There was pandemonium on Wednesday this week in all provinces when finance officers decided to pay team leaders and rapporteurs, leaving out drivers and technicians.

"How am I expected to buy my own food when I am not being paid in time, it appears COPAC is only considering rapporteurs as important, hence what ever they say is done," complained one driver in Mashonaland West.

COPAC is also accused of failing to adhere to agreements and are changing the goal posts each day.

A technician in Mutare complained that before the recruitment interviews in Harare, a COPAC member announced a fee of $100 per day however during the interviews an offer of $25 was made, leading to the withdrawal of several qualified technicians.

Realising the magnitude of the problem at hand an urgent meeting was held and a one week contract was entered into, with an agreed fee of $65 - $50 per day and $15 for lunch.

"When we got to our provinces all that disappeared and we are now getting only $50 and very late," he added.

"COPAC has failed to stick to the contract agreements. Only rapporteurs signed comprehensive ones whilst those for technicians have since expired. Drivers were offered verbal contracts with a fee of $15 and $10 allowance, but surprisingly they are only getting $15," an MP in Midland said.

"It would appear someone is pocketing some money for his or her own use because of the loopholes in the payment systems, fuel allocation and car hire," a disgruntled ZANU PF member in Masvingo said

Hotels in Masvingo refused to offer dinner, claiming the fee of $60 bed, breakfast and dinner was non profitable.

However an investigation has revealed that some hotels subcontracted small lodges, which are much cheaper than hotels, for less than $60, although the donor who is funding this – the United Nations Development Fund - continues to pay them $60 per head per day.

On Wednesday COPAC head office in Milton Park, Harare was overwhelmed with calls from outreach members who sought explanations, which never came.

In Chinhoyi drivers threatened to park their cars until Mr Kunjeku offered to address teams separately at their hotels. This followed the ousting of some outreach members from the Orange Groove Motel and Chinhoyi Caves Hotel for non payment on Monday.

Affected members were later offered a makeshift home at a Roman Catholic Church and some left in a huff.

MDC Ministers in London to woo donors and investors

SW Radio Africa News Stories for 22 July 2010

By Lance Guma

22 July 2010

Three cabinet ministers from the two MDC formations, plus Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, were in London on Thursday addressing two separate meetings that sought to woo investors and donors to help with Zimbabwe’s economic recovery. The ministers were accompanied by their permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants from their ministries.

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Senator David Coltart, addressed a conference to drum up support for the education sector. The conference was put together by the Commonwealth Consortium for Education and the Link Community Development. Present at the meeting were several donor agencies and NGO’s working in the field of education and Coltart pitched his future plans for rehabilitating the education sector in Zimbabwe.

Across town in Westminster, Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara, cabinet ministers Joel Gabbuza (Public Works) and Sam Sipepa Nkomo (Water Resources) attended an investment conference organized by the Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers. Among those invited to speak was Econet’s CEO Douglas Mboweni, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the UK Gabriel Machinga and former Industry and Trade Minister Nkosana Moyo, now Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the African Development Bank.

The Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers said the conference was “intended to bring together the government of Zimbabwe, diplomats, engineers, consultants, investors, financiers, fund managers and multi-national companies, to examine infrastructure investment opportunities in the four key areas of water, sanitation, transportation, energy and ICTs.”

Newsreel spoke to Senator Coltart on the sidelines of the education conference and asked him how the coalition hoped to resolve the challenges facing the country if their ZANU PF partners continued pulling in a different direction and continued with their endless human rights violations. Coltart said there were elements in ZANU PF that were determined to see the coalition collapse.

“It’s very difficult given there are elements within ZANU PF who don’t like this agreement, in fact who hate it and who want to break it and they, I believe are the ones behind these egregious acts. They are the ones directing these prosecutions and directing ongoing farm invasions. Their purpose is clear. To keep the international community disengaged, to try to force the combined MDC formations to walk away from this agreement.’

Coltart said although they could not dismiss or ignore these actions they had to find a way to work around them and ‘have in mind that the ultimate goal is this transition.’ He said they were hoping a new constitution, new electoral laws and the freeing up of the media would lead to a free and fair election or at the very least an election better than the one held last time.

