Millions In Zimbabwe Face Hunger Crisis

5:44am UK, Thursday March 11, 2010

Emma Hurd, Africa correspondent

The International Red Cross has launched an urgent appeal for funding in response to a new hunger crisis in Zimbabwe.

Some 2.8 million Zimbabweans - almost a third of the population - are in need of food aid, and the number is expected to rise as a result of a widespread drought.

Across Masvingo province, in the centre of the country, the parched fields are full of dead or dying maize.

Sky News found a family of four orphans picking through the weeds on their land around their homestead, trying to find something edible.

Ernest Mheti, 17, is caring for his two brothers, aged nine and seven, and his 13-year-old sister.

He was relying on his now-shrivelled crop, planted alongside the mounds of earth that mark the graves of his parents, to provide them with food for the next six months.

The Mhiti family look for food next to their parent's grave

"I cannot sleep at night because I know they are suffering because I cannot find food," Ernest said.

The Red Cross has set up feeding programmes to try to support the most vulnerable, but a lack of funding means only limited help.

At one of the centres, more than 60 children under the age of five queued up to get their plates filled with a pile of maize meal porridge and beans.

They are all orphans, and the two meals a day they are given at the centre are all they get to eat. Sometimes the money - and the food - runs out.

"When we don't feed them, they just get water at home," the project co-ordinator Musa Gumbo said.

Travelling through Masvingo you would be forgiven for thinking that people had already finished harvesting. The fields are empty because the rains failed.

Aid worker Stambuli Kim on the drought in Zimbabwe

The Red Cross is facing a shortfall of $23.9m (£15.9m) for its programmes in Zimbabwe, which include home care for those infected by HIV.

Hunger is impacting the efforts to provide anti-retroviral treatment to the sick because the medication has to be taken on a full stomach.

"We have seen people default on their treatment because the drugs are too toxic without food," Emma Kundishora, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Red Cross said.

Zimbabwe's year-old national unity government, led by president Robert Mugabe and his old rival Morgan Tsvangirai, has so far done little to address the widespread poverty that was largely caused by Mugabe's years of misrule

Situation Is Grim - And Getting Worse'

Eyewitness March 10, 2010 11:30 PM

My name is Stambuli Kim. I've been working for the Zimbabwe Red Cross for more than four years. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been travelling throughout the country as part of our food security operation. The situation on the ground is really grim and getting worse.

Travelling through Masvingo (a province to the South of Harare) you would be forgiven for thinking that people had already finished harvesting. But this is not the case. The fields are empty because the rains failed. Crops were planted in December, but the rains never came for two months and now people have nothing.

To get a feel of the food insecurity situation in the area, I visited a few households where the Red Cross is supporting people living with HIV and Aids. They - perhaps more severely than anyone else - feel the effects of hunger.

Two years ago, HIV positive, 42-year-old Christopher Chikutuwa was bed ridden. But with access to anti-retroviral therapy, he is now able to do some general chores to ensure that his family gets some food.

However, his body is no longer strong enough; he is feeling weaker each day. Despite not having food, he still must take the drugs. Not doing so would quickly compromise his health. But it is quite a tricky decision for him as taking the drugs without food is equally disastrous - they are toxic and painful on an empty stomach.

Despite his ailing condition, he cannot afford to stop looking for work. He needs to put food on the table. The need is even more apparent as his wife and four month old baby are also HIV positive and taking anti retroviral therapy.

His little girl clutches on her mother's bony chest, suckling for the precious milk but it is not coming. The breast is dry since her mother rarely has more than one small meal of plain sadza (a thick porridge) each day.

We need money so that we can provide food for families like Christopher's, and so that we can help them to avoid being in this situation again next year.

www.ifrc.org/zimbabwe

Electricity shortages affect wheat crop

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=27901

March 11, 2010

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - Severe electricity shortages are putting paid to any chance of
Zimbabwe harvesting a winter wheat crop that will ease chronic food
shortages, Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development
Joseph Made has told Parliament.

Made spoke as Zimbabwe was mulling decommissioning six generation units at
the 750 MW Hwange Thermal Power Station, whose output has slumped to only 50
MW due to successive downtime at the creaky plants.

Made, responding to a question from Mutare South MP Fred Kanzama on what the
ministry was doing to ensure that there was enough wheat, said the winter
crop was beset by shortages of electricity.

"I want to emphasize that for those that will be going into the winter wheat
crop, you have to make sure that you have adequate water, but mainly that
electricity will be available," Made said.

"I had a discussion with the Minister of Energy and Power Development to
make sure that we put clusters to farmers and indicate which area we think
we should not have load shedding just like we did last year and the previous
seasons."

Made blamed power shortages for the wheat shortfall, saying that electricity
cuts had affected irrigation and halved crop yields per acre.

State-owned power firm Zesa Holdings is stepping up power rationing to meet
high demand. It is not clear if wheat farmers will be guaranteed power, even
though Made intimated that government was eager to boost the winter crop.

Power cuts have become a regular occurrence in Zimbabwe, where a shortage of
foreign currency has prevented investment in the country's creaky power
generation infrastructure.

Responding to a question from Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya on what
activities were being put in place to avert power shortages, the deputy
minister of Energy and Power Development Hubert Nyanhongo said the plant at
Hwange was old and could no longer continue to produce electricity the
nation required.

"I would want to say until we are capable of constructing a new power
station at Hwange, that way we will be guaranteed of power," Nyanhongo said.

Made said there was adequate water as it was raining heavily now.

"We also have a challenge on the financial resources," Made said. "I am
happy to say that the Minister of Finance has already released resources to
the extent of US$10 million from government and the extra US$10 million from
government, he will be looking for it as we move. I am also happy that CBZ
has indicated that it will also support the winter wheat crop."

Despite Made's upbeat projections, farming experts say more bakeries could
shut and warned there would be no bread for the foreseeable future as the
government admitted that wheat production had collapsed after the seizure of
white-owned farms.

An official with Bakers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) said many bakeries in
Harare and Bulawayo faced flour shortages and were also struggling to secure
funds from banks to import wheat.

"The situation is now critical," said the BAZ official. "Most bakeries have
run out of flour and have no funds to import wheat."

Experts warn wheat harvests could be down to a third of what is required,
and that imports could further be held up by lack of hard currency.

Critics accuse President Robert Mugabe of presiding over the destruction of
the country's economy in a bid to extend his hold on power.

