The Zimbabwe Situation

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
9 March 2009

On Saturday Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai left hospital wearing bandages
on his head and was immediately flown to Botswana. Botswana's President Ian
Khama has been a rare voice of criticism against Mugabe, in the region and
Tsvangirai has often retreated to the country.
According to reports it was for further medical tests, although there were
those who said it was over security concerns. But he returned home from
Botswana on Monday and told mourners the car crash that resulted in his wife's
death was an accident.
He told mourners gathered at his Strathaven home: "When something happens,
there is always speculation, but I want to say in this case, if there was
any foul play, it was one in a thousand."
"It was an accident and unfortunately it took her life.' He said: "We know
that we shall all die, but let's celebrate the life of Susan because we have
gone through trials and tribulations together."
George Sibotshiwe a former aide of the MDC President told SW Radio Africa
that the MDC was ruling out nothing. He said that 'it's impossible for us to
say we rule out foul play.'

Sibotshiwe believes the accident could have been prevented if the MDC leader
had been given proper security. He said ZANU PF still has not returned
Tsvangirai's bullet proof vehicle, which they confiscated last March during
the election period. "While we were working to protect the President of the
MDC, it was clear that Mugabe and his people actually wanted the President
of the MDC exposed and that is the reason they took away the armoured
vehicle," Sibotshiwe said.

A request to return the vehicle was made when the inclusive government was
formed, but it has still not been returned and there has been no
explanation. Sibotshiwe said Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono has a bullet
proof vehicle, but Mr Tsvangirai has been given ordinary vehicles that are
not armoured and have no bullet proof protection.

The British and American governments have both said they believed the crash
was a tragic accident. Nonetheless, because of numerous unexplained
accidents that have killed many of Mugabe's high profile political
opponents, it makes it very difficult for many Zimbabweans to believe that
ZANU PF did not have a hand in the tragedy.

Those who died 'mysteriously' in car accidents include Christopher
Ushewokunze, Brigadier Armstrong Gunda, Border Gezi, Moven Mahachi, Elliot
Manyika, Zororo Duri, Justice Ziyambi, Mthandazo Ndema Ngwenya, Witness
Rukarwa, Sydney Malunga, William Ndangana, "Nikita" Mangena, Josiah
Tongogara, activist Christopher Giwa and businessman Peter Pamire.

Journalist Angus Shaw said because there is a culture and belief that car
accidents are often staged in Zimbabwe, there is now a need to conduct a
full and thorough investigation in the latest accident. However he said the
country no longer has adequate forensic facilities for such an
investigation. He cited the recent death of ZANU PF political commissar
Elliot Manyika in December, saying there has been no forensic report on the
cause of his car accident. Similarly there have been no public inquests into
the deaths of Manyika's predecessors Border Gezi and Moven Mahachi, who both
died in freak accidents.
Because of the history of convenient car accident deaths there will always
be two schools of thought about whether or not the crash that killed Susan
Tsvangirai was actually an assassination attempt on her husband.

Shaw said the MDC is demanding a full report and as they are now in a
position of influence they may be able to push for a thorough inquiry. "I
think the conditions are different and this may be the first case where we
might get an inquest."

Meanwhile analysts say the untimely death of Mrs Tsvangirai has the
potential of either breaking or cementing the delicate inclusive government.

Political detainees, including MDC senior officials Roy Bennett, Ghandi
Mudzingwa and Chris Dhlamini are still in police detention. Furthermore the
political parties are still fighting over the appointments of senior
government officials, among other issues, and the magistrate who tried to
follow the rule of law and release Bennett was arrested.

Political analyst, Professor John Makumbe, said: "The bad blood between the
MDC and ZANU PF still exists. So a thing like this raises more suspicion."

Tsvangirai crash driver appears in court

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
09 March 2009

The driver of the truck that killed Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's wife
Susan, appeared in a Chivhu court on Monday, charged with culpable homicide.
35 year old Chinoona Mwanda was the driver of the Nissan UD truck that hit
the right bumper of Tsvangirai's Land Cruiser, causing it to overturn 3
times and landing on its roof. Human rights lawyer Chris Mhike has been
hired to represent the driver and is arguing that he was not to blame for
the accident, blaming instead the poor state of the roads. Mwanda is
expected to plead not guilty later in the trial and was released on Z$100
bail. He will next appear in court on the 23rd March.
In the meantime he has to report to a police station every Monday and
Friday, was asked to surrender his passport, not to interfere with state
witnesses and stay at his given address.

On Friday Mwanda was driving the truck, owned by the United States Agency
for International Development and carrying AIDS drugs for distribution to a
project funded by the British and American governments. Initial reports say
he was sleeping at the wheel before he swerved out of his lane, but his
employers have denied that version of the story. Other reports said he was
trying to avoid a pot hole or hump on the road, but Deputy Mines Minister
and MDC legislator Murisi Zwizwayi, who visited the crash scene, is not
convinced. 'Where are the potholes, even humps, here, do you see one, it's
just a clear road,' he asked in exasperation.

Shortly after the accident on Friday Mwanda was arrested and spent the night
in police custody. It's reported that on Saturday he was escorted back to
the scene of the crash by officers investigating the accident. Some reports
describe him as being 'suicidal' and others say he briefly spoke to
journalists at the crash scene and kept pleading for forgiveness. The
defence lawyer Mhike says, 'Mr. Mwanda is very much distressed and now the
publicity which the story is receiving is putting him under aggravated
pressure.' He is arguing that 'any other driver driving on that patch of
road would have more than likely ended up in the situation that this driver
ended up in.'

Meanwhile Mwanda's defence will be boosted by reports that a female
passenger in the aid truck has corroborated his story, that he hit a rough
patch on the road before hitting the Prime Minister's car.

The incident remains highly controversial, despite Tsvangirai's assurance it
was a genuine accident. The court case involving the driver will contribute
its own angle to the conclusion of the matter.

'I'm heartbroken' - Tsvangirai pays tribute to his wife

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
9 March 2009
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said he is devastated and his children
heartbroken, over the death of his 50 year old wife Susan. On Monday her
body lay in state at the family home in Strathaven, Harare.

Tsvangirai returned home on Monday after treatment in neighbouring Botswana
for injuries sustained in the car crash that so tragically took the life of
the woman he had been married to for 31 years. The speaker of Parliament and
the national chairman of the MDC, Lovemore Moyo, told us Tsvangirai's face
was still swollen and he is badly bruised, but otherwise is physically doing
quite well.

Moyo was part of a group of senior MDC officials, family members and
government officials who met Tsvangirai at the Harare International Airport.
'He is devastated by the death of his beloved wife but has fully accepted
what has happened. He is in good health and good spirits,' Moyo said.
Tsvangirai told mourners at his Harare home that the crash was an accident,
although many Zimbabweans around the world remain suspicious about Susan's
death, because of past acrimony between the Prime Minister and Robert
Mugabe, and Mugabe's long history of eliminating opponents in car crashes.

A statement issued by the MDC said a farewell ceremony for Susan will be
held at Glamis arena in Harare on Tuesday in 'remembrance of the mother of
our struggle who has stood as a pillar of strength and support to the MDC
President over the past 31years.' She will be buried in Buhera on Wednesday
morning.
The death of Susan has brought a feeling of deep sadness to Zimbabwe and
tributes have been pouring in from family, friends and from around the world
since the news broke. Tsvangirai's Australian based daughters Rumbidzai, 22
and Vimbai, 27 jetted into the country on Sunday. Their South African based
brother Edwin, 31 and the 13 year old twins Vincent and Millicent arrived on
Saturday. Canadian based Garikai, 29 was expected in the country late on
Monday.
When Tsvangirai arrived at his Harare home he addressed the mourners,
describing his late wife as an outstanding and extraordinary person. A
solemn and somber atmosphere hung over the house as hundreds of people came
to comfort the family.

After that he retreated inside and spoke to his children. A close family
member told us the children were equally devastated.
Susan died on Friday when the vehicle she was travelling in with Tsvangirai
was involved in a collision with a truck. The impact of the sideswipe forced
the vehicle off the road where it rolled three times. The Prime Minister's
wife was thrown out of the vehicle. A police officer investigating the crash
said it appeared Susan was not wearing a seat belt.