A participant in the meeting questioned the minister on what impact the sale of diamonds, recently approved by the Kimberly Process, would have on the attempts to revamp the education sector. Coltart found it difficult to answer this and admitted he was going to be vague, saying they were trying to put measures in place to ensure money from the diamonds would find its way into state coffers and not just into the hands of the ruling elite.

There has been criticism that while Mugabe’s regime focus on retaining power they are using the MDC face of the government to go around the world asking for money to rebuild the country. On Thursday it was there for all to see, with 3 cabinet ministers from the MDC formations doing the PR for the government in a western country, while ZANU PF appointed permanent secretaries and other probable CIO minders looked on.

MDC-T ward chairman arrested in Mutare

SW Radio Africa News Stories for 22 July 2010

By Tererai Karimakwenda

July 22, 2010

The MDC structures in Manicaland have reported that the harassment, intimidation and torture of their party officials in the province have continued. In Mutare on Thursday, agents from the Law and Order division at Mutare Central Police Station arrested the MDC-T ward 11 chairman, Lovemore Kapungu.

According to the MDC-T provincial spokesperson, Pishai Muchauraya, the charge is that Kapungu uttered statements that ‘undermined’ the ZANU-PF non-elected councilor for Mutare, Esawu Mupfumi, during a meeting.

Kapungu is being held at Mutare Central Police station where visitors who had brought him food on Thursday afternoon were denied access.  Muchauraya said it was surprising that the police would arrest an elected official over what he described as “such a petty issue”. 

It is not clear when the MDC ward chairman will be released, as the police have made no statements regarding his case.

More reports of harassment and violence came from Chimanimani, where the MDC-T chairlady for ward 15 was kidnapped in broad daylight by known CIO agents and ZANU-PF militia. Muchauraya told SW Radio Africa that she was detained and interrogated at the home of Janet Knight, who heads the ZANU-PF women’s league in the province.

Mai Knight, as she is more commonly known, has been involved in many incidents of kidnapping and harassment of MDC supporters and officials in the Chimanimani area, for years now. According to the MDC-T spokesperson, her home was used as a torture base during the mass assaults that followed Mugabe’s defeat in the March 2008 elections.

The MDC chairlady, whose name was withheld, was detained at Mai Knight’s house for more than 8 hours. She reported that she was interrogated about her support for the MDC-T and her views on a new constitution.

There is much concern that a repeat of the violence unleashed on the MDC at that time, appears to have started again.

ZANU-PF thugs occupy Indian owned business in Bulawayo

SW Radio Africa News Stories for 22 July 2010

Tererai Karimakwenda

Thursday, July 22, 2010.

A group of ZANU-PF affiliated thugs is reported to be illegally occupying a building in Bulawayo’s Central Business District. Our sources in the area said the building is owned by an Indian businessman who rents out shop space to other businesses, but they have not been able to operate since the occupation. The police have not arrested or even questioned the illegal invaders.

Themba Nyathi in Bulawayo said the building is on 4th Street, opposite the Chicken Inn. Nyathi, who visited the site and witnessed the occupation first hand, said the thugs were definitely ZANU-PF because they were wearing their party regalia.

He added: “They are making no secret about it. Even a blind man could see that these guys are ZANU-PF. They are like a law unto themselves because they know no-one is prepared to bring them to book.”

This news comes just a day after the national executive bodies of the two MDC formations met with the ZANU-PF politburo in what was described as a historic event aimed at bringing national healing.

The three-hour meeting organized by the National Organ on Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, was convened to ensure that the three political parties adhere to sections of the GPA which urge all parties “to shun violence and to promote national healing.”

At the meeting delegates agreed that “there could be no healing without justice and compensation and that the police must arrest all perpetrators of violence in order to kill the festering culture of impunity that has destabilized peace and compromised security of persons in Zimbabwe.”

But ZANU-PF has never respected any agreements made in regard to violence, intimidation and the role of the police. Many reports from the constitutional outreach program have accused the police of allowing intimidation and assaults to take place, in their presence. It appears as long as ZANU-PF controls the organs of security, their actions against the opposition remain immune from prosecution.

Top military establishment should be ‘engaged’ over rights abuses

SW Radio Africa News Stories for 22 July 2010

By Tichaona Sibanda

22 July 2010

The organ for National Healing and Reconciliation has been tasked to ‘engage’ the country’s top military brass, in order to involve them in efforts to create an environment of tolerance and respect in Zimbabwe.