But he says Zimbabwe's economic problems are primarily due to foreign
sanction

Violent clashes escalate between student factions

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
11 March 2010

Violent clashes between the two factions of the Zimbabwe National Students
Union (ZINASU) are threatening to spiral out of control, after students
loyal to a faction beaten up over the weekend, retaliated on Tuesday. Last
year ZINASU split into two groups, one supporting the MDC and the government
constitution making process and the other opposed to it and supported by the
National Constitutional Assembly and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.

The memorial service for the late Susan Tsvangirai at Glamis Stadium in
Harare on Saturday became a battleground for influence between the two
factions. Its alleged MDC-T youths attacked the ZINASU executive led by
President Tafadzwa Mugwadi, seen as opposing their party in the power
struggle. But on Wednesday the faction led by President Joshua Chinyere, and
accused of planning the attacks at the memorial service, issued a statement
claiming their leaders had been assaulted on Tuesday.

Spokesman Wisdon Mgagara said their members were surrounded near Fourth
Street in Harare 'by these thugs, who started beating them with logs, metal
objects, knives and clenched fists, accusing them of failing to support the
"Take Charge" Constitutional Campaign. The leaders were taken to the Avenues
Clinic for medical attention. The Secretary General Grant Tabvurei,
sustained head and mouth injuries.

Newsreel spoke to both factions on Thursday and their version of events
differed greatly. Mugwadi denied his executive organized any retaliatory
attacks. He however said they gave feedback to students back in college over
what happened at the memorial and it was possible some may have decided to
take the law into their own hands and retaliate. Mgagara, speaking for his
faction, said their rivals had wanted to politicize the memorial and MDC-T
youths were forced 'to apply some physical counseling to the guys.'

A former student leader who spoke to Newsreel said the students did not have
any differences between themselves and alleged they were being exploited by
the MDC-T on the one hand and the ZCTU and NCA on the other. 'The major
players in this equation have to put a stop to this, otherwise these clashes
have the potential to get out of control and ultimately tarnish these
organizations,' he said. He added that the chaos was a product of the slow
pace of democratic reform, with everything still mired in confusion and
protracted negotiation, and people are getting frustrated.
 

Education ministry in battle to restore basic education

http://www.zicora.com/

Posted By Own Staff Friday, 12 March 2010 01:21

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, David Coltart has said the main
challenge his ministry was facing was restoring basic education for all
children, a position that once existed in the 1980s.

Minister David Coltart said although the county's education was improving he
hoped the sector would revert to the 1980s era where the quality of
education was admirable.The minister said he often joked in public and in
private that while he has had disagreements with President Robert Mugabe,
there was one item they both agreed on.

He said it was how during the first decade after acquiring Independence, the
Government made great strides by developing a sound education system, which
was arguably one of the best in the world.

"Our education was one of the first to grow in Africa and arguably one of
the best in the world. It was good for Zimbabweans, as it didn't remain
apreserve to be looked at later but was developed so that everyone could
enjoy its benefits regardless of creed, race or status. Our country had one
of the leading literacy rates then," he said.

However, the minister said tragically that trend dropped as the country
failed to allocate sufficient resources needed for the sector."Education
needs a lot of funding and we have not been allocating it the needed funds,"
he said.

The minister said the ministry was looking beyond the Education Transition
Fund, which aimed at restoring acceptable levels of textbooks in all primary
schools, as the books were soon to be distributed. He said the focus was on
motivating teachers and learners.

"The important ingredients in producing quality education is having highly
motivated teachers," he said. Minister Coltart said the country had highly
qualified staff but they were struggling to show themselves due to poor
remuneration.

"There is no quick solution to that as we need the economy to pick up. What
I am doing as minister is building a good relationship with the teachers.
Next week, the respective trade unions and I will attend a workshop in
Eastern highlands, sponsored by the World Bank," he said.

He said despite teachers concerns and with limited resources available, it
was important to have a good working relationship with teachers.The minister
said parents and teachers had the same worries that led to the high levels
of stress.

"We have to show respect and kindness to each other, both parents and
teachers by so doing we can reduce the high levels of stress we have as a
nation," he said.
 

Zimbabwe struggles to attract foreign aid: Finance Minister

http://af.reuters.com/

Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:53pm GMT

By Nelson Banya

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe will have to rely on its own resources to revive
its economy because foreign donors are unlikely to provide nearly enough
help, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said on Thursday.

A unity government formed by bitter adversaries President Robert Mugabe and
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last year says it needs at least $10
billion to fix an economy emerging from a decade-long slump.

But key Western donors have withheld aid and demanded broad political
reforms and assurances that Mugabe is ready to genuinely share power.

Biti, a top official from Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC),
said Zimbabwe would have to finance its projected budget deficit of $810
million from its own resources.

"It's very unlikely that donors will fill that $810 million gap, we're on
our own," Biti said.

"Last year we got $35 million -- $30 million from South Africa and $5
million from China. 2010 is going to be worse, we have to mobilise our own
resources."

Critics accuse Mugabe, 86, and in power since independence from Britain in
1980 of ruining one of the continent's most promising economies through
policies such as the seizure of white commercial farms to resettle landless
blacks.

Although the power-sharing government has managed to stabilise the economy
after 10 straight years of decline and inflation which peaked at 500 billion
percent, the country is struggling to restore productivity, feed itself and
repair its ruined infrastructure.

On Thursday, Biti handed over $100 million -- from a $510 million
International Monetary Fund allocation Zimbabwe received last year -- to
government ministries and state enterprises for infrastructure projects
ranging from water and sanitation to road construction and power generation.

The government used $50 million to purchase seed and fertiliser last year in
a bid to rescue an agriculture sector hit by poor funding, planning and
inadequate rains.

"The $100 million constitutes a major injection into the economy, a stimulus
in our own small way," he said.

The government has also extended $19.5 million in credit lines for private
sector firms.

Analysts say frequent wrangling over policy and the slow pace of reforms
have held back progress by the fragile unity government.

Biti allocates SDR Funds

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=27888

March 11, 2010

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - Finance Minister Tendai Biti on Thursday distributed US$100 million
of the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) funds received form the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) which is targeted at infrastructure development.

Sharp differences had emerged between the Ministry of Finance and the
central bank over the way the US$500 million windfall from the IMF should be
utilised.

The interest-bearing SDR had heightened the tug-of-war between Minister Biti
and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono.

Biti said his ministry had made another application for a withdrawal of
US$100 million saying the identified infrastructure was consistent with his
ministry's thrust of reconstruction with equitable growth and stability.