Rescuers found her 15 metres from the wrecked vehicle. She was rushed to
Beatrice hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Tsvangirai's driver, Simbarashe Mujeyi, is still admitted in hospital after
sustaining a broken collar bone and a fracture to the right thigh. His aide,
Benson 'okolo' Muchineuta was slightly injured, but he was released from the
Avenues Clinic on Friday.

Tsvangirai has said he believes the crash was just a tragic accident but
there are reports that officials in the MDC are sharply divided in their
opinions. Many still maintain the Prime Minister was a target for
elimination.

Tsvangirai was travelling in the middle of a three vehicle convoy that was
headed for Buhera at the time of the crash. In his vehicle, there was his
wife Susan, his driver Mujeyi from the MDC and his aide Muchineuta also from
the MDC. The other two cars contained bodyguards supplied by both the state
and the MDC.

Feelings among mourners have been running high at the Tsvangirai home. On
Sunday Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono, Herbert Murerwa the Lands and
Rural Resettlement Minister and other ZANU PF officials visited to pay their
last respects. But senior MDC officials had to intervene to calm down the
situation when party youths pelted Gono with empty water bottles, and
threatened to manhandle him.

There were other reports that said a grinning young man in a silver 4 x 4
demonstrated the intense hatred felt by many in ZANU PF towards Tsvangirai
and the MDC. Eyewitnesses said he drove the car at high speed through the
crowd of mourners, outside the Prime Minister's home.

Prison conditions are "the worst I have ever experienced" - Roy Bennett

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/3643

Yesterday four close friends visited Roy Bennett in the Mutare Remand
Prison. Outside the prison, the faithful MDC supporters are still keeping
their day and night vigil. Although few of them can be sure of actually
seeing him, they remain there in absolute solidarity for a man who is their
hero. They are wearing T-Shirts saying "release the Hostages".

Deputy Lands Minister designate Roy Bennett was abducted, by CIO operatives,
and after a nightmare high-speed chase by his supporters, ending up in the
Police cells in Mutare.

Honourable Bennett described the conditions in the prison as "the worst I
have ever experienced". His experience is considerable, as is well known.

The capacity of the prison is 200 yet there are approximately 340 remand
prisoners being held there. They have two threadbare blankets as their
bedding, and receive a single handful of sadza (mealie meal) a day at around
3pm. There is seldom any vegetable relish with which to eat their meagre
ration.

This is not the fault of the Officer in charge or his subordinates, it is
the total disregard for human rights by the commissioner of prisons and his
deputies.

Last week a remand prisoner died and his body was only removed four days
later. The reason? No fuel.

The Magistrate in Mutare who granted Hon. Bennett bail, has been arrested
and is incarcerated in the Police cells. We are reliably informed that his
colleagues have stated that they will not be presiding over any cases this
week, as they feel that could lead to them also being arrested.

The conditions under which our prisoners are being kept is a disgrace. It is
inhuman. No person deserves to be starved to death while the Reserve Bank
governor continues to afford the party cronies fancy new vehicles, birthday
parties and the like.

It is abundantly obvious that since the breakdown in the rule of law ten
years ago that "you are guilty until proven innocent".

This goes against all citizens basic human rights. Until the rule of law is
restored in our beloved country, the new dispensation is going to sail very
stormy seas.

May God Help Zimbabwe.

This entry was posted by Harare activists on Monday, March 9th, 2009 at
12:35 pm

Update on trial of Williams and Mahlangu

IMF team begins consultations with Zim authorities

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Monday, 09 March 2009

HARARE - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation on Monday
began consultations with Zimbabwean authorities on the country's economic
situation and prospects as well as efforts to address a deepening
humanitarian crisis.

The IMF team, led by Vitaliy Kramarenko yesterday met with Economic
Development Minister Elton Mangoma, central bank governor Gideon Gono and
key officials from the Ministry of Finance.
Mangoma described his meeting with the IMF team that arrived in Harare
over the weekend as having been "very cordial".
The team is also expected to meet with new Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai, civic groups, labour and business leaders.
The IMF cut balance-of-payments support to Zimbabwe in 1999 following
differences with President Robert Mugabe over fiscal policy and other
governance issues.
But Zimbabwe is under a new power-sharing government between Mugabe
and former opposition leader Tsvangirai, who has promised to restore
relations with the IMF and other international institutions.
Winning IMF backing for its economic recovery programme is critical
for Harare's new government to convince skeptical Western governments to
provide much needed financial assistance and other support. - ZimOnline

Gideon Gono pelted with Z$ by angry mourners

March 9th, 2009

Yesterday a woman in Harare went to the Tsvangirai home to offer condolences. When she arrived there the entire block was jammed with people, grieving for the loss of the Prime Minister’s wife. She was about to enter the house when none other than Gideon Gono arrived with his entourage of security personnel.

When the crowd realised who it was, they began to chant “Buda, buda” (go away) and spontaneously threw whatever Z$ at him. The unwelcome Governor of the Reserve Bank was forced to beat a hasty and ignominious retreat.

There is a new atmosphere in Zimbabwe. People are outraged at the untimely death of 51 year old Susan Tsvangirai, mother of six and support to the PM. There is no conclusion to the cause of her death, but the feeling is that regardless of the direct cause, Mugabe and his henchmen have blood on their hands - blood which goes back 29 years and will never be washed away, even if they are entirely absolved of blame for the tragic accident that shook the nation on Friday.

Sokwanele comment: Have you seen our ‘goupons’ yet?

Posted by Harare activists

Farewell ceremony at Glamis Stadium

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe

Update: 9 March 2008

Via MDC Press Release - Zimbabweans from all walks of life are expected to
attend a farewell ceremony at Glamis Stadium in Harare tomorrow to pay their
last respects to Amai Susan Tsvangirai who died in a horrific car accident
on Friday.

The MDC President and Zimbabwe's Prime Minister, the Right Honourable
Morgan Tsvangirai, sustained injuries in the same accident.

The MDC urges all Zimbabweans to attend the farewell ceremony at Glamis
Stadium in remembrance of the mother of our struggle who has stood as a
pillar of strength and support to the MDC President over the past 31years.

The ceremony takes place at Glamis Stadium at 12pm tomorrow while burial
is expected to take place in Buhera on Wednesday morning.

Today, Amai Tsvangirai's body will lie in state at the family home in
Strathaven, Harare.

Daily cholera update and alerts, 08 Mar 2009

On the cholera frontline

Photo: ReliefWeb

HARARE, 9 March 2009 (IRIN) - The number of cholera deaths in Zimbabwe has crept past the 4,000 mark and case numbers are receding, but for those on the frontline of the epidemic it is business as usual, and much too soon to talk of victory.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on 9 March that 4,011 people had succumbed to the waterborne disease since the outbreak began in August 2008, and the total number of cases recorded had reached 89,018.

Signs that the disease is abating, with cholera infections down by about 50 percent to around 4,000 cases a week, are lost on those fighting the disease.

Stella Moyo, 40, a nurse working for Doctors Without Borders at the Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital, about 5km southwest of the capital, Harare, told IRIN she was "distraught at the number of cases that we have seen over the past week, at a time that we thought we were winning the war against the cholera outbreak."

One of Africa's most deadly cholera outbreaks in recent history has been fuelled by the collapse of municipal services, including water, sanitation and healthcare.

"We thought we had gone past the peak of the epidemic, and statistics given indicated a downturn, but judging by the number of patients we have been admitting in the last few days, the storm seems far from over," said the nurse, who declined to give her real name.

"There is hardly any clean water throughout the city [Harare] as we speak, and that should explain the renewed spread of cholera."

The establishment of a unity government on 11 February 2009, when Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, was inaugurated as prime minister, has yet to bring any change in the material conditions that contributed to the cholera epidemic.

A check by IRIN of the water availability in many of Harare's high-density suburbs found that the city council had disconnected piped water to homes, schools, recreational and shopping centres, as well as police stations.

Residents were thronging wells, boreholes and the few municipal taps in industrial and residential areas to collect water, but the impatient were drawing water from the Mukuvisi River, known to be contaminated with raw sewage and industrial effluent.