The Joint Operations Command (JOC) is made up of Army and Airforce commanders, Central Intelligence Organisation directors, police and prison commissioners – most of them veterans of the 1970’s war of liberation. It is widely believed the group gets its orders from top ZANU PF officials, most of who belong to the party’s politburo.

In 2008 JOC spearheaded Robert Mugabe’s violent fight back, after he lost the first round of the presidential election to then arch rival and now Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai. Since independence the military establishment has long been accused of committing most of the country brutal human rights abuses.

JOC comprises General Constantine Chiwenga, the overall military chief; Augustine Chihuri, the national police commissioner, and General Paradzai Zimondi, the commander of the prison service.

Air Marshal Perence Shiri is the commander of the Airforce and the person who masterminded the brutal Gukurahundi military campaign in the early 1980’s, while Happyton Bonyongwe is the director general of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). He is a retired Brigadier in the Zimbabwe National Army.

On Wednesday, the highest decision-making organs of ZANU PF and the two MDC formations met in Harare to try and deal with issues of violence as well as to create an avenue that would foster healing and forgiveness. The indaba was also meant to kick-start the stalled national healing process.

Participants ‘unanimously’ agreed to engage the military to see how they could be part of the process. A source told us since members of JOC were the purveyors of violence, it was felt their presence or contributions would help break the ice to bring perpetrators and victims of violence to a round table.

Critics have questioned whether any statement backed by ZANU PF at this conference can be taken seriously – given that they are widely understood to be behind the violence, and could stop it if they wanted to.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister warned that there can be no room or tolerance for retribution, as this perpetuates the cycle of oppression and suffering.

‘Our healing process must be founded upon the three principles of truth, justice and forgiveness. There can be no truth without justice. While it may not be possible to undo what has been done, it is sometimes possible to assist the victim to move on and rebuild a life that has been shattered,’ Tsvangirai said in his weekly newsletter.

An analyst told us the Prime Minister’s message was perhaps directed towards JOC, ZANU PF and its legion of hardline supporters, most of whom have blood on their hands.

However Theresa Makone, co-Home Affairs Minister from the MDC-T, said cases of people implicated in political violence during the last ten years will not be swept under the carpet but will be handled in accordance with guidelines of the GPA.

Makone told the Daily News on Thursday that criminal cases such as the one involving Joseph Mwale and Kainos ‘Kitsiyatota’ Zimunya - the alleged killers of Tsvangirai’s former driver, Talent Mabika and his assistant Tichaona Chiminya - would be dealt with by the organ for National Healing and Reconciliation.

Article 18.5 (c) of the  GPA agreement says all political crimes of violence committed during the last ten years will be dealt with under the organ for National Healing and Reconciliation.

Makone added; ‘Most of the cases will be handled at the local level because we want the people to tell us how they want the cases to be handled. The perpetrators should own up and express remorse and forgiveness for what they did in a typical African way.’

Henry Olonga on Behind the Headlines

SW Radio Africa

22 July 2010

In this two part series on Behind the Headlines Lance Guma speaks to exiled Zimbabwean cricketer Henry Olonga. In 2003 Olonga and his teammate, Andy Flower, wore a black arm band in a Cricket World Cup match to protest the death of democracy under Mugabe’s regime. Olonga has now released his autobiography, Blood Sweat and Treason, which talks about what he went through after that. Lance asks Olonga for his take on the coalition government and whether he has any plans to go back home.

The Heart of the Matter - SW Radio Africa

Tanonoka Joseph Whande argues that neither ZANU PF nor the MDC should be allowed to influence the making of a new constitution in any way. Whande urges Mugabe’s party to allow the process of establishing the constitution to go ahead, without violent interference, to pave the way for much wanted elections. He also poses the age old question: “Why can’t we all just get along?”

Callback - SW Radio Africa

James says the Zim situation now resembles election campaigns, with ZPF songs dominating the airwaves, inciting violence; And Mai Tino says people are confused, not knowing what’s happening in government, and he believes the MDC has let people down by remaining in the fake GNU.