"Given that this money has to be repaid at a later stage, it is critical
that utilization be targeted at projects that will generate economic
activity and give returns to the country," said Biti addressing the
beneficiaries.

The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe was appointed to facilitate
disbursements as well as recoveries.

"The bank will also in conjunction with my ministry and line minister,
monitor and evaluate the impact of our interventions," Biti said.

"Therefore, we have taken a stance that each implementing agency as well as
beneficiary institutions be responsible for the repayment of the loans."

Biti said the projects were selected on the basis of their ability to
re-invigorate the economy and hence the need for them to be completed within
time and money.

"Based on our experience with other projects last year, the resources will
not be disbursed to beneficiary institution; rather payments will be made
directly to supplier of goods and services," Biti said.

Biti and Gono have differed on the use of the funds.

Gono is on record as saying: "We can use (the funds) to import capital
equipment, import raw materials for industry, for capacitating NRZ, Hwange,
the telecoms sector, Air Zimbabwe, working capital needed for the mining
sector, and payment of the IMF outstanding debt of US$140 million so that
Zimbabwe is not in arrears, but not for payment of salaries by government.

"Sectors we have recommended to benefit from the funds are agriculture and
firms that produce fertilisers and chemicals locally; the manufacturing
sector, mining sector including SMEs, tourism, infrastructure, mining
exploration, and power generation sector.

"No consumption spending or importation of luxuries, groceries etc, that we
are saying 'no' to. But the ultimate decision lies with the Ministry of
Finance, Cabinet and stakeholders. My role is advisory."

But sources said Biti saw the matter differently.

He is said to have pointed out the SDRs lodged in Zimbabwe's account, did
not mean that Zimbabwe had money to go on a spending spree.

He preferred that the allocations be used for shoring up Zimbabwe's
reserves.

Under the fund's guidelines, only countries that have adequate reserves are
in a position to sell the allocations in exchange for cash.

The SDRs can only be sold after weighing of the financial and macroeconomic
considerations of the member countries.

Clarifying the matter to Biti, Mark Plant, the acting director for the
African department of the IMF, said the financial considerations included
expected rates of return on alternative use of the funds, the current and
expected SDR interest rate and the availability and cost of alternative
finance.

He said the macroeconomic considerations included the country's balance of
payments position, the need to reduce public debt, or settle arrears, the
adequacy of international reserves, the country's debt vulnerabilities and
exchange rate development.

Such financial and macro-economic conditions set by the global lender make
it very difficult for Zimbabwe, which has struggled to have kept any
reserves, to be able to sell the SDRs.

As at December 31, 2008, Zimbabwe's total debt amounted to US$5,7 billion.
This included both the RBZ and the external debt.

In terms of the Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme (Sterp) the country
needs US$8,4 billion to be able to function normally.

Other estimates show that Zimbabwe needs US$45 billion for the next 10 years
in order to recover to 1997 GDP levels.

Allocations

    * Government has so far accessed US$50 million which has been directed
towards procurement of inputs for the 2009/10 agricultural season.
    * US$10 million to rehabilitate Hwange Thermal Power station
    * US$10,28 million - road dualisation and bridge construction
    * Harare International Airport taxiways and construction of JM Nkomo
airport US$18,1 million
    * Rehabilitation of rail infrastructure - US$5,02 million
    * Water and sanitation projects for Bulawayo - US$6,47 million,
Marondera US$2,9 million and Mutoko US$180 000
    * Mtshabezi water augmentation project US$7 million
    * ICT infrastructure US$6,2 million
    * Broadcasting transmission network US$800 000
    * Housing - US$10 million
    * Completion of the central registry US$3,5 million
    * Productive sector lines of credit US$19,54 million
 

Deadly TB hits Epworth amid worsening health crises

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
11 March 2010

A deadly strain of tuberculosis has reportedly hit Epworth, amid a rapidly
worsening health crisis and critical shortages of food across the country.

One case of the deadly multi-drug resistant TB strain has been confirmed in
the high density area of Epworth and two more people in the same area are
suspected to be infected. Zakaria Mwatia, from Epworth Clinic, confirmed the
cases to local press, explain how the disease attacks those with already
weakened immune systems. Drug resistant TB is believed to have an 80%
mortality rate and has been created by TB sufferers not finishing their
course of medication. In a country where a steady supply for both TB and HIV
medication is often not available, many people's health is already
compromised.

With no system in place to ensure that people are taking their medication
properly, many are simply electing to stop their drug courses because of
food shortages. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (IFRC) has issued an urgent warning about impending widespread
hunger, paying particular concern to people living with HIV. The group has
renewed its plea for funds explaining how hundreds of thousands of
Zimbabweans are in need or urgent food assistance. According to the most
recent figures, a conservative estimate of 2.17 million Zimbabweans are
currently in need of food aid and this number is set to rise on the back of
an expected failed 2010 harvest.

"In some parts of the country, the food situation is as bad as many of our
volunteers and staff have ever seen it," said the group's Matthew Cochrane.

Cochrane continued that the Red Cross is particularly concerned about the
impact of the existing and looming food crises on people living with or
affected by HIV. He explained that so many Zimbabweans living with HIV have
stopped taking their anti-retroviral medication, "because the drugs are too
toxic without food."

"Once people do this, their situation deteriorates incredibly quickly and
they become susceptible to other serious illnesses," Cochrane explained.

He said that although the situation is obviously critical, the international
donor community has been slow to help aid groups, because of the existence
of the unity government. He explained that donors seemed to be under the
impression that everything in Zimbabwe was now OK, when it was clearly not.
He pointed out that despite the coalition, most of the population has not
felt any benefit.

"People don't have access to money to buy what food is available, and most
people don't have jobs," Cochrane explained. "Our message is that the world
can't just forget about these people."

Meanwhile, another person has succumbed to typhoid fever in Mabvuka, where
the disease has already claimed five other lives. The five deaths were
previously believed to have been caused by malaria, but the Harare City
Council's health department has confirmed that the deaths are in fact linked
to a typhoid outbreak. City health services director Dr Stanley Mungofa said
that at least forty other people are believed to be infected in the Mabvuka
area.

"Some people might be carrying the bacteria, but do not show any signs of
the water-borne disease so examinations will assist to detect carriers and
potential cases early," he told local press.

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) says the number of typhoid
infections is closer to 50, a number which includes many school children
from Simudzai Primary school. CHRA explained in a statement that residents
suspect the typhoid outbreak has been caused by the poor quality of water
that is being consumed in the suburb. Although the suburb has been receiving
consistent water supplies from the City of Harare for the past two weeks,
residents are apparently still skeptical about using the water for drinking
purposes. CHRA said that most residents are now fetching water from wells
and the boreholes drilled by aids groups.
Typhoid symptoms usually develop one to three weeks after exposure to the
bacteria.