Because of our desperation we are collecting water for washing and cooking from the river. Most of us are boiling the water before we use it, but those that are lucking are putting anti-cholera pills in them

"Because of our desperation we are collecting water for washing and cooking from the river. Most of us are boiling the water before we use it, but those that are lucky are putting anti-cholera pills in them," Bridget Fokoyo, 27, who lives in the high-density suburb of Mbare, in the capital, told IRIN.

Beatrice Road is a referral hospital where 5,360 cholera patients have been treated, of which 268 have died, according to WHO. "Even though the wards designated for such cases are less than half full, it is only a matter of days before all the beds are claimed if the water situation does not improve," Moyo said.

Entire family killed by cholera

"It is not surprising that we have a high number of school children coming for treatment. With no water at home and in the schools, there is a high possibility that the children are picking up the disease at school and passing it on at home, where hygiene is poor."

Relatives and friends, many holding containers of the salt-and-sugar solution recommended for the rehydration treatment of cholera victims, brought those suspected of having the disease on wheelbarrows, or in the back seats of private vehicles.

Many patients arrived and first went to be tested for HIV/AIDS and then to the cholera desk a few metres away. "I requested staff at the testing centre to give my sister priority and place us at the front of the queue because I also suspect that she has cholera," Givemore Kabhachi, 48, from Mbare, told IRIN.

"It looks like she has the HIV, but then she started having diarrhoea that I have been told could be due to cholera. I am not leaving anything to chance," he said.

Kabhachi has every reason to be cautious: cholera recently killed a whole family in one of Mbare's neighbourhoods. "First to die was my neighbour's son. Before he could be buried, the father, mother and remaining child were rushed here [Beatrice Hospital] but, unfortunately, they were too late," he said. "They are all still in the mortuary because there is no money to bury them, and the house has since been locked up."

Justice Chasi, an advocacy officer for the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), told IRIN that investigations by the organization showed cholera was spreading to areas that had previously escaped the disease and cited Glen View as an example, which recorded 87 cases last week.

"Our survey indicates that there is some sort of an upsurge in the number of cholera cases reported in the city, and that increase coincides with the critical shortage of safe water in suburbs, a situation which has left residents relying on sources such as rivers, wells and boreholes that have been proved to be unfit for human consumption."

We have also received reports of dead bodies that have been found in water sources and we are still investigating this

Chasi said the water shortages were caused by a lack of water-purifying chemicals, a breakdown in pumping infrastructure and "administrative hiccups" after the transfer of responsibilities from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), the water parastatal, to Harare municipality.

"We have also received reports of dead bodies that have been found in water sources and we are still investigating this," Chasi said.

At another referral centre in Harare's working-class suburb of Budiriro, a nurse who also declined to be named said his application for leave had been turned down by his superiors because of the "overwhelming number" of cholera cases.

According to recent report commissioned by the WHO, all water sources in Budiriro, including borehole water, were found to be contaminated and unsuitable for human consumption.

No rest for medical staff

"Since October last year, I, like my other colleagues at this clinic, have not been able to take time out to rest. I was due to go on leave in the second week of March but have been told that I could not do so, since the outbreak that had shown signs of decreasing is now spreading again," the nurse said.

Some medical staff were transferred to satellite clinics, like the one in the neighbouring suburb of Glen View, where patients were given initial attention before being referred to the Budiriro clinic or Beatrice Road for hospitalization, he said.

"We are recording at least five deaths a day, and even though the figures are not as high as what we experienced when the epidemic broke out last year [2008], it is a cause for concern. I wonder why municipal authorities are cutting water supplies now, when we are still struggling with cholera," he said.

The nurse said unhygienic practices were still prevalent in Budiriro, which has recorded 8,458 cases and 200 deaths.

The Harare City Council has not clamped down on vendors selling food in the open. "These vendors are not helping our case because they are selling fish, meat and fruits in open places," the nurse said. "They are creating breeding grounds for cholera."

Junior Officers Sing Tsvangirai's Praises

http://www.iwpr.net/?p=zim&s=f&o=350646&apc_state=hENfzim350784

Their apparent backing for new prime minister exposes army's divided
loyalties.

By Yamikani Mwando in Bulawayo (ZCR No. 183, 4-Mar-09)

Junior army officers are defying their superiors by reportedly expressing
open support for Morgan Tsvangirai in the wake of the agreement to form an
inclusive government.

Tsvangirai, leader of the main faction of the Movement for Democratic
Change, MDC, was sworn in as prime minister on February 11.

The military has been used for years by President Robert Mugabe to crush
political opposition, but now junior officers, who are mired in poverty
along with the rest of the population, are openly singing Tsvangirai's
praises.

Military sources in Bulawayo say the soldiers are setting themselves on a
collision course with their superiors, who for years have been accused of
propping up Mugabe's increasingly autocratic rule.

It was military chiefs who reportedly masterminded a re-run of last year's
presidential poll. Early reports had indicated that Mugabe, who lost the
first round to Tsvangirai, was ready to concede defeat.

In Bulawayo, low-ranking officers who for years have been subjected to poor
remuneration and harsh working conditions are reportedly taking every
available opportunity to openly voice their support for the new
administration, and the new prime minister in particular.

One military source said during drills, for example, soldiers are chanting
Tsvangirai-themed battle cries, while senior officers watch helplessly.

"They know they cannot be court marshalled for it," a sergeant-major told
IWPR. "It is deliberate and they are rubbing it in after years of living in
fear of their superiors. You hear it in the officers' mess where we meet
everyday. No one is scared anymore."

Discontent has been growing in the ranks for some time.
Late last year, this came to a head when soldiers went on a looting spree in
the streets of Harare and confiscated cash from illegal money changers.

They had been promised payment in foreign currency but, unlike senior
officers, were given worthless Zimbabwe dollars.

Soldiers also went on to pillage the farm of central bank governor Gideon
Gono, claiming he owed them money.

Analysts here say they are not surprised by the latest move by junior
officers to openly voice their support for the prime minister.

"It is as if they are cocking their nose at army bosses who for years have
thrown them onto the streets to beat up opposition party supporters," said
Jacob Mpofu, a Bulawayo-based political analyst and a losing candidate in
last year's parliamentary elections.

"Junior [officers] know the suffering of the people, but we cannot expect
anything more than [their] pro-Tsvangirai chants in the barracks during
drills. Now the stage has been set for the army to show where its allegiance
lies: is it country or Mugabe."

An army chaplain, who preferred not to be named, said junior officers are
making sure they do not criticise Mugabe, but have made it obvious they
welcome Tsvangirai.

The support for Tsvangirai "has always been there but was never this overt",
he said. "The formation of this new government changed everything."

Soldiers' backing for Tsvangirai follows commitments he made soon after
being sworn in to pay the country's civil servants in foreign currency.

But "it is not just about the salaries they have been promised," the army
chaplain told IWPR. "It is about what they themselves believe in without
instruction from their superiors. They do not want to be associated with the
old president."

Yamikani Mwando is the pseudonym of an IWPR-trained journalist in Zimbabwe.
Also in this Issue

Zim teachers back at work

http://www.thetimes.co.za

Moses Mudzwiti Published:Mar 09, 2009

Zimbabwe's month-old unity government has scored a massive coup by
persuading nearly all striking teachers to return to work.

Last month David Coltart the new education minister promised schooling would
be back to normal by today (Monday March 9).

Lovemore Matombo the president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions on
Monday said teachers who had downed their chalk as far back as 2007 had
returned.

The ZCTU president said: "There has been a high subscription of those
returning."

Pay disputes over the last few years had seen running battles between
teachers and the state disrupt schooling for long periods.

"Three quarters of all teachers are back," said Matombo.

Coltart successfully negotiated with striking teachers to report for work by
the beginning of the month.

At the time teachers were demanding salaries of about 2 300 us dollars.

However, Matombo said salary negotiations were still going on and an
appropriate structure would be formulated to reward different levels in the
teaching profession.

Zimbabwe's school system had collapsed under the weight of poor state
funding and striking teachers. Last year the elections also contributed to
major disruptions in the school system.

A good number of teachers were roped in as polling agents.

Matters came to a head early this year when the examinations' authorities
failed to produce end-of-year results for grade seven and senior secondary.

Authorities said they had no money to pay teachers to mark the crucial
examinations.

Children leaving primary could not progress to secondary schools and those
wanting to enter university and other tertiary colleges were stuck.

Last month Coltart met donor nations and secured enough funds to pay
teachers. They have since marked some of the papers.