End land reforms now: Business

Friday 23 July 2010

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe -- Urged to end land reforms

HARARE – Zimbabwe business leaders on Thursday urged President Robert Mugabe to conclude his controversial land reforms, saying focus should now shift to reviving production in the agricultural sector, once the base of the economy.

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industry (CZI) said getting agriculture working again was critical to any plan to rebuild an economy that remains at risk of relapsing into recession despite showing signs of recovery since a coalition government formed by Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai came into office in February 2009.

"There must be an end to the land reform, having started (it) must come to an end," CZI president Joseph Kanyenye told journalist in Harare.

Mugabe’s land reforms are blamed for plunging once self sufficient Zimbabwe into food shortages after the veteran leader failed to provide funds and skills training to black peasants resettled on former white farms to maintain production.

Poor performance in agricultural had far reaching consequences as hundreds of thousands of people lost jobs, while the manufacturing sector, starved of inputs from the key sector, virtually collapsed.

The coalition government has promised fresh land reforms that are more orderly but to date has failed to carry out a land audit that is critical to any programme to rectify the damage caused by Mugabe’s chaotic and often violent farm redistribution programme.

The administration has also failed to stop Mugabe’s supporters in the army and from his ZANU PF party from seizing more land from the country’s few remaining white commercial farmers.

 Kanyenye, whose CZI is regarded as the voice of business in Zimbabwe, said in addition to fixing the agricultural sector the government must also address inadequate energy supplies, an inefficient telecommunication network and rising labour costs to help economic recovery.

The CZI boss put the cost of bringing Zimbabwe’s once robust manufacturing sector back on its feet at US$3 billion, money that is unavailable as multi-lateral institutions and rich Western countries remain reluctant to help.

"For the economic revival for the industries we believe a figure in the region of three billion, will probably do the trick,” the CZI chief said.

Zimbabwe’s economy registered its first growth in a decade last year after the coalition government implemented measures, including the adoption of multiple currencies that doused hyperinflation.

However economic experts as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) maintain that economy recovery remains fragile because of the government’s heavy dependence on imports and increasing wage demands from unionists at a time the country does not have access to balance of payment support.

The IMF and other multi-lateral lenders have refused to provide fresh loans until Harare clears outstanding debts, while rich Western nations are also reluctant to provide soft loans and grants, insisting the government must first step up the pace of democratic reforms, do more to uphold human rights and the rule of law. ZimOnline.

Modest rise in FDI for Zimbabwe

by Own Correspondent

Friday 23 July 2010

HARARE – Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Zimbabwe totaled US$60 million in 2009, an increase of $8 million from the $52 million recorded last year, according to the World Investment Report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on Thursday.

News of Zimbabwe’s modest gains in FDI comes at a time the coalition government of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has announced that it was reviewing investment laws and policies to woo more foreign capital into the country.

“We want to promulgate a new Investment Promotion and Protection Act, which will lay the rights and obligations for the state of Zimbabwe and investors, including the incentives and the regulatory framework," said Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Tapiwa Mashakada at the launch of the UNCTAD report.

“This new act will go a long way in creating a more friendly investment climate in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Zimbabwe, which once had one of Africa’s most vibrant economies, saw several foreign-owned companies fleeing the country over the past decade, galled by Mugabe’s controversial policies, including the seizure of white-owned farms to resettle blacks.

Mugabe has refused to pay for land seized under his reforms including properties protected under bilateral investment promotion and protection agreements with other governments, leaving potential investors unsure about whether to pour money into an economy where respect for property rights and international agreements is at best questionable.

However the Zimbabwean leader – who often accuses foreign-owned businesses of plotting with his Western enemies to oust him from power – has backed calls by the business-friendly Tsvangirai for foreigners to return to the country.

But Mugabe insists foreigners must come to partner indigenous Zimbabweans in joint ventures and should not seek to control the country’s economy and vast resources. – ZimOnline.

Zim parties discuss national healing

by Own Corespondent

Thursday 22 July 2010

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s three governing political parties met in Harare on Wednesday to discuss ways to end political violence and speed up a progamme to promote reconciliation and national healing.

But party heads, President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Premier Arthur Mutambara did not attend the meeting that was attended by other top leaders and senior members from the parties.

Mugabe’s second Vice President in his ZANU PF and in the government, John Nkomo, urged participants to spread the word of peace among their followers.