Typhoid is a mainly water-borne, bacterial disease, similar to cholera,
which is transmitted by eating or drinking anything contaminated with the
waste of an infected person. It is characterised by a fever, sweating and
diarrhoea. Untreated typhoid fever manifests itself through a headache,
coughing, nosebleeds and abdominal pain.

 

Zuma plans mediation trip to Harare next week

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
11 March 2010

South African President Jacob Zuma is reportedly planning a trip to Harare
next week, for the first time in his capacity as the mediator in the
Zimbabwe crisis since he took over from Thabo Mbeki in November last year.

Zuma last visited Zimbabwe in August last year, three months after his
inauguration as the new President of South Africa, when he officially opened
the annual Harare Agricultural Show.

During that two-day visit, Zuma urged Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai-
partners in the inclusive government- to work together to remove any
remaining obstacles in honouring the Global Political Agreement.

At the end of the visit Zuma issued a statement saying that it was essential
for Mugabe to follow through on sharing power with Tsvangirai, if Western
aid was ever to be restored. He added that the government had a
responsibility to fully  implement the agreement and create confidence in
the process.

But since his last visit, Mugabe and Tsvangirai are still wrangling over the
appointment of provincial governors and there is a complete lack of progress
in political reforms. The MDC also want Mugabe to reverse the unilateral
appointment of his cronies to head the central bank and the attorney general's
office and also swear in its deputy agriculture minister designate who is
facing terrorism charges. The MDC says Mugabe's refusal to budge on
democratic reforms is blocking massive aid from Western countries that
insist on irreversible change before they open their wallets.

ZANU PF says it will not move on the demands until the MDC calls for the
lifting of sanctions against Mugabe's inner circle and the closure of
'pirate' radio stations.

Since Zuma took over from Mbeki as the facilitator of the Zimbabwe's power
sharing agreement, he has not visited Zimbabwe in that capacity to assess
progress.

But a facilitation team appointed by Zuma has visited the country on several
occasions. They have made little headway in their efforts and presented Zuma
with their findings in December.
Zuma's anticipated trip comes at a time when the MDC have declared a
deadlock on all outstanding issues and want them referred to SADC. ZANU PF
is insisting that the talks be given more time. There has been no movement
on any of the issues in the last three months, forcing Tsvangirai on
Wednesday to tell diplomats he was 'urgently' appealing to SADC for a
resolution on the deadlocked inter-party talks with ZANU PF.
Tsvangirai told the diplomats at Harvest House, the party headquarters, that
ZANU PF was continually undermining the transitional government by their
refusal to abide by the commitments they signed in September 2008.

'The cost of this crisis to the people of Zimbabwe is becoming too great to
bear. Despite our patience, the talks to resolve the outstanding issues of
the GPA have achieved no significant results and thus I am now scheduling
urgent consultations with the guarantors of the GPA,' Tsvangirai is quoted
by his party's weekly newsletter, The Changing Times.
To the disappointment of most Zimbabweans Zuma has been lobbying both the
international community and the IMF, on behalf of Mugabe, to drop the
targeted sanctions on ZANU PF individuals and to resume loans to the
country.
Economic analyst Luke Zunga said: 'He (Zuma) just had discussions this week
with the head of the IMF who said they were not going to resume assistance
to Zimbabwe until there is political solution. Gordon Brown (British Prime
Minister) told him point blank last week they would not remove sanctions
until there was visible progress on the ground'.
'So I think he's going to explain to Mugabe that he's failed to convince
them on the removal of sanctions and that they need to move a little bit
more in order to get these matters addressed. South Africa has a lot of
leverage to influence positive development in Zimbabwe so I think if Zuma
was to moderate on some of the extremes holding back progress probably we
might see some movement,' Zunga added.
 

SA police looting, shooting and beating Zim

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Written by Sibanengi Dube
Thursday, 11 March 2010 14:38
South Africa police shot Zimbabwe passengers with rubber bullets this
morning and looted their goods, much to the shock on the MDC leadership in
Johannesburg.
We are still trying to come to terms with what transpired. Without any
warning or provocation, a large contingent of police officers arrived in
marked vans and started beating up everyone at the Johannesburg Park
Stations. They also fired shots indiscriminately.
Wounded and bleeding women and children were left with no option except to
seek alternative transport to Zimbabwe before getting medical attention
since SA public hospitals do not treat foreigners.
Female passengers were embarrassingly subjected to body searches by male
police officers who openly fondled their breasts and private parts. This is
unacceptable, barbaric, inhuman, idiotic and moronic for people is State
uniforms to commit such offences.
The are reports that some police officers demanded kisses from female
passengers in exchange for freedom. Imagine!
We view the police heavy-handedness as xenophobic attacks by trigger-happy
individuals who are supposed to be providing security to foreigners.
It is now clear that Xenophobia is not only limited to townships and
squatter camps but is also rampant in Government departments. The type of
force and guns which the police were brandishing are only fit for use in a
war situation and never on woman with children on their backs boarding
busses to go back home.
We shall be approaching the Gauteng Police Commissioner through the Human
Rights lawyers to register our concern over the treatment of Zimbabweans by
police.

MDC SA  Spokesman
Sibanengi Dube

Mugabe accuses De Beers of looting Zim diamonds

http://www.mmegi.bw

Thursday, 11 March 2010

STAFF WRITER

The Zimbabwe government has accused diamond giant De Beers of looting gems
from the controversial Chiadzwa mining fields over a period of 15 years
without declaring the proceeds to the state.

President Robert Mugabe is quoted by the state-run Herald newspaper last
week as fingering De Beers among other multinational firms as looters in the
Marange diamond fields by pretending to be carrying out exploration work.

Asked to elaborate, Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba, told Mmegi that for
15 years the Zimbabwe government believed De Beers was only prospecting and
carrying out tests when the company  was actually mining.

"When the government finally realised this and tried to arrest them, that's
when they hurriedly pulled out and claimed the diamonds were not of
commercial value," Charamba said. "It is not a secret that alluvial diamonds
are mined at the surface. It is not like a kimberlite. Why should it take 15
years for such an experienced company to conclude that our diamonds are of
no value to them.