Matombo said he was upbeat about the positive developments in the education
department.

"I am happy," said the ZCTU president.

Australia hints at policy shift

From The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March

Canberra - The Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, has hinted Australia may
change its policy towards Zimbabwe and help the Prime Minister, Morgan
Tsvangirai, rebuild its shattered economy. Mr Smith said there must be an
inquiry into the car crash that injured Mr Tsvangirai and killed his wife
before any "insidious undertone" could be ruled out. Two of Mr Tsvangirai's
daughters, who have been living in Australia, are on their way to Africa to
be by his side, the ABC reported. Mr Smith suggested the Government might be
about to help Zimbabwe rebuild following years of turmoil and political
violence under President Robert Mugabe. Australia has maintained sanctions
against Zimbabwe following the formation of a unity government bringing
together Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Mugabe, who are bitter foes. "To date, our
approach has been to be very critical of Mr Mugabe, and we'd still prefer
that he walked off the stage," Mr Smith said. "But I'm now giving very
serious consideration to whether we can do more . particularly in the
health, agricultural and education areas." There were some risks in adopting
a new approach, given Mr Mugabe's presence, Mr Smith said. "But my
disposition is we should start the job of helping to rebuild Zimbabwe."

Harare residents dismiss 2009 city budget

Residents across the city of Harare have out rightly rejected the recently announced City of Harare 2009 budget. The budget is expected to raise US$185 million of which 55% of the total budget is expected to be derived from rates paid by the ordinary residents. The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has conducted an analysis of the budget and conducted several public meetings meant to raise awareness amongst the residents and its members in terms of what this budget demands from them as well as its general implications. After this exercise, CHRA held its General Council meeting last Saturday the 7th of March 2009 where all the 46 ward leaders in attendance resolved that they will reject the budget and urged their councilors to revise it accordingly. CHRA ward leaders have also warned that if the budget is approved, residents will embark on a vigorous rates boycott similar to the one conducted as a response to the appointment of the illegal Makwavarara and the successive commissions.

After a thorough analysis of the budget, the Combined Harare Residents Association concluded that the budget has charged levies and tariffs which many residents cannot afford. For instance, the following reflects a monthly budget for an ordinary High density suburb resident;

Given that more than 69% of the total population of Harare residents is unemployed and that of those who are employed; many are civil servants who earn not more than US$100 (ZAR1000), this monthly bill for city of Harare only is just but too high. Apart from that, the absence of water supply and sewer reticulation as sources of revenue for the budget is suspicious. Given the latest developments that the city council has taken back water supply and sewer reticulation management, residents expect that the council would have identified and listed water supply and sewer reticulation as one of the key sources of revenue. Prior to the ZINWA takeover decision, water supply and sewer reticulation contributed 40% revenue to the total budget. Residents suspect that the council technocrats have deliberately left water supply and sewer reticulation as part of the scheme to ensure that all revenue generated from that source is channeled towards packages for the technocrats.

Residents also dismissed the budget on the basis that the council technocrats have not been innovative enough to think of and identify other alternative sources of revenue other than the residents themselves. 55% of the total US$185 million will be generated from the rates paid by residents!! Residents are of the view that the council has numerous business opportunities at its disposal which it can make use of to generate revenue instead of relying on an already overburdened resident.

An analysis of the budget also reflects that the technocrats who crafted it are ill focused in terms of the priority areas. 60% of the total income raised is expected to finance salaries, allowances and administration, while a paltry 10% will be spent on infrastructure and a meager 6% will be spent on Investments. The budget will see the least paid town house employee earning US$290 (ZAR2900) per month! Residents would have thought that the bigger chunk of the revenue should be spent on resuscitating infrastructure and improve service delivery in terms of water provision, health, refuse collection and road maintenance. Residents are also of the view that the budget should also have prioritized developmental projects that aim at addressing urban poverty. CHRA was also perturbed by a huge allocation and projected deficit of US$1, 4 million on what is called the Town clerk central office. This is money to cater for the Town clerk’s allowances and other private goodies apart from his salary!! Thus residents are of the view that the budget should have prioritized health, water supply, refuse collection, road maintenance, public lighting, grass cutting etc instead of salaries and allowances.

Furthermore, the budget has been rejected on the basis that it has been done in a manner that residents and other stakeholders including the business and donor community have not been consulted. CHRA would have expected the councilors to consult residents from their respective wards in terms of identifying the priority areas as well as tariff proposals. Residents have scoffed at the Council resolution to seek the residents’ opinion at the last minute before the budget is forwarded to the Ministry of Local Government. As such residents have refused to rubberstamp the budget but rather urged the councilors to revise it.

The Combined Harare Residents Association is firmly convinced that the technocrats at the town house are taking advantage of the inexperienced nature of the councilors to smuggle in a budget that focuses on their own personal aggrandizement rather than city welfare. As such CHRA urges the Councilors to realize that and stand by the residents to whom they owe their allegiance. CHRA believes that this budget is part of a bigger political plot targeted at making the Councilors unpopular with the residents while at the same time the technocrats accruing huge personal material benefits out of that plot. Please note that the technocrats are responsible for crafting the budget and are employees appointed by the previous Government whom the councilors have limited control over. However the residents expect and urge the councilors to stand up and use the only muscle they have which is to reject this budget.

CHRA therefore urges the councilors not to approve the budget until the following issues have been addressed;

Meanwhile CHRA urges Councilors to immediately conduct parallel and meaningful budget formulation consultative meetings that include residents, the business and donor community. CHRA will vigorously continue to educate the residents and its wide membership on matters to do with this budget. This is part of our quest for a democratic local government system and struggle for the provision of quality and affordable municipal services on a non partisan basis.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Contacts: Mobile: 0912 653 074, 0913 042 981, 011862012 or email ceo@chra.co.zw

TI-Zimbabwe castigates corruption at Harare City Council

http://www.transparency.org

Harare, Zimbabwe, 09 March 2009
The Transparency International Zimbabwe is greatly disturbed by the reports
of massive corruption rocking Harare City Council. Consequently, we urgently
call for a forensic audit to determine the magnitude of the rot that has
dogged the Town House to date. This includes the periods of the illegal and
legal commissions. The issue of the cattle is just a tip of the iceberg and
we believe that the forensic audit will lay the cards bare for public
scrutiny.

Critical in this endeavour are the following:

1. Forensic Audit into all Council Assets and Investments/Revenue Projects.

2. A clear system of public disclosure on the performance of these
investments and all revenue generation projects of Council. This to include
regular (quarterly) income/expenditure statements.

3. Determining of clear and robust accountability systems, their
implementation and power of oversight committees

4. Councilors must have clear risk management controls/mechanisms to arrest
corruption at the very early stages.

5. Councilors as custodians of the Town House, on behalf of the residents,
must be clearly empowered and capacitated to plug off the gaps used by
technocrats to fuel and camouflage corruption.

It is our clear conviction that the apparent gaps in the governance of the
Town House through legitimately elected councils has fuelled the rot. The
oversight role of the councilors is also greatly compromised by a system of
patronage that has destroyed the very fibre of professionalism and ethical
behaviour.

In the interest of transparency and accountability, the decision by the
Council's Audit Committee, to suspend the Town Clerk, so as to pave way for
unhindered investigations, must be effected by the Mayor of the City as soon
as possible. This is critical in the wake of the propensity by the city
officials to fleece residents and ratepayers of their meagre foreign
currency resources.

Transparency International Zimbabwe is a registered trust whose vision is to
have a Zimbabwe society anchored on the values of accountability,
transparency and integrity.

Media contact(s):
John Maketo
263-4-793 247
john@transparency.org.zw

Massive corruption uncovered at Town House

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has learnt that the City of Harare has been rocked by massive corruption involving the sale of council owned cattle. Realizing the extent of the infrastructural deterioration and unavailability of funds, the council allegedly resolved to sell 500 beasts in order to raise funds to use in repairing and maintenance of roads, street-lights, traffic lights and improve provision of other municipal services. The resolution reached was then due for implementation by the workers, with the Town Clerk’s office in the fore. Upon implementing the council resolution, the Town Clerk and other workers are said to have colluded with a known business tycoon (name withheld) to whom the buying tender had been given, to steal over 50 cattle from the council. The business tycoon is said to be an owner of one of the farms near the council’s.