Nkomo, whose ZANU PF party has been accused of sending militia to attack perceived opponents, urged political leaders to do more to defend and uphold citizens’ basic rights such as the right to freedom of assembly and association.

He said: "We must ensure that there is protection of life, freedom of conscience, freedom of assembly, no arbitrary searches."

The meeting was the first time that top leaders from the three parties came together to call for tolerance and peaceful co-existence after a decade marred by reports of violence and gross human rights abuses at every major election.

Tendai Biti, the secretary general of Tsvangirai’s MDC party, urged Zimbabweans to focus on national rebuilding their shattered economy instead of concentrating on the culture of intolerance and violence.

“No nation can move on when it is in conflict, so we have to find each other,” he said, adding the signing of the GPA (global political agreement) by the three parties and that gave birth to the coalition government was an important step towards directing Zimbabwe on the right path.

Welshman Ncube, secretary general of the smaller MDC party of Mutambara, called on political leaders to be the lighting beacons against violence and human rights abuses.

“If we speak with forked tongues, one thing during the day and another at night, we will be deceiving each other and we will continue to form organs on national healing,” he said.

Zimbabwe witnessed some of its worst political violence last year after a parliamentary election that was won by the MDC while Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in a parallel presidential poll but with fewer votes to avoid a second run-off ballot.

In a bid to ensure Mugabe regained the upper hand in the second round vote, ZANU PF militia, war veterans and state security agents unleashed an orgy of violence and terror across the country, especially in rural areas many of which virtually became no-go areas for the opposition.

Tsvangirai later withdrew from the June 27 run-off election because of violence that he says killed about 200 of his supporters and displaced thousands of others.

Mugabe won the vote uncontested in a ballot that African observers denounced as a shame and Western governments refused to recognise forcing the veteran leader to agree to form a power-sharing government with Tsvangirai and Mutambara.

A committee of senior ministers drawn up from ZANU PF and the two MDC formations to promote national healing and reconciliation after years of political strife and violence has achieved little since its establishment more than 12 months ago. -- ZimOnline.

Zambian agency orders maize exports

by Own Corespondent

Thursday 22 July 2010

JOHANNESBURG -- Zambia's grain agency said on Wednesday that it has started releasing surplus maize to local traders for export to needy countries among them Zimbabwe.

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) said it would initially sell 160,569 tonnes of white maize carried over from 2008/2009 crop season in a move to keep domestic prices high after another bumper harvest this year.

"The exports will enable the agency to create space for the 2010 crop and ensure that production is sustained by preventing prices from collapsing as a result of the bumper harvest," FRA executive director Anthony Mwanaumo said in a statement.

Mwanaumo said the FRA would ensure all maize released would be sold outside Zambia to avoid flooding the local market causing price distortions.

Once a net food importer, Zambia has seen maize production rise in recent seasons, a trend partly attributed to former Zimbabwean white commercial farmers who have helped boost agricultural production after relocating to the country following their expulsion from Zimbabwe by President Robert Mugabe.

Maize production from the 2009/2010 season reached 2.7 million tones to leave Zambia holding a surplus of 1.1 million of maize.  The country, which produced 1.9 million tonnes in the 2008/2009 season, requires about 1.6 million tonnes of maize per year.

Lusaka has in previous seasons exported maize to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Angola, countries where the grain, just as in Zambia, is also a key staple food.

Several Zambian exporters have said they will target exports mainly to Zimbabwe, after Harare announced another poor harvest this year.

Once a net food exporter Zimbabwe has faced food shortages since Mugabe’s controversial land reform programme that he launched in 2000 and which has seen agricultural output plummet because the government failed to provide blacks resettled on former white farms with inputs and skills training to maintain production.

A unity government formed the veteran President formed with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last year is pushing to revive the economy although it has to date failed to ensure law and order in the mainstay agricultural sector where mobs of supporters of Mugabe’s ZANU PF party continue harassing the few remaining white commercial farmers. – ZimOnline.

JAG EMERGENCY FUND RAISING COMMUNIQUE

Dear JAG Farmer Members and all JAG subscribers

The JAG Team has settled into the new premises, a very aesthetically

pleasing and quiet venue with easy access for visitors and plenty of

parking.  We are "shaking down" into the corners and generally feel

buoyant and confident that this is the start of a fresh chapter for the

JAG Trust, in more ways than one.