"But we cannot not take the issue further because we cannot establish how
much of the diamonds have been taken. But the most important thing now is
that we now have our mines back." Meanwhile, De Beers Director of
International Relations has described Mugabe's accusations as incredible and
fictious. "We were in the Marange fields from 1993 to 2006," Andrew Bone
told Business Week by phone from London. We only did core sampling.

The deposits we found there did not fit into our portfolio. "There were also
disputes regarding the allocation of a second concession to another mining
company, ACR. That's why we pulled out. But the bottom line is that there
are ridiculous allegations and there is no evidence of De Beers mining
diamonds in that area." The discovery of alluvial diamonds in 2006 sparked a
rush in which multitudes of Zimbabweans descended on the Chiadzwa fields in
the eastern part of the country and mined the gems illegally.

Chiadzwa is one of the world's most controversial diamond fields that have
generated reports of gross human rights abuses against the illegal miners by
soldiers sent to guard the fields after the British firm ACR left.

Human rights groups have been pushing for a ban on Zimbabwean diamonds, but
the Kimberly Process declined to suspend the country and instead gave Harare
a June 2010 deadline to make reforms in order to comply with the regulations
of the diamond industry's worldwide watchdog.

In an attempt towards that end, the government-owned Zimbabwe Mining
Development Corporation (ZMDC) last year partnered with little-known South
African firms Grandwell and Core Mining and Minerals which took over mining
at the Chiadzwa field.

ZMDC controls some 171 acres (69,000 hectares) of the vast diamond field.

An early election?

http://www.economist.com

Stalemate in Zimbabwe

The unity government is stuck. An early election might break the logjam

Mar 11th 2010 | JOHANNESBURG | From The Economist print edition

WITH a power-sharing government plainly going nowhere, Zimbabwe's president,
Robert Mugabe, has announced that fresh elections could be held early next
year, whether or not a new constitution is ready. At the age of 86, he says
he is ready to stand again-if, he adds coyly, his ruling ZANU-PF party wants
him to. Next month he will celebrate 30 years of untrammelled power.

Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's prime minister and leader of the Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC), which was forced into a unity government despite
winning a general election in the face of violence and fraud two years ago,
wants South Africa's president, Jacob Zuma, to intervene. Talks to encourage
Mr Mugabe to implement fully the power-sharing agreement he signed 18 months
ago under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a
15-country regional grouping, have foundered.

Since the unity government was set up a year ago, Mr Mugabe has treated Mr
Tsvangirai and his party with contempt. The violation of human rights, the
persecution of MDC campaigners, the invasion of white-owned farms and
disregard for the rule of law-all supposed to have been dealt with under the
pact-have continued unabated. Now, as if to underline Mr Tsvangirai's
impotence, Mr Mugabe has unilaterally stripped several MDC ministers of
their powers, transferring them to ZANU-PF ministers.

Likewise, without consulting his prime minister, he has recently issued new
"indigenisation" rules, requiring at least half of any company worth over
$500,000 that is owned by whites or foreigners to be owned by black
Zimbabweans. Whites are also to be banned from running certain smaller
businesses, such as estate agents, hairdressers and advertising agencies.
Violators face up to five years in jail. Though Mr Tsvangirai has pronounced
the new law "null and void", some legal people say there is little he can do
to block it.

The Zimbabwe stock exchange, where shares had been rising fast in the past
year, slumped on the news. The country's businessmen, already struggling to
cope with electricity cuts, lack of capital and an acute shortage of
manpower skills, are aghast. The ZANU-PF minister responsible for the new
law has told foreign banks to start lending money to black Zimbabweans or
"ship out". Foreign investors, whose cash is sorely needed, are thinking
again.

Meanwhile, the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, in a
joint venture with two controversial South African companies, is continuing
to mine the Chiadzwa diamond field, in the country's east, despite an order
by Zimbabwe's Supreme Court to desist, since the mine's ownership is
disputed. Tendai Biti, the finance minister and an MDC man, says that in any
case the government has not received a cent from what he describes as "the
biggest find of alluvial diamonds in the history of mankind". He has called
for a new mining law. Some estimate the Chiadzwa field could yield as much
as $2 billion a year in revenue. That would go a long way to bailing out the
near-bankrupt government.

Civil servants, who have begun to trickle back to work after a four-week
strike over pay, are threatening other forms of protest in pursuit of their
demand for a basic $630 a month in place of the average $160 they now get.
The government says it cannot afford more. Foreign banks are refusing to
provide more loans until it has paid off existing debts of $6 billion.

Outmanoeuvred by Mr Mugabe, the MDC has turned again to Mr Zuma and SADC.
Judging by past performance, there is no certainty they will help. When SADC
appointed the tough-talking Mr Zuma as its "facilitator" for Zimbabwe in
September, the MDC was hopeful. But so far he has achieved almost nothing.
On a recent state visit to Britain he seemed to espouse Mr Mugabe's cause by
calling for the lifting of all sanctions against Zimbabwe-in fact, a set of
measures including travel bans and the freezing of assets against some 200
people linked to ZANU-PF and associated companies-which Mr Mugabe blames for
all his country's woes.

America and the European Union say they will continue to impose these
targeted personal sanctions until they get firm evidence of progress toward
free and fair elections. At present, the MDC would almost certainly win such
a poll hands down, provided that the violence that was meted out to its
supporters in the 2008 elections is not repeated. Mr Tsvangirai is calling
for SADC and African Union peacekeeping troops to be brought in for the
whole of an election period. That would be a big step. Mr Mugabe would be
loth to accept them. Probably only Mr Zuma could force him to. There is no
sign yet that an early election is going to happen. But a growing number of
people, in Zimbabwe and the region, reckon it is the only way out of the
impasse.

ROHR & VAC statement on peace building initiatives

From ROHR Zimbabwe Information Department.

Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHR) and Victims Action Committee
(VAC), noting the prevailing perpetual upheaval poised at derailing not only
the democratic transition, but also the existence of stability in the
country, shall be unpacking a series of peace building initiatives at
grassroots level with the chief aim of promoting tolerance and core
existence among polarized communities.

Being aware of the likelihood of the country holding elections in the near
future, it is concerning to note that the environment is still lacking on
democratic pre- conditions that can guarantee a free and fair election. In
which people can freely express themselves without fear of persecution.

Through undertaking peace building initiatives, we therefore pledge to work
towards transforming the behavior, attitude and mindset of the traumatized
electorate from the negative still nudging perception that elections are
associated with anarchy, violence, torture, loss of property, murder,
harassment, intimidation, pillage and above all rule of man.

