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

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Look, who's talking morality

Bankruptcy might be the only escape for the ECB after backing themselves
into a corner over Zimbabwe

Frank Keating
Friday March 12, 2004
The Guardian

It may be a case of cricket, lovely cricket in the Caribbean for a couple of
months but it is anything but that for the squirming diplomats of the
England and Wales Cricket Board. They have painted themselves into a corner
over England's planned tour to Zimbabwe in the autumn and bankruptcy might
be the only escape if the government does not bale them out "on moral
grounds".
It would be appalling if the government did. Would it couple it with a ban
on any Britons competing against Zimbabweans in the Olympics?

It beats me why the ECB's wimpish and duplicitous stance seems to be
considered as a jolly good thing. Cynic I may be but can this be the first
time a leading sporting body in Britain has ever taken the moral high ground
over a sporting contest?

That is causing giggles around the world for starters. The fact is that the
England players do not want to go, they do not like Zimbabwe anyway - once
you've seen one waterfall you've seen 'em all - and the ECB got into the
mess because the floundering suits feel they owe the lads one after the
calamities of the World Cup.

Well, where was the ECB's morality last time they happily hosted (and banked
the receipts from) the Zimbabwe tour here? It is ripely apt that the ECB's
messy dilemma is revealed in the very week that India arrive in Pakistan to
play a historic series and as the cricket world applaud as Bangladesh
joyously win their first international match for five years - in Zimbabwe.

Music of primes and cubes

Numerical trivia has been inspiring anorak's orgasms on our letters' page -
ie at four minutes past four am on the first Sunday in April it will be
04:04, 04/04/04. Sport can always better that sort of thing without trying.

I remember, for instance, describing a Boycott century at Headingley in 1977
only to be scooped by the chap next to me who wrote that the great man had
touched the ankle of his right foot 230 times in facing 466 balls and had
wiped his brow with a handkerchief 143 times.

In 1972 I enjoyed Henry Longhurst's description of a hole-in-one early on in
a golf round starting 437 1354 "which happens to be my own telephone
number".

But my favourite remains a Congleton reader writing in 1979 to the letters'
page of the Evening Sentinel: "The only worthwhile aspect of Port Vale's
match with Hereford United on Saturday was that the attendance of 2,744 is a
perfect cube, 14 x 14 x 14."

Barrington top of the bats abroad

Lamentations ahead, for this Sunday is the anniversary of the death during
England's 1981 tour of the then assistant manager Ken Barrington. What a
harrowing memory - as Botham's England endeavoured to play the Barbados Test
through a cascade of tears.

There were few dry eyes in the pressbox either as we filed our obits. I
remember summing up Barrington's batting career as one of willing
subservience in sweltering foreign parts, "doughtily sweeping the stage for
the entrance of such legends as Compton, May, Cowdrey and Graveney". Utter
rot and a calumny on good, lovely, wonderful Kenny who is, in fact, by far
the best batsman England have ever had in foreign Tests.

Barrington's Tests spanned 1955 to 1968. Compare with his the averages
abroad of these superstars of the past 60 years, when abroad began to mean
seriously tough - Compton 55 innings at 36.85 (four 100s); Hutton 61 at
55.29 (six 100s); May 49 at 35.57 (four 100s); Cowdrey 100 at 44.91
(thirteen 100s); Dexter 30 at 53.65 (six 100s); Graveney 53 at 39.26 (four
100s); John Edrich 50 at 43.10 (five 100s); Amiss 43 at 51.33 (seven 100s);
Boycott 93 at 46.97 (eight 100s); Gooch 84 at 35.80 (eight 100s).

In those seething, steamy stadiums, in 58 innings, Barrington averaged a
phenomenal 69.18 with 14 centuries. He was the master and is still much
mourned.

No time to vote for man of the match

Ireland's exhilarating rugby victory not only silenced Twickenham and its
ruddy chariots but also threw out of kilter one of BBC TV's most barmy of
the host of gimmicks they have introduced into their newly exclusive Six
Nations coverage. From half-time onwards (quaintly, or suspiciously, only
for England matches) a caption urges you to vote for the "man of the match".

How can you nominate anyone with more than half an hour to go? Well, I did
on Saturday. You ring 09011 110 822 and a pre-recorded voice asks you your
name, address and the number on the shirt you nominate.

The stunt had annoyed me in England's previous match against Scotland when,
by an overwhelming margin, England's Ben Cohen was voted top man -
ridiculous as he had scarcely touched the ball once except to flop on to a
fluke of a gifted try.

On Saturday, as far as I could see or hear, they never announced the winner.
Perhaps it was Cohen again - did he touch the ball even once this time? -
which in view of Ireland's triumph would have been a dotty name to trumpet.

Had the BBC just decided quietly to drop the idiot wheeze? I rang the
corporation twice on Monday; it never got back.

It reminded me of a decade ago, when Sky pioneered the cranky fad to their
football coverage - a lady would take your call and log your choice. A
friend in Cumbria rang to nominate a Chelsea player. Then she asked where he
lived and hung up on him when he spelt out "Cockermouth".

The poor chap spent the week worrying about a knock on the door from the
vice squad.
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Independent (UK)

Soldier, actor and businessman: The multi-skilled life of a modern 'dog of
war'
By Andrew Buncombe and Basildon Peta
12 March 2004

For much of his life Simon Mann has been part "dog of war" and part
modern-day businessman. Now he is a prisoner in a Zimbabwean jail.

As a member of Britain's SAS, the one-time Scots Guard soldier is used to
roughing it. But as the scion of a wealthy brewing family and the fifth
member of his family to go to Eton, Mr Mann is also accustomed to some of
life's better things. His father and grandfather were captains ofEngland's
cricket team.