Without belaboring the investigation of JAG's financial affairs, this has

been, understandably, a very trying time for all at JAG and the

membership.  We were, during the investigation process, unable to

re-engage donor or membership funding until the unjust cloud of doubt was

removed and whilst we are now re-approaching donors, all things take time

to resuscitate. So, in the interim we are in an unfortunate financial

vacuum created by the lack of donor support for the past eleven months,

through no fault of the Trust or the members.  This has resulted in an

accumulation of debts for rent, salaries, wages etc, offset by the

generosity and willingness of those creditors who are determined to

witness the success of JAG - your organisation.

We now need to resurrect membership subscriptions urgently, to liquidate

creditor balances, to sustain the JAG office and to continue doing what

we do best for the farming community.  Our record speaks for itself, you

all know what we are about and what we stand for, through the time and

assistance given to each and every farmer, member or not, who has needed

our help in a multitude of fields over the past eight years.

We have several essential research projects to re-launch with donor

partnership assistance and are asking members to please pay their

subscriptions - US$ 100 per year, to keep the Community Support Project

(the JAG office) afloat in the interim.  Banking details are available,

on request, if you wish to direct deposit to our bank, or please come in

for a cup of tea, an update and a receipt.

Those of you on our vast mailing list, and who are not farmer members,

are also asked, for the first time,  to make a nominal contribution of

US$ 10 per annum to the Trust for the pleasure of being updated and kept

in the loop of farming issues in Zimbabwe.  Subscribers to our Classified

advertising will be billed monthly as in the past.  Farmer members will

continue to receive this service free of charge.

This is a time to stick together, rebuild what was damaged over the past

nine months, and move forward together with hope, confidence and the

assured knowledge that nothing will be left undone to achieve what we

have fought for, for so many years.  JUSTICE FOR AGRICULTURE - a just

solution for all, not just the farmers, but the farm workers, the

managers and everyone else who had a legal occupational right on a farm.

We will not compromise or sacrifice in any way the long fought for

principles, nor the law in this just endeavour.

We look forward to hearing from each and every one of you, wherever you

are in the world.

IAN COCHRANE

JAG CHAIRMAN (interim)

and

THE JAG TEAM

Huge circumcision programme under way

Includes South Africa

Jul 22, 2010 1:33 PM | By Sapa-dpa 

An unprecedented circumcision campaign covering 13 countries in East and Southern Africa is being unfolded in a bid to break the epidemic of AIDS that is wreaking havoc with the people and economies in the region.

  Whatever goes under the foreskin will get into your body and survive 

From South Africa to Kenya, hospitals and tented clinics in the bush offering free circumcision are almost in danger of being overwhelmed by men, bringing with them boys and infants.

Kenya has performed 120,000 circumcisions. In Zimbabwe, the pilot phase of the campaign projected 2,000 volunteers, but got 2,800. In a small tent in the Makonde area north of Harare recently, three doctors circumcised 70 volunteers in three days.

According to details announced at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna this week, the campaign aims to circumcise 38 million males - 80 per cent of all males under 49 years at a cost of 2.5 billion US dollars.

The rationale is simple? removal of the foreskin reduces the risk of HIV infection by 60 per cent. Over the envisaged 15-year campaign period, it is envisaged that AIDS and the HIV virus that causes it will be brought down to manageable levels.

Not long after AIDS emerged in the 1980s as a deadly global threat, public health experts noticed a curious set of contrasts in Africa.

In countries where circumcision was an inherent practice, like in North and West Africa where it is dictated largely by Islam, AIDS was not engulfing whole populations as it was in parts of the continent where the practice was rare.

The first large-scale tests to confirm the occurrence were done from 2004 in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda. They proved conclusively that half the 10,000 subjects who had volunteered to be circumcised recorded 60 per cent less infections than the group that didn't undergo the procedure.

The inside of the foreskin, says urologist Christopher Samkange, chief trainer for the Zimbabwean campaign, is almost the only skin surface of the human body without the barrier of cells with the protein keratin that makes the outer skin layer hard and impervious.

"That is the entry point for the virus," he said. "It has no defence. Whatever goes under the foreskin will get into your body and survive."