The coalition government has an uphill task to do in pushing the drivers of
democracy to win public confidence in contrast to the existing perennial
media battles characterized by hate speech, manipulation and self serving
propaganda.

It is regrettable that a year after the formation of the coalition
government which broke a gridlock between the warring political parties and
stirred hope of a better future among Zimbabweans, the status quo is now
degenerating into a widening rift of political mistrust propelled by narrow
misleading political elite ideologies that are cascading down to people on
the ground causing panic, fear and unrest.

We note with concern the sprouting divisions splitting the encumbered
coalition government, the intransigent forces that hover over the nation
casting a dark shadow ahead of the envisaged historic constitutional making
and the National healing process. We further note that the spanned deadlock
between the negotiators to the Global Political Agreement is a further cause
of concern threatening the spirit of unity that is pertinent in driving the
country forward.

It has come to our attention, that the unbecoming intractable behavior by
the security forces, particularly the police, is an archetypal act of
sabotage that snuffs all the efforts of achieving a just, rational,
discriminatory free society that respects the rule of law, embraces a
culture of human rights, diversity and guarantees equality before the law.

We strongly do not condone the recent victimization of the labor union
workers from GAPWUZ who have been forced to forsake their duties fleeing
threats by the police; the outbreak of political violence in Epworth; the
allegations of illicit deals and corruption surrounding the mining of
diamonds in Chiadzwa.

As organizations indebted to a wide constituency of victims who bore the
brunt of political violence across the country, we succinctly believe that
the government, through its arm, the organ on National Healing is dragging
its feet in timely responding to the various needs of the voiceless victims
of political violence who are still smarting from the scourge of immense
suffering.

Understanding the untold suffering that the majority of Zimbabweans endured
during the unprecedented level of organized political violence which
engulfed the nation during the March-June elections of 2008, leaving a
multitude of victims, we hold that such a sad chapter of our history should
never be allowed to take precedence. We strongly condemn any political
activities that are bent on dividing the nation and opening the gates of
turmoil.

Appreciating the ultimate goal of National Healing, we challenge the
government to scale up efforts in implementing short term interventions
which target the immediate redress of the plight of the worst affected
victims on issues to do with livelihoods capacity building, psycho-social
support, medical assistance, economic empowerment and bolstering security
and protection from the state.

From the mandate bestowed upon us by our members, as a matter of principle
we advocate for a National Healing process that is victim centered,
community based; gender sensitive built on values of national truth telling,
transitional justice, transparency, free society, respect for equality,
freedom of expression and exclusivity. Provision of restorative and
retributive justice is an integral part of a credible, fair and responsive
National Healing Process.

Perpetrators who ordered gross crimes against humanity like sponsored
murder, torture and rape should not only be disallowed to lead the process,
but should be prosecuted as a demonstration of seriousness on the part of
the government's non tolerance of violence and impunity. However, for the
healing process to be holistic it needs the full active participation of
both victims and perpetrators. National mechanism should be put in place for
perpetrators to voluntarily come forward and confess their partaking and
acknowledgment of wrong doing.

ROHR Zimbabwe and VAC are grassroots based victim oriented organizations
working towards the empowerment and improvement of standards of living among
victims of political violence through community mobilization, capacity
building and active responses to human rights challenges.

Jointly the two organizations have a database of more than 50 000 victims of
political violence dating back to the post independence era.