The council allegedly failed to realize the full income from selling the 500 beast as the council workers failed to account for money worth over 50 beasts. The councilors then put together a Special Audit Committee comprising the traditional Audit Committee and all the chairpersons of other committees to investigate the disparities. The special committee had been told by some of the council farm managers that the beasts sold had been slaughtered at Zimbabwe Halala Abattoir near Ruwa, an abattoir they found to be defunct. After getting more leads, the Special Committee then requested a police (ZRP) escort to help them search the businessman’s farm into which they had initially been denied access thus raising more suspicion. Over 50 beasts belonging to the council were found in the businessman’s farm, having been branded with his brand, alongside the council brand which enabled the Special Committee to identify them.

City of Harare owns three farms which are supposed to serve as sources of revenue and ease pressure on the rate payer. Reports of such corruption are emerging at a time when the Council workers have crafted a budget comprised of extremely high tariffs; with 60% of the total income being earmarked for salaries, allowances and administration. Residents have already protested that the proposed budget has failed to prioritize service delivery matters. Meanwhile, the Special Audit Committee, the Audit Committee and other Council Committees have allegedly recommended the suspension of the Town Clerk pending the investigation of this and other issues. The Special Committee will be sitting today, to review its work. The councilors have vowed to stop at nothing in cleansing the Council of corruption and plugging of all other leakages which weaken the Council’s revenue base.

CHRA believes that this case is just but a tip of an iceberg into corrupt activities that have been going on since the appointment of the illegal successive commissions to run the city affairs. The Association therefore urges the Council to investigate and get to the bottom of this matter. Council investment projects must cater for the welfare of the city and must never be a source of personal income of the council workers. CHRA is currently consulting its wide membership on what course of action to take with respect to such reports of corruption by council employees. The Association remains steadfast in its advocacy for democratic, accountable and transparent local governance.

Violent Zanu PF Commanders Get Jail Sentences

http://www.radiovop.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5632&Itemid=171

CHIREDZI, March 8 2009

Three men who were Zanu PF base commanders in Chiredzi North Constituency
last year during the run up to the June 27 presidential runoff elections
were each sentenced to 30 months in jail with hard labour by a Chiredzi
Magistrate for torturing a Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) member.

The three Vengai Zihura (38), Alek Ziwende (38) and Eukeria Muvengwa (37)
were brought before the magistrate on Thursday.

Appearing for the state, Prosecutor Edmore Mbavarira, told the court that
the three assaulted a woman whom they accused of being an MDC-T supporter
using wet and dry logs, before fingering her genitals in front of a mob,
accusing her of supporting Tsvangirai.

The three took chances to put their fingers in the woman (name supplied)'s
genitals and demanded that she 'repent' and support Zanu PF. The incident
took place on 6 June 2008 at Administration Hall A in Mkwasine, Chiredzi
around 1800 hours.

Pleading before Magistrate Judith Zuyu, the three said they were only acting
on instructions of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area Ronald Ndava
(Zanu PF).

However, the magistrate ruled that the three be locked up in prison for 30
months with hard labour.

Chiredzi residents on Friday celebrated news of the three's sentencing.

"We are very happy to hear that those thugs were given a tough jail
sentence. That is a lesson to teach people that violence at election time
does not pay," said Taruvinga Chimedza, a resident.

Tourism industry loses US$ 34m

http://www.fingaz.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=510:tourism-industry-loses-us34m&catid=32:companies-a-markets&Itemid=47

Sunday, 08 March 2009 14:29

Shame Makoshori

Senior Business Reporter

ZIMBABWE'S tourism industry lost US$ 34 million in potential earnings from
business conferences that had to be cancelled last year because of the
political violence that characterised the lead up to the June 27
presidential run-off, The Financial Gazette heard this week.

The losses exclude the hemorrhaging suffered by the industry as a result of
the cancellation of travel commitments after western-backed travel warnings
were intensified last year to discourage tourists from visiting the country
at the height of the political turmoil.

Statistics from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) indicate that about 33
000 tourists had to put their visit to the country on hold between April 1
and July 15 2008, depriving the industry of US$ 10 million in potential
earnings during that period.

ZTA chief executive officer (CEO), Karikoga Kaseke, said more than 7 000
delegates had been pencilled to attend 17 conferences - including the Common
Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) summit - that had to be
deferred or hosted in other countries.

According to the ZTA statistics, on average a tourist visiting the country
on business spends at least US$ 4,800 per stay in Zimbabwe. This translates
to about US$ 33, 6 million from the 7 000 delegates that were expected by
the industry.

"2008 was probably the worst year in our history," Kaseke told new Tourism
and Hospitality Minister, Walter Muzembi on Friday. "Preliminary results
(for 2008) are very negative. Other countries that had not issued travel
warnings started in 2008. With the cholera epidemic we had more serious
problems. Seventeen conferences were cancelled and in excess of 7 000
participants, including delegates to the COMESA summit could not come,"
added the ZTA CEO.

Tourism industry experts are projecting a 20 percent decline in arrivals in
the 12 months to December 31 2008.

Kingdom Financial Holdings Limited (KFHL) said arrival trends in the first
half of 2008 indicate that 531,357 tourists visited the country, down 58
percent compared to the same period in 2007.

Africa remained the largest source market for Zimbabwe contributing about
410 968 or 77,8 percent of total arrivals, mostly from the Southern African
Development Community region.

The remaining arrivals were from the Americas (10 percent), Europe (seven
percent), and Asia (3,7 percent) with Oceania and Middle East markets
combined contributing 2 percent. Average hotel room occupancy rose to 39
percent from 37 percent during the same period, according to KFHL. The
majority of the clientele were Zimbabwean nationals comprising 85 percent in
2007 and 91 percent in 2008.

"The credit crunch also had an impact on travel which resulted in decline in
arrivals into Zimbabwe. Traditional tourist markets used to consist of the
United Kingdom, the United States and Europe. However, due to the recent
rise in travel warnings and poor country image as portrayed by major news
networks, arrivals from these destinations have declined and the country's
reliance on African visitors has increased," said KFHL in a special report
on the tourism industry.

The bank said given that visitors from these regions generally tend to spend
less on food and beverages the tourism sector has suffered a decline in
total revenue.

Mugabe, JOMIC struck prisoners deal

The Financial Gazette

2009 03 08

http://www.fingaz.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=536:mugabe-jomic-struck-prisoners-deal&catid=25:top-stories&Itemid=11

Sunday, 08 March 2009 15:09

THE wheels of justice finally buckled to political pressure as it emerged
that President Robert Mugabe and the Joint Monitoring and Implementation
Committee (JOMIC) struck a deal last week that led to the release of the
political prisoners accused of recruiting people for banditry and
insurgency.

But for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists to be set free
they had to withdraw all applications and/or appeals lodged in the Supreme
and High Courts.

Harare lawyer, Alec Mucha-dehama, revealed this week that he met with
prosecutors from the Attorney General's (AG's) Office who said they had been
advised not to oppose bail on condition that the accused persons dropped
their cases before the higher courts.

This followed a meeting between President Mugabe and members of JOMIC.

JOMIC is the principal body dealing with compliance and monitoring of the
power-sharing agreement signed on September 15 2008.

The Committee is made up of 12 members shared equally between the three main
parties - ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations.

The MDC-T had insisted on the release of the activists saying their
continued detention was in violation of the power-sharing agreement.

Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary-General had urged government to
release the political prisoners last week, saying the world body was
concerned about the reports of arrests and detentions and that "it's not the
time" for him to visit Zimbabwe.

Prime Minister and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai had earlier told reporters
that President Mugabe had agreed to free political prisoners but that the
AG, Johannes Tomana, was resisting.

"Representatives of the AG's office called us and indicated that it had been
presented to them that the President met with JOMIC members and that the
accused persons must withdraw their applications before the Supreme and High
Courts as a condition for bail," said Mucha-dehama.

"We met with prosecutors - Roderick Tokwe, Michael Mugabe and one
Chikoshwe - who in court informed the magistrate of the latest development.
They told the magistrate that the President and JOMIC had agreed that the
accused persons must be released. However, it must be noted that the
prosecutors did not indicate whether their cases had been weakened neither
did they say they were no longer as serious as before. We undertook to
withdraw the appeals hence their release," he said.