The block of 13 adjoining countries - from Kenya in the north, South Africa in the south, Namibia in the west and Mozambique in the east -make up the highest HIV-infected part of the world, where the cause is almost entirely unsafe sexual practice.

"We have an epidemic," said Samkange. Zimbabwe in 1997 had an HIV infection prevalence of 29 per cent, but the figure has dropped to 13.7 per cent this year. It still means 1,029 people are dying each week, outstripping sevenfold the death rate from the severe cholera epidemic here in 2008.

But within five years, after the first phase of the campaign aiming at males between 13 and 29 years, "we will have an immediate fall in prevalence," he said.

Across the 13 countries, over the full 15 year period of the campaign, it is expected to prevent 4 million new infections, and save US 20 billion in medical costs, forecasts the Washington-based Population Services International, one of the major drivers of the programme.

"The real value of male circumcision means that the person circumcised has protection for life, it happens only once and it cannot be taken away," said Samkange.

But he adds that it is imperative that circumcision is complemented by the use of condoms and change in behaviour to safe sex, the message that drummed into volunteers during their several counselling sessions.

They especially have to be warned against men regarding circumcision as a licence for accelerated risky behaviour, says Samkange.

The alternative to prevention by circumcision, he says, is to flood the affected countries with anti-retroviral therapy (ART) medication, like Botswana, "so HIV-AIDS becomes like hypertension, that can be kept under control throughout people's lives."

But the cost is staggering. In Zimbabwe, he said, "it will cost 400 million dollars to prevent, but 4 billion dollars to treat," he adds.

Besides, says Elizabeth Matuka, the United Nations special envoy for Aids in Africa, despite the improvements in access to ART in the continent, "for every two people who are put on ART today, an additional five are newly infected by HIV."

Zimbabwe: Diamonds are a dictator's best friend

Global Post

New agreement allows Zimbabwe to sell the gemstones on international market.

By Zimbabwe correspondent (author cannot be identified because of Zimbabwe's press restrictions) 
Published: July 22, 2010 06:38 ET in Africa

Zimbabwe is able to legally sell a stockpile of diamonds, despite widespread charges of human rights abuses.(Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images) 

HARARE, Zimbabwe — International rights campaigners have given a cautious welcome to the decision by the World Diamond Council to allow diamonds from the controversial diggings in Chiadzwa, in Zimbabwe’s eastern districts, to be exported under the supervisory Kimberley Process.

But they have warned that close inspection will be needed to ensure President Robert Mugabe’s government does not renege on undertakings it has given in weeks of intense negotiations.

Mining in the Chiadzwa area near the border with Mozambique has been shrouded in controversy with charges of gross human rights abuses from local and international organizations including Global Witness andPartnership Africa Canada.

Zimbabwean rights campaigner Farai Maguwu was last week released from jail where he had spent three weeks, much of that time beyond the reach of his family and lawyers.

He was charged with “peddling falsehoods prejudicial to the state.” The charge derived from confidential material he supplied to Kimberley Process monitor Abbey Chikane, a South African, disclosing details of killings, kidnappings and other abuses at the hands of Zimbabwe’s military.
Maguwu’s arrest produced a wave of outrage which delayed the negotiations aimed at finding a solution to the impasse.

Agreement was finally reached in St Petersburg, Russia, last week.

“The ball is now firmly in Zimbabwe’s court to make good on its promises and act to end one of the most egregious cases of diamond-related violence for many years,” said Annie Dunnebacker of Global Witness.

The campaign groups hope the agreement, if fully implemented, will end the widely reported abuses in Zimbabwe’s diamond fields.

At one stage Chikane claimed that his luggage had been opened by “naughty” intelligence officers. Correspondence between him and U.S officials subsequently appeared in Zimbabwe’s government-owned press as Mugabe’s regime anticipated a negative outcome.

Australia, the EU, Canada and the United States have opposed lifting restrictions on the sale of what rights campaigners refer to as “blood diamonds.”

The agreement in Russia was welcomed by Zimbabwe as a triumph for its diplomacy. Mines minister Obert Mpofu has been characterizing Western hostility as part of a regime-change plot.

Former Australia bowler Gillespie takes coaching job in Zimbabwe

By The Associated Press (CP) – 10 hours ago

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Former Australia Test bowler Jason Gillespie, who was in the running to become England bowling coach after Otis Gibson left, has instead accepted an offer in Zimbabwe.