For Peace, Justice and Freedom

Film maker Xoliswa Sithole on Behind the Headlines

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Written by Martin
Thursday, 11 March 2010 12:22
SW Radio Africa journalist Lance Guma speaks to award winning film maker
Xoliswa Sithole, who spent 9 months in Zimbabwe filming children growing up
without an education, while grappling with poverty and starvation. The
children are either orphaned by AIDS or caring for parents sick with the
disease. Sithole admits to being a child of ZANU PF all her life but says
she no longer supports them. What has been the feedback to the heart
wrenching footage in the film; Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children which was
broadcast by the BBC last week?
Lance Guma: Hello Zimbabwe and welcome to another edition of Behind the
Headlines. Award winning film maker Xoliswa Sithole produced a documentary
Zimbabwe Forgotten Children which alerted the world to the daily struggles
of young children mostly orphans battling to survive in Zimbabwe. On the
programme today is Xoliswa joining us. Heart wrenching documentary Xoliswa
what motivated you to go into Zimbabwe and produce it?
Xoliswa Sithole: I was raised in Zimbabwe. I'm very much a Zimbabwean as I
am South African. My background is that my mother went to Zimbabwe when I
was 3 years old. She married into the Sithole family, the Sithole's raised
me, so I'm very much a Zimbabwean as I am a South African and Zimbabwe as a
country gave me refuge and my mother and Zimbabwe as a country created who I
am. I was raised ZANU cause my mother married into the Sithole family, so
Edson Sithole was my cousin, cause you know as I was saying my mother was
married into that family, a very small family from Chipinge so I was raised
in that family.
I was raised ZANU and I have always been ZANU and I was actually trying to
make a film from 2005 to actually look at Zimbabwe through my eyes from 1970
when I came into the country to now trying to understand why Zimbabwe is
where its at. Trying to not be reductionist about Zimbabwe the way I feel
the media is often times. But whilst I was making my film I think for me
what happened was the whole Operation Murambatsvina, (sighs) was something
that I felt was very ugly and very senseless and I toyed with the idea
because I make films about women and children mainly.
And then you know one day I just woke up and said you know what I am a
documentary film maker this is going on, I know it is going on and I'm just
going to go ahead and actually make this film regardless of whether I rub
people the wrong way, but I felt that I needed to tell the story because you
know that when economies crumble children always bear the brunt and if we
are always talking about how children are the future of the world or of
countries why are we not safeguarding the interests of our children? And
Zimbabwe, to be quite honest is something that happens all over the world,
children in plight.
Guma: This brings us to the question Xoliswa, we know the iron fisted way in
which the media space is controlled in Zimbabwe. How where you able to go in
and produce this?
Sithole: You know what it wasn't a problem, because with all due respect I
had permission to make a documentary about looking at Zimbabwe from 1970 to
now and (George) Charamba had given me permission and Charamba is a friend
of mine and I hope after some time we will still be able to break bread. So
Charamba was very good in terms of saying Xoliswa you can make a film, just
tell the truth, cause I went to him and said look Charamba I don't want to
make a film that is pro-ZANU, I want to make a very balanced story of what's
happening in this country and he gave me permission.
But then the whole thing about children kept on coming up, coming up. And I
ended up doing this film as well. And so, yes I know people say to me how
can Charamba be your friend, but Charamba I went to University with him, we
spar a lot me and him, you know on an intellectual level and I'm honest when
I tell him that you guys have really, really messed up on ABCDE and you know
he has always been open with me. So having permission to make a film on
Zimbabwe was never a problem. It really wasn't the kind of film that
initially I had set out to make but you know what I'm an artist I just felt
I needed to tell the story.
Yes the story has come out in 2010. The story could have come up in 2006. I
was resisting making this kind of film but at some point I just felt that
you know what let me just do it there will be consequences from some of my
comrades in ZANU. I am not ZANU anymore because I told Charamba last time
that I just actually can't support this anymore what's was going on but I
was ZANU for a very-very long time probably very recently which I know comes
as a surprise to you and to many people but it was that thing of feeling
that you know I was raised ZANU. I felt ZANU liberated me, educated me so I
really-really battled, I didn't want to throw away the baby, the bucket and
the water and I still don't want to do that. But last time I had a meeting
with him, I said you know what, I said I cant, this is not going anywhere.
Guma: Now Xoliswa I'm obviously assuming everyone has watched the
documentary there will be some who have not. Could you just quickly
summarize what 3 stories you were following in terms of the film that you
produced?
Sithole: I followed a story about Obert, a guy who lives with his
grandmother and he wants to go to school and is very poor and but he
actually can't afford to go to school but I never set out to make a film
about children not going to school that is how the documentary panned out.
We just wanted to highlight the plight of children in Zimbabwe but somehow a
documentary is like a child. You can have a child and say to yourself I want
my child to be a doctor but hey your child might say hey I want to be a monk
and go and live in Butan and you can't stop that.
So that's actually what happened. So it's about a child in the rural areas
who lives with his grandmother ,is an orphan and he takes care of his
grandmother, they are very poor and he wants to go to school, he can't
afford to go to school. Then there is Grace and Michelle, two girls who live
with their dad and the dad collects bones because you know bones are used
for ash, you know for whitening sugar, so they collect bones in rubbish
dumps and part of why they do that is because then they can raise money to
go to school and they still can't do that.
And then there is Esther whose mother is dying of HIV and AIDS so she has to
take care of her mother and younger sister and so you know Esther also doesn't
go to school and its also Esther's mother who ended being in that situation
because of Murambatsvina, because she was displaced, so they ended up being
far away, no schools, no hospitals and it was also showing the devastating
effects of the whole Murambatsvina Operation.
But you see I was also very clear in wanting to make a film that was going
to highlight the problems that children are facing without actually making a
film where I'm saying Mugabe Must Go because that was not what the film was
about. And also when I set out to make this film I was also very clear that
I would have editorial control. I didn't care who got the film whether it
was the BBC or whoever because obviously I always had access into Zimbabwe
so people were approaching me for the longest time to make it and I kept on
turning them down turning, turning them down.
So eventually I said okay I will make this film but it will go to whoever
allows me 100 percent editorial control. So the film does not say anything
bad about Mugabe because I also know that the media want to latch onto that.
I'm a firm believer, that Zimbabwe's problems are also a collective thing.
To blame one person is irresponsible, we are all collectively to blame when
it comes to the situation in Zimbabwe.
Guma: You were very emotional Xoliswa at times during your narrations in the
film how was it for you in terms of you coping with what you were seeing?
Sithole: (sighs) You know I make films, this is what I do and Zimbabwe is
not a poor country. On one level there is gratuitous conspicuous consumerism
that's going on in that country and on another level someone can't pay US$2
to go to school and you know Obert, that boy is bright, you know that boy is
so bright he could actually be the future president of Zimbabwe or the
future Minister of Finance in Zimbabwe and I personally I'm politically
left, so I don't believe that in any given society you should have
situations whereby medical healthcare cannot be affordable, children cannot
go to school, that is wrong. Whether it is in America, Zimbabwe, Pakistan,
Sudan there is something morally wrong about having a society where children
would have to..
Because what is gonna happen right is that you got a whole generation of
children, thousands and thousands of children who can't go to school and
that is the same generation that 20 years from now are actually going to be
a social problem in our societies and we know its happening, we know that,
maybe we don't know how bad it is, we know its happening, so what are we
doing about it? And I know there are people who are doing something about
it. I don't think what I did was great. It was just a tiny drop in the
ocean. I missed people who are really-really trying to change things for the
better in Zimbabwe or in the world.
Guma: The documentary has clearly spurred people into action as you are
saying. I know thousands if not millions have been motivated into wanting to
help, how can they do this?
Sithole: You know what we work, obviously I was also helped by certain NGO's
to make this film, so those NGO's will get the money and my desire is for
all the children in that film to go to good boarding schools. You know the