But Beatrice Mtetwa, representing human rights activist, Jestina Mukoko,
said she would not pander to the whims of the State and declared her
application before the Supreme Court still stands.

She said: "I have not and will not withdraw my client's application. It's an
unlawful condition and against public morality. I can't understand why the
Attorney General should ask any person to abandon their constitutional
rights."

Mtetwa is challenging, in the Constitutional Court, Mukoko's detention for
19 days and the State's failure to prosecute her kidnappers.

Tomana yesterday commended the defendants for agreeing to withdraw all
applications and or appeals lodged in the Supreme and High Courts.

"That was the right decision to make because they had not followed formal
procedures," the AG told The Financial Gazette yesterday.

First to be granted bail by Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe were eight MDC-T
supporters and human rights defenders who were picked up last year on
allegations of recruiting people for acts of banditry.

They were granted US$ 600 bail each, ordered to report twice a week at their
nearest police stations, surrender all travel documents and reside at given
addresses.

Mukoko, the Zim-babwe Peace Project director, was released on Monday on US$
600 bail, US$ 20 000 surety and ordered to report twice a week at Norton
Police Station until finalisation of her case.

She had spent almost three months in jail on charges of recruiting people to
perpetrate acts of banditry and insurgency.

Meanwhile, lawyers representing Roy Bennett, the deputy minister of
agriculture-designate yesterday said they had complied with the High Court's
bail conditions and were preparing for their client's release today.

Last week, High Court Judge Tedius Karwi granted the MDC treasurer US$ 2,000
bail, ordered him to report twice a week at Harare Central Police Station,
surrender his passport and reside at a given address.

The State appealed against the judgment, which was thrown out on Tuesday
prompting prosecutors to seek recourse in the Supreme Court.

Yesterday, Supreme Court Judge Paddington Garwe ordered Bennett's lawyers to
file their heads of arguments before he makes a ruling today at 3pm.

Mutare lawyer Trust Maanda said yesterday: "We have complied with the High
Court order and expect that he will be released tonight. What took us long
was the delay in securing the Warrant of Liberation, but that has been
done."

Bennett stands accused of possessing arms to overthrow President Mugabe's
government in 2006.

Mujuru's diamond mine stake questioned

The Financial Gazette

2009 03 08

http://www.fingaz.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=535:mujurus-diamond-mine-stake-questioned&catid=25:top-stories&Itemid=11

Sunday, 08 March 2009 15:07

BULAWAYO

Former army commander Solomon Mu-juru's ownership of a stake in River Ranch
Diamond Mine is now in question following a High Court judgment that seemed
to be saying the mine was owned by another company, Bubye Minerals.

River Ranch legal advisor George Smith, however, said on Tuesday though he
had not seen the judgment, if an article he had read in the local daily
correctly reflected what was said in the judgment then "I find the
conclusions of the judge to be incredible".

Mujuru was offered a stake in River Ranch by Saudi Arabian billionaire Adel
Aujan in 2004. Aujan had been invited by the directors of Bubye Minerals who
had acquired the mine through a Deed of Compromise after it went into
liquidation in 1998. The directors of Bubye Minerals needed a partner with
foreign currency so that they could pay the shareholders of Auridium which
previously owned the mine.Aujan kicked out Bubye Minerals in 2004 after he
fell out with its directors Michael and Adele Farquhar and invited Mujuru
and Tirivanhu Mudariki, a close associate of the former army commander, as
well as other directors who included lawyer Adrian de Bourbon.

The ownership question was raised by a High Court judgment by Justice
Chinembiri Bhunu which was delivered on February 9 in which the Farquhars
were charged with stealing equipment estimated at US$ 116 600 from the mine.

They were also accused of externalising US$ 60 000.

The equipment included 12 motor vehicles, four motor cycles, a grader, a
bulldozer, three dump trucks, two haul trucks, 15 rifles, two shotguns and
seven pistols.

Justice Bhunu acquitted Michael and Adele Farquhar on the theft charges
saying that evidence that had been given in court clearly indicated that
they had not stolen any equipment because it was now owned by their company.

He said the trial on the externalisation charges could proceed.

He said evidence given in court showed that Bubye Minerals had legally
acquired the Special Grant 1278/98 authorising it to mine at River Ranch
after winning a public tender through a Deed of Compromise that had been
drawn up by the liquidators, KPMG.

The evidence given in court indicated that the grant was not freely
transferable. This could only be done by public tender.

"Bubye Minerals won the tender and the Deed of Compromise was duly signed on
the 13th October 1999," the judge said.

The Judge said assets belonging to the mine were lawfully sold to Bubye
Minerals in the course of the liquidation of River Ranch.

This was clearly stated in a letter from Theresa Grimmel who represented
KPMG. She wrote on 9 February 2001: "River Ranch Limited (in liquidation).

Please be advised that in terms of the Deed of Compromise ratified by the
High Court in November 1999 all vehicles previously registered in the name
of River Ranch Limited and Auridium Zimbabwe (Private) Limited have been
transferred to Bubye Minerals (Private) Limited."

Another letter cited by the judge, and dated 6 January 2000, also clearly
showed that Bubye Minerals now owned River Ranch. It stated: "This is to
confirm that Bubye Minerals (Private) Limited have by the order of the High
Court case number HC 161/99 purchased the shares in River Ranch Limited by
Deed of Compromise. They are therefore authorised to sell three caterpillar
dump trucks."

Smith, a former High Court judge, argued that Bubye had never been given the
right to sell all the articles in question. It had only been authorised to
sell some dump trucks.

He agreed with Bhunu that the Special Grant that entitled the holder to mine
diamonds at River Ranch was not transferable. But unlike Bhunu, Smith said
it was not transferable "by public tender or in any other way".

"River Ranch did not get the Special Grant by public tender. The Special
Grant was issued to River Ranch in 1992. In 2004 the then Permanent
Secretary, Mr Chigudu, consented to the cession of the Special Grant to
Bubye Minerals. When Bubye Minerals asked him to consent, River Ranch never
approached him nor did he consult River Ranch.

"Bubye Minerals and the Ministry of Mines accepted that as amounting to an
actual cession of the Special Grant. However, Judge Kamocha in his judgment
said that what Chigudu did was not in fact a cession. Judge Kamocha said
that River Ranch was, and always had been, the lawful holder of the Special
Grant. The Special Grant does not belong to Bubye Minerals," he argued
referring to another judgment in the long -drawn dispute that has raged
between Bubye and River Ranch since 2004.

During the trial before Justice Bhunu, one of the directors of River Ranch
and an employee of Adel Aujan, George Kantsouris insisted that the Farquhars
had stolen the mine's equipment but the judge said Kantsouris was a "dubious
character whose evidence had no ring of truth".

He also questioned Kantsouris's status and right to work in the country.

Kantsouris is South African and came to Zimbabwe initially as Aujan's
special assistant before he was appointed chief executive of River Ranch
after being seconded by African Management Services Company through a
partnership that is still raising a lot of questions.

Smith said it was difficult to find any basis for the judge's findings about
Kantsouris. "Mr Kantsouris was at the time an AMSCO employee and he had been
seconded by AMSCO to work as Chief Executive Officer for River Ranch.

He was perfectly entitled to live and work in Zimbabwe. His status and right
to work in Zimbabwe was never in question," he said.

Calls grow for independent investigation of Tsvangirai crash

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
09 March 2009

As calls grow for an independent investigation into last Friday's car crash
that claimed the life of Susan Tsvangirai, it has emerged that a team sent
immediately by the MDC to photograph the scene were all arrested by police.

The party's policy coordinator, Eddie Cross, explained on Monday that two
teams were sent to the site, to carry out preliminary investigations for the
MDC, with the first team arriving on the scene before police had gathered.
The group, which included the Vice President of the Commercial Farmers Union
Deon Theron, were promptly arrested while photographing and filming the
scene. The group was only released after spending Friday night in police
cells.

Cross said that all the equipment being used by the team was confiscated and
is yet to be released back into the hands of the MDC, which has launched an
independent inquiry into the crash. Cross explained that while the party is
trying to retrieve all the footage captured at the crash site, independent
investigators are using other information gathered there to start the
inquiry.