The 35-year-old Gillespie has been signed by the Midwest Rhinos team as head coach for Zimbabwe's upcoming domestic season.

Kenyon Ziehl, the franchise's chief executive, confirmed the Gillespie deal to The Associated Press on Thursday.

Gillespie is replacing former Zimbabwe batsman Andrew Waller as coach of the team, which is based in the country's Midlands province town of Kwekwe.

Ziehl said Gillespie — who played 71 Tests and 97 ODIs for Australia as a right-arm fast-medium bowler — was delighted with the prospects of working in Zimbabwe.

"He is excited about it," Ziehl said. "He is bringing his family along, wife and three kids. He has heard all about Zimbabwe cricket's resurgence and wants to be part of it.

"We've secured him nice accommodation in the town (Kwekwe). Hopefully he will enjoy the experience. It's a huge adventure for him. It's a season's contract. If things work well we will always extend it."

Although Gillespie has an unbeaten double century to his name as a nightwatchman — against Bangladesh in 2006 — his spell with Rhinos will mainly benefit the bowlers.

"The boys are very excited, especially the bowlers," Ziehl said. "Players from the other franchises now want to join our team to learn from his bowling expertise. It's a huge thing for the franchise; an ex-Australian test bowler coming here. The whole community is excited."

Throughout his career, Gillespie was a reliable support bowler over several years for his more famous teammates, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

England hopeful Riki Wessels, the son of former South Africa and Australia international Kepler Wessels, is also returning to the Zimbabwean franchise for another season after making his debut in 2009-10.

Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Olonga wants Zimbabwe return to Tests

(AFP) – 7 hours ago

LONDON — Former Zimbabwe fast bowler Henry Olonga believes it is time for his country to be allowed back into Test cricket.

Olonga, Zimbabwe's first black player, has been a high-profile opponent of Robert Mugabe's regime and, alongside current England coach Andy Flower, made a public show of dissent against the President when the 2003 World Cup came to Zimbabwe.

The pair famously wore black armbands to "mourn the death of democracy" during the tournament, an action which brought about Olonga's retirement at 26.

Olonga received death threats and was charged with treason and, after travelling with the team for a World Cup match in South Africa, he never returned to Zimbabwe.

The 34-year-old, who played 30 Tests and 50 ODIs, eventually settled in England, where he petitioned international teams not to tour his country as a stand against Mugabe's human rights record.

Zimbabwe last played a Test match in 2005 after the majority of the team's first-choice players went on strike following a dispute with the national board.

But discussions are under way to restore them to the five-day game as early as next year and Olonga believes now is the time for reintegration.

"I think on the whole it is right for Zimbabwe to move forward," Olonga said at the launch of his new book on Thursday.

"It is a difficult decision for me to say that because on the one hand I have protested against countries playing in Zimbabwe and been very up front about that.

"But I think what Zimbabwe needs now is a slow and steady reintroduction to Test cricket. It's not as though whenever Mugabe is out of power, we can start talking about it the next day. By then it is too late.

"We are starting to play well in one-day cricket now so let's use this momentum and get to the stage where they are a competitive Test side in three or four years.

"The way forward is for Zimbabwe to play some of the lesser teams first and if we don't get beaten in two days then we are heading in the right direction."

Olonga admits he remains uneasy about Mugabe's role in Zimbabwe public life but he knows a return to Test action is essential to give cricket in the country a chance to prosper.

"I would whole-heartedly support reintroduction because I want Zimbabwe back playing Test cricket, but we still have the problem of Robert Mugabe," he said.

"How do you deal with a man who has presided over the destruction of his own country through his own flawed policies?

"It's painful compromise but I think Zimbabwe is on the mend. Certainly it is cricket-wise but politically there is still a long way to go.

"Nevertheless, I think positions are softening. Zimbabwe, to their credit, have put in place some reforms and they've got a lot of experienced players back.

"Alistair Campbell is back as convenor of selectors, Heath Streak is doing some work as bowling coach. I understand Grant Flower is thinking of going back as a coach and Dave Houghton is also back doing some work with them.

"That these people are considering going back into the game there helps other countries see that Zimbabwe cricket has a measure of legitimacy now."

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.