same company that I work with, we made a documentary called orphans of
Inkandla in South Africa in 2005 and that documentary raised millions and
millions. It was used by Elton John to raise money for ARV treatment for
babies in Kenya.
It was used, a clip of it was used by Richard Curtis who started Make
Poverty World History to raise money and so the children and orphans of
Inkandla enough money was raised, some of them houses were built for them
and one of them is actually going to university now, all that money is
actually.So I'm hoping that with this film someone very wealthy will build a
school for Obert's school but I would like the children in the film, all of
them to go to good boarding schools and those who don't have homes, maybe a
little house can be built, its possible, its do-able, we did it with Orphans
of Inkandla in 2005.
Guma: What sort of feedback have you been getting about the documentary? Let
me just quote one pro-Zanu PF website. They are accusing you of exploiting
vulnerable children and families to make the film. So answer that criticism
and also maybe just tell our listeners what else people are saying to you.
Sithole: That was going to happen. That comes with the territory do you know
what I mean? Of course I don't know, handiti unoziva chi shona, kana munhu
akapfura pamusha handiti imbwa inofanirwa kuhukura, kuti pane munhu apfura
pamusha, saka zvinhu zvanga zvichangoitika (you know in Shona we say if
someone passes by the house the dogs have to bark to alert you that someone
has passed) and its something that I knew was going to happen and you know
what let people watch the film and let people decide. You know I'm not
bothered actually about that.
Unfortunately when people react like that they are only making me famous for
nothing (laughs) and I don't really warrant that sort of..I'm a film maker
chief, there are people who are really doing more important work than I am,
teachers, nurses all of these unsung heroes. So the more people bark the
more they are actually making me famous and everyone is going to want to
watch the film.
So inini (me) if I was ZANU, you know what I'm trying to say, I would engage
with me, do you know what I'm trying to say, dziriko shamwari dzangu vanana
Charamba (I have friends like Charamba) although he might belie me now, but
yah he is my friend, anogona kuti (he can say) you know Xoliswa, zvawakaita
izvi (what you did here) we are not happy with it but you know they can
actually turn it to their favour that yes they actually gave her permission
to do this, we have never denied that we actually have problems. Maybe what
was missing in her documentary was ABCDE because people who are also
responding maybe also from Zimbabwe, they haven't watched the film.
I even say complimentary things about Mugabe in that film. That Mugabe
educated me, that Mugabe tried to do ABCDE, you know what I'm trying to say.
I just think kuti (that) there is the adage no publicity is bad publicity.
So off course they will say that I exploited children, off course they will
say that, you know what I'm trying to say. I just think people are in
denial, that's what denial does, you know what I'm trying to say, you don't
want to actually, because the film is about children. So it's an indictment
on all of us, that how did we let things go so bad? Cause that's really what
it is.
Guma: Now Xoliswa I have already indicated to you we have already spoken to
the Education Minister David Coltart, asked him to watch the documentary so
I'm hoping by the time I interview him he will have watched the documentary.
I'd like to ask you as someone who saw first hand the daily struggles of
these children and families what do you think the government should be doing
to help the situation?
Sithole: You know what my dear the government knows what it should be doing.
See when people watch these things we must also be honest with ourselves,
you know it's about bringing images into our living rooms that makes
us..these things have been happening in Zimbabwe for a long time. There are
a lot of other things that have been happening in Zimbabwe that are wrong
that even some of my friends in ZANU will say yah, you know, but it wont be
admitted publicly. What the government should do, I don't have answers for
that cause guess what, the government is broke. This problem is just one of
the many problems that Zimbabwe is facing.
Guma: Is it not an issue of priorities. Let me give you one example. Last
year the coalition government spent US$28 million on foreign travel, um
surely that's a lot of money.
Sithole: I think the priority unfortunately, US$28 million on traveling, the
whole government, no I don't know if it's a lot of money. My problem with
Zimbabwe is that a lot of money has been siphoned into the securities
industry. So whether it is the army, whether it is the police, whether it's
the excessive securities industry and we need to ask ourselves why? Why is a
lot of money being channeled into the securities, maybe to keep people
quiet, because that actually requires a lot of money and Zimbabwe actually
as a country is actually under no threat in terms of wanting to prop up the
army and the securities within the SADC region.
So I think that a lot of money is being spent there but the reality is that
the money.the government is bust in Zimbabwe. So how are things going to get
better on an average level its not only education it is health, it is
housing, its kick starting the economy, its giving people jobs, how is that
going to work, I think that is where the priorities lie. Whether the
coalition government is going to work out or figure those things out I
honestly don't know. I don't want to be an ambassador of doom and gloom
because that's certainly not what I'm trying to do.
I want to see, ever since you asked why I did this, I'm passionate about
Zimbabwe, because Zimbabwe is so misunderstood, we all benefited from a lot
of things that ZANU tried to put in place whether it was the first ten years
or whatever and so how do we then say okay fine this has really-really gone
wrong, this has gone belly up and how do we address that? So I really don't
know. I just think priorities really need to shift, yes you are right but I
also think there needs to be a serious shake up within the political make up
and the dialogue and the machinations of how ZANU is operating.
I was saying to (George) Charamba, the problem with Zanu PF is that you have
failed to evolve as a political party. You look at a party like FRELIMO
(ruling party in Mozambique). FRELIMO started out in the same way as Zanu PF
but FRELIMO after some time evolved to being pro-business, pro investment,
pro this, pro that and Zanu PF is still stuck in that cold war period. And I
was saying to him I am no longer part of Zanu because actually people like
us would have never had space in there, you should have evolved with the
times.
And also unfortunately Zanu is synonymous with Robert Mugabe, it shouldn't
be like that. Zanu PF should be independent of Robert Mugabe. So at the end
of the day if Mugabe is becoming a liability to Zanu PF then someone must be
in there to change the whole make up and now I don't know if they have the
opportunity to do that, I don't think so personally, but I think that, that
was their downfall as a political party they failed to evolve with the
times.
Guma: Final question for you Xoliswa, you spent almost 9 months filming this
documentary was there ever a point where you were worried about your
security?
Sithole: Ah you know what we had equipment stolen. There is a guy that we.we
don't talk about it but there was a guy who came to us and said he was CIO
(Central Intelligence Organisation). We were stopped, we were harassed all
the time, that's the honest truth you know. Even if you have a paper you
always had to talk your way out of it. Then this guy, you know, he stopped
us, showed me a card and said he was working in the Vice Presidents office,
said his name and then he said what you are doing is wrong, you are filming
these kids, for what purposes and it was very-very scary and very dicey, I
think he was a crook and you know our equipment and everything was stolen.
Off course I was afraid for my safety but actually at the same time, inini
ndine vadzimu vakasimba ikoko ku Zimbabwe (I have very strong ancestral
spirits there in Zimbabwe) much as people now say ah but you are South
African but you are claiming to be, no, I was brought up by the Sithole
family, I carry their name. I have done all the rituals that are done kuti
mwana apinzwe mu-family (so that the child is brought into the family).
So ivavo vadzimu vekwa Sithole ivavo ndivo vakandi protector kuti ndiite
zvandaita mu Zimbabwe (So the Sithole ancestral spirits protected me in
Zimbabwe. I'm very-very divinely protected. I've always known that about
myself, I'm divinely protected and so at some given point I never, off
course I was scared but I always knew that if I'm meant to make this film, I
will make the film and I will get out of Zimbabwe. And you know what people
can get ugly now but only history will be the judge of that and I know in
time I will be breaking bread with some of the very friends that are not
happy with the film. I had to do that, I'm an artist, that's what I do.
Guma: That's award winning film maker Xoliswa Sithole who produced a
documentary Zimbabwe's forgotten children. Xoliswa thank you so much for
sparing time to talk to us.
Sithole: (laughs.) I talk a lot hey, I talk a lot, I'm sure you wanted to
ask me so many questions but I talk a lot.
Guma: (laughs back.) thank you so much for joining us
Sithole: Okay great, ok bye-bye.

Typhoid claims another life in Mabvuku

145 Robert Mugabe Way, Exploration House, Third Floor; Website: www.chra.co.zw

Bill Watch Special of 10th March 2010 [Parliamentary PublicHearings on Indigenisation Regulations]