The arrests by the police have prompted fresh suspicions that the crash was
more than a terrible accident. The speculation surrounding the tragic events
has seen several organisations call for independent inquiries, including
South Africa's Christian Democratic Party, which called the circumstances
surrounding the crash 'deeply suspicious.'

"(We are) deeply suspicious as to the cause of the crash coming less than a
month after Mr Tsvangirai was sworn in as prime minister and with Mr
Tsvangirai having been a victim of multiple political assassination
attempts," said the party in a statement released Sunday.

Critics meanwhile have argued that investigations by the police, and even by
the MDC, won't be reliable in unveiling the truth behind the crash, with the
chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) arguing that
political decisions might cloud the outcome of any inquiry.

"Obviously the results would be based on the political decisions that affect
the unity government," NCA chairman, Lovemore Madhuku said in an interview
with South Africa's News24 website. "Each party will come out with what
suits it best, especially at this time when the political situation in the
country remains unstable."

At the same time, the continued detention of a key figure in the MDC's
security department has raised further suspicions. Observers have argued
that such a collision would not have occurred if the MDC head of security,
Chris Dlamini had been in charge of organising secure travelling
arrangements for the Prime Minister, saying his continued detention is
'highly convenient'.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai meanwhile has moved to allay fears that the
collision was a deliberate attempt on his life, telling reporters on Monday
that the crash was nothing more than an accident and that "if there was any
foul play, it was one in a thousand." Eddie Cross on Monday also moved to
rule out foul play, explaining that "our investigations have not yet
uncovered anything suspicious."

NRZ Loses U.S.$108 000 Worth of Equipment

http://www.herald.co.zw/

Published by the government of Zimbabwe

7 March 2009

Harare - THE National Railways of Zimbabwe has lost overhead and contact
wires worth US$108 000 that has disrupted services between Harare and
Bulawayo.

In a statement yesterday NRZ spokesperson Mr Fanuel Masikati said thieves
stole a large stretch of overhead catenary and contact wire between Makwiro
and Kutama, as well as between Lochnivar and Marimba on Tuesday this week.

"The theft has resulted in the passenger train from Bulawayo to Harare to
delay by almost 12 hours on Monday and Tuesday. This has also adversely
affected the movement of freight trains along the same route most travellers
prefer passenger trains since they offer an alternative and are affordable,"
he said.

Mr Masikati said the constant thefts are very expensive for the organisation

"It is also worth noting that a large percentage of revenue generated is
spent on replacing stolen and vandalised equipment, which is always stolen
soon after replacing at great cost to the organisation.
"Although we recover 92 percent of the cables reported stolen, some
vandalised cables and components are damaged beyond use hence the need to
replace them," he said. He appealed to the public to report any persons
suspected to be vandalising and stealing railway property to the nearest
police station. "Our railway security personnel is being assisted by armed
ZRP officers to patrol suspected areas.

Break on Food Inflation Eases Hardships

http://www.iwpr.net/EN-zim-f-350784

Falling food prices have brought measure of relief to struggling
Zimbabweans.

By Chipo Sithole in Harare (ZCR No. 183, 9-Mar-09)

For the first time in a decade, Zimbabwe's supersonic inflation is slowing
down, with the price of some basic commodities dropping by up to 50 per
cent.

But it's not clear whether this is due to measures introduced by the new
government or the shortage of hard currency to pay for goods in the country's
recently dollarised economy.

A loaf of bread is now retailing for 50 US cents, half of its previous
price. The cost of a kilogramme of beef has dropped from eight to three
dollars and a 12.5 kg bag of the staple food mealie meal has been cut from
ten to six dollars. Before the formation of the new government - in which
ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change, MDC - prices of basics
doubled almost daily.

The official dollarisation of the economy and the lifting of restrictive
import duties on food items - measures contained in a budget statement last
month - have allowed basic goods to come in duty free from neighbouring
Botswana and regional powerhouse South Africa.

Supermarkets have restocked their empty shelves and the country is awash
with various commodities, all of them priced in foreign currency - the US
dollar, the Botswana pula and the South African rand being the preferred
tender.

Some economists believe that the decline in the price of consumer goods can
be attributed to the liberalising impact of new finance minister, MDC
secretary general Tendai Biti's budget statement - which borrowed heavily
from the MDC's economic blueprint.

Others, however, have suggested that it's because there's simply not enough
hard currency in circulation to pay for the influx of goods. Economist Luxon
Zembe, ex-president of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, told IWPR,
"Currently there is a serious cash crisis in terms of forex. There are
plenty of goods and little money available. So prices are going down as a
result."

Remittances from exiled Zimbabweans, which had helped shore up the economy,
had dropped dramatically as the global credit crunch and the resultant job
losses have taken their toll on Zimbabweans, he said.

The flip side of the break on inflation is that the cost of public sector
services have been going up as the government tries to claw back revenue
lost when the practically valueless Zimbabwe dollar was in circulation.

The state-run mobile telephone network provider Net*One and its sister,
fixed line network TelOne, are currently at the centre of a consumer storm
sparked by exorbitant bills sent to subscribers after the companies started
charging in foreign currency last month. Consumers have received mobile
phone bills ranging from 50 to 20,000 US dollars. The Harare municipality
has sent out very high monthly water bills, from 40 US dollars upwards, as
has power utility Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, ZESA.

"The drop in prices has been specifically on basics: mealie meal, meat, and
so on, but other services have gone up markedly. The rates being charged by
the City of Harare and all government parastatals are quite frightening.
They are fundraising from people, yet they are not providing the services,"
Rogers Matsikidze, director of the Zimbabwe Labour Centre, said.

Analysts believe the government must boost industrial and agricultural
production to generate critically needed foreign currency and stabilise
prices, as it is struggling to raise money to finance itself. The new prime
minister, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, has pleaded for two billion US
dollars from South Africa, but this has not been forthcoming. The
international community is wary of funding the new government before it sees
evidence of genuine power sharing and reform.

The revival of the economy has become one of the new government's most
urgent tasks.

Curbing inflation is seen as vital to pulling the country out of a ten-year
recession marked by chronic shortages of foreign currency, fuel and food.

But despite falling consumer prices, the inflation rate remains the highest
in the world - almost 89.7 sextillion per cent, according to independent
estimates. The last official estimates were issued in July last year, when
government's Central Statistical Office announced that the rate had risen to
231 million per cent.

Chipo Sithole is the pseudonym of an IWPR-trained journalist in Zimbabwe.

ADF statement on Zimbabwe

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Monday, 09 March 2009

Findings from ADF Solidarity Mission to Zimbabwe
The Africa Democracy Forum (ADF), a network of over 450 democracy and
human rights organizations throughout Africa, expresses its solidarity with
courageous civilsociety groups in Zimbabwe as a number of political, social,
economic, and humanitarian challenges still face the country's critical
transitional period.
On 20-21 February, 2009, Hannah Forster of the Gambia, Paul Graham of
South Africa, and Francesca Bomkoko of the Democratic Republic of Congo,
members of the ADF Management Committee, visited Harare, Zimbabwe, to convey
the ADF's solidarity to Zimbabwean civil society and assess the current
situation in the country as the "transitional" government is in place.
Having met with over a dozen civil society organizations, representing
international humanitarian organizations, human rights organizations, media
groups, religious groups, labor unions, youth and student movements, and a
group of concerned residents, the ADF delegation noted that since the
establishment of the "Government of National Unity" on 11 February 2009,
there had been a more open, but still very limited, space for civil society
to engage in their activities and more opportunities for a dialogue with the
Government. However, the ADF delegation also found that while welcoming the
new Government, many civil society groups were
anxious about the future of the Government and the full implementation
of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA), which was signed by ZANU-PF and two
factions of the Movement for Democratic Change on 15 September 2008.
During ADF's visit, Zimbabwean civil society groups expressed their
concerns over lack of full implementation of the GPA. In addition to the
establishment of an inclusive government, the GPA was to end all forms of
political violence, restore rule of law, safe-guard the freedom of the
media, restore economic stability, allow access to humanitarian aid for
those in need, and work towards the writing of a people-driven democratic
constitution. Civil society groups argue that the Government still has much
more to ensure a successful transition under the GPA, and
they are committed to monitor the implementation of the GPA. As this
statement is being issued, 22 civil society organizations have jointly
established a civil society monitoring mechanism. Please find the
Communiqué attached.
Civil society groups call the Government to respect the GPA by ending
political violence immediately. Numerous abducted and arrested political
and human rights activists, such as Ms. Jestina Mokoko and Mr. Roy Bennet,
are still in custody. The intimidation of civil society activists
reportedly continues. Some civil society representatives also pointed that
Zimbabwe needed to start discussing issues of transitional justice and
healing and retribution processes.
Many groups expressed that the recent dollarization of the country's
economy was not
a sustainable solution to the economic crisis. It is extremely
difficult for ordinary citizens to access US dollars. The Government does
not even have sufficient US dollars to distribute to its civil servants.
The formation of the unnecessarily large Cabinet only deepens concerns about
the financial stability of the Government. The education and health system
is also dollarized, and this is making more difficult for people to continue
their education and access to health
services.
A representative of an international humanitarian group's local office
pointed out that many donors were still unwilling to provide support for
humanitarian and development projects, and taking a "wait and see" approach
to the new unity Government. Even though foreign donors might be interested
in supporting humanitarian and development projects, their support cannot go
directly to the ministries that handle those projects. All foreign aid is
required to go through
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose minister is a member of
ZANU-PF, a party of
President Robert Mugabe. This causes lack of enthusiastic support
from foreign
donors.
While monitoring the implementation of the GPA is important, some
groups believe that the GPA is not necessarily meant to enhance democratic
space in society. For example, the GPA was a result of a series of secret
negotiations among political parties; therefore, the will of people was not
reflected in the GPA. Also, the GPA allows only exiting media groups to
operate, but does not provide media freedom. Moreover, the GPA does not
ensure gender balance in the Government of National Unity. Women are not
sufficiently represented in the newly formed Cabinet.
One of the most important issues that civil society groups focus today
is the constitution-writing process, followed by a constitutional
referendum, as indicated in the GPA. Civil society seeks to ensure that the
constitution-writing process be people-driven and that the new constitution
help create an open society in the country leading to democratic elections.
The current process is heavily controlled by the Government/Parliament. For
example, Chairperson of the parliamentary constitution-writing committee,
which authorizes the process and an outcome, must be a member of the
Parliament. Given that the negotiation for the Global Political
Agreement and to form a unity government did not involve civil society
and citizens, and because there is no longer an opposition party in the
parliament, many civil society members are deeply concerned that ruling
political parties would dominate the process of reconstructing the country
and that citizens would be excluded from the constitution-writing process.
For the successful people-driven process, Zimbabwean groups are eager to
learn from experiences of other countries in Africa, such as South Africa
and Kenya.
The ADF pays tribute to Zimbabwean civil society groups, working
tirelessly to build and maintain democracy in their country, and urges the
international community to provide its maxim support for those courageous
groups. The ADF calls on the Government of National Unity to implement the
Global Political Agreement fully and to make every effort to ensure that
this transitional period will result in the enhancement of Zimbabwe's
democracy. Finally, the ADF demands the immediate release of Ms. Mukoko and
other democracy and human rights activists, who remain in custody.
Hannah Forster
Chairperson

Workers sent Home as Banks Feel the Pinch

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Monday, 09 March 2009
A NUMBER of banks have sent employees on forced leave amid reports of
looming retrenchments as the financial services sector becomes the latest
casualty of the economic downturn.

Banking executives said last week the situation had deteriorated to
levels where "some employees had to be sacrificed and those on contract were
the first casualties".
The situation is not only confined to major multi-national banks,
local institutions were also struggling to adjust to the prevailing
conditions.
The advances departments at most banks had become the biggest losers
as financial institutions no longer give out loans to depositors in a
dollarised economy, where the local unit has lost its function as a store of
value.
Staff that used to be busy when the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)
became big business and those who were employed to process cheques has also
been affected.
Repeated efforts to get a comment from Dr John Mangudya, the Bankers'
Association of Zimbabwe chairman, were fruitless as he was attending a
series of meetings throughout the week.
However, executives were hopeful that the US$2 billion Sadc initiative
would boost confidence in the sector.
"It helps in developing confidence because it is financed through the
financial sector," an executive said last week.
Blessings Mujuru, president of the Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers'
Union (ZIBAWU), said the workers' representative body had not received any
official communication on the state of affairs in the industry but said
negotiations were being done at the Works Council level.
"These things (forced leave) are being agreed at Works Council. The
councils are also negotiating for salary increases," he said.
Sending of workers on forced leave comes at a time when a number of
financial institutions had announced plans to close down some of their
branches citing declining business.
Kingdom Financial Holdings Limited will close two of branches in
Harare and Chitungwiza.
Mujuru said the retrenchment of workers at the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe (RBZ) would encourage other banks to follow suit. "If the mother
bank retrenches, it encourages other banks to also retrench," he said.
Mujuru said salary negotiations in the industry were ongoing and a
meeting was scheduled for Monday to resolve the impasse.
ZIBAWU had bargained for housing, transport and cost of living
allowances separately but employers said they would offer US$40 for
allowances.
Employers then said they would offer US$40 as cost of living allowance
but without catering for transport and housing.
"They (employers) then upped the offer to US$80 as cost of living
excluding transport and housing and negotiations resume on Tuesday," Mujuru
said.
thezimbabwestandard

Sokwanele Newsletter : Zimbabwe mourns the death of Susan Tsvangirai

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

A tragic portrait

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au

March 10, 2009

Article from: The Australian
Morgan Tsvangirai is the face of suffering Zimbabwe

THE face of suffering Africa is generally a starving child, but it could
also be Morgan Tsvangirai. Mr Tsvangirai has long led the opposition to
Robert Mugabe's kleptocratic government in Zimbabwe. He has been
photographed bruised and beaten by Mugabe's thugs. He has been photographed
on his way to prison for opposing a regime where millions face famine and
cholera. He has been photographed in exile as African leaders ignore his
pleas for help against the Mugabe regime.

And now, just when Mr Tsvangirai has finally forced the Mugabe regime to
share power, he is being photographed in hospital, after a car crash that
killed his wife, with Mugabe staring balefully at him. This accident -- and
for once it seems the Mugabe Government was not responsible for doing Mr
Tsvangirai harm -- is a disaster for Zimbabwe. Mugabe and his henchmen abhor
the agreement that saw Mr Tsvangirai become Prime Minister, but it was an
improvement on the long years of Mugabe's capricious rule.

Whatever happens next, Mr Tsvangirai deserves to be honoured, like Nelson
Mandela, as a stalwart soldier in the service of ordinary Africans. Yet he
has too long been ignored by Western aid activists and the developing world
lobby because the man he opposed was also a black African, a so-called
freedom fighter. It is passing strange that faux friends of Africa have
dared not denounce Mugabe while they have left his opponent to rot. Perhaps
Mr Tsvangirai will soldier on when he recovers, but he would have every
right to give up in disgust.

Canada cancel Zimbabwe warm-up tour

http://content.cricinfo.com

Cricinfo staff

March 9, 2009

Canada's proposed tour of Zimbabwe, which was part of their preparations for
the ICC World Cup Qualifiers, has been scrapped after Cricket Canada
backtracked on its request for a series of matches.

Zimbabwe Cricket was approached in early February and agreed to host a
series of matches in late March to help the Canadians acclimatise. It was
intended to play at least four ODIs against a Zimbabwe A side.

However, at a board meeting on February 21, Cricket Canada decided to cancel
the trip, telling ZC that "there were some concerns about Canada being able
to field a competitive side in Zimbabwe as well as taking into account the
Canadian government's health advisory for Zimbabwe at this time."

© Cricinfo

Expense	Description	Amount (USD)	Amount in South African Rand
Rates	Please note that for Low Density Areas, it stands at us$109	35	350
Rent	For a council owned apartment	109	1090
Refuse collection	Where refuse is collected only once per week	10	100
Consultation at a clinic ( Given the cholera epidemic, there are high chances of one falling sick)	An average of 4 visits to a council owned hospital. This does not include the medical drugs	80	800
Ambulance fee	Where due to cholera a family in Budiriro may need an ambulance for an average of 4 times	80	800
Total	Please note that this does not include water, sewer reticulation, food, medical drugs, school fees and other necessities	314	3140

Prime Minister says car crash was an accident