Mr Mann, who is in his fifties, has a long and colourful history in warfare
and private armies. After leaving the SAS in 1985 he and an associate, Tony
Buckingham, established the mercenary group Executive Outcomes, which had
offices in South Africa and in Chelsea, West London.

Mr Mann was also instrumental in the establishment of Sandline, the
British-based mercenary group headed by the former British Army Lieutenant-
Colonel Tim Spicer. Sandline shared offices with a number of other companies
owned by Mr Buckingham and Mr Mann. Famously, Sandline was involved in 1997
in helping restore the ousted President of Sierra Leone, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

In his 1999 biography, An Unorthodox Soldier: Peace and War and the Sandline
Affair, Mr Spicer says that he met Mr Mann in the early 1990s when he was
working for the British Lieutenant-General Sir Peter de la Billiere, who in
April 1992 had returned to London and retired from his military career. He
immediately took up a new post as the British government's "Middle East
adviser". The job involved selling military services to and obtaining or
retaining British bridgeheads in the Gulf.

Mr Spicer apparently contacted Mr Mann and "co-opted" the anti-terrorism and
computer specialist into the operation. According to Mr Spicer, the two men
were employed "as liaison with the rulers of the Gulf States".

However, a report published by the Washington-based Centre for Public
Integrity claimed that a business associate of Mr Mann had acknowledged that
this was just a cover story. The real task of the men, the man had said, was
"to help Peter de la Billiere market the training services of 22 SAS" and
thus gain new clients for Britain's elite troops. The centre's report claims
that after leaving the SAS Mr Mann's first commercial venture was not as a
mercenary, but in the field of computer security.

The report said: "Mann joined forces with a former insurance broker who had
pioneered computer insurance and had been a manager for Control Risks, a
large and reputable risk-assessment consultancy that was founded by ex-SAS
officers."

In 1990 Mr Mann established contact with the oil entrepreneur Tony
Buckingham, who may have also served with the special forces. Together they
formed Executive Outcomes, a modern-day mercenary group that marketed the
talents and skills of their friends and former colleagues. From their
offices at 535 King's Road, the pair ran businesses that had interests in
oil, gold and diamond mining, a chartered accountancy practice, and offshore
financial management services.

Executive Outcomes was involved in operations across southern Africa, often
accepting oil or diamond-mining concessions by way of payment. In 1993
Executive Outcomes was employed by the Angolan government of President Jose
Eduardo dos Santos to help regain the Soyo oilfields, which had been seized
by the Unita rebels.

A report by the well-regarded Institute of Security Studies (ISS) in South
Africa, says that the two-and-a-half year contract was worth more than $40m
a year.

Authorities in Zimbabwe said that Mr Mann had gone there in February and
said he represented a company called Logo Logistics Ltd and was seeking to
buy weapons for a security operation.

An associate of Mr Mann's told The Independent that he spent the past two
years working in South Africa trying to build business connections. "He
comes up to the UK occasionally" said the associate. "He has been active for
a long time. He has been trying to develop his commercial interests."

He is also something of an actor. In Paul Greengrass's 2002 film Bloody
Sunday, Mr Mann, who served in Northern Ireland, plays the part of Colonel
Derek Wilford, commanding officer of the First Battalion of the Parachute
Regiment, the unit that went into the Bogside on the day. The film notes
say: "He lives mainly in South Africa, where he runs a security operation."
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Reuters

Zimbabwe hones charges against "mercenaries"
Thu 11 March, 2004 19:12

By Cris Chinaka

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe is finalising charges against more than 60
suspected mercenaries detained this week in what officials say was a plot to
overthrow the government of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, prosecutors say.

Acting Attorney General Bharat Patel said the men would probably not appear
in court until Friday and that "the relevant law enforcement agencies" were
drawing up charges.

"They are not going to appear in court today, as far as I'm aware...The
likelihood is that they'll appear in court tomorrow, if not tomorrow then
soon thereafter," Patel told state radio.

Zimbabwean lawyer Jonathan Samkange told Reuters he had been hired by a firm
of South African attorneys to represent the suspects, and would be meeting
his clients on Friday.

"I have already talked to the police...and I will be going to see my clients
tomorrow to take instructions. I have been assured the suspects are going to
enjoy their constitutional rights to fair treatment and a fair hearing,"
Samkange said.

Patel said charges against the group were likely to include contravening the
Civil Aviation Act and that "there may also be other charges relating to the
Firearms Act, possibly also in relation to our immigration laws".

Zimbabwe's foreign minister said on Wednesday the men, who were arrested on
Sunday after the U.S.-registered Boeing 727 landed in Harare, could face a
possible death penalty, although none of the charges listed by Patel would
bring that sentence.

Officials said the men had implicated the British, American and Spanish spy
agencies in a plot to topple President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of
Equatorial Guinea, sub-Saharan Africa's third largest oil producer.

U.S. and Spanish officials have denied any involvement, while Britain's
Foreign Office, following established practice, declined comment.

The seized plane's operator, based in Britain's Channel Islands, has said it
was flying the men to the Democratic Republic of Congo to provide security
for mining operations.

Zimbabwe has identified the men, who are both black and white, as coming
from South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo and one
from Zimbabwe.

Equatorial Guinea, which has arrested what it called an advance party of 15
mercenaries, said "enemy powers" and multinational companies had been
plotting against the small central African state.

The country's state television has said it would air a second interview on
Thursday in which one of the detainees, Nick du Toit, said he had been paid
by the United States and multinational companies to overthrow the president.

On Thursday, Equatorial Guinea's deputy foreign minister briefed South
African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in Pretoria on events in the
country, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported.

Equatorial Guinea has publicly thanked South Africa and Angola for alerting
it to the possible coup attempt.

Both Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe, some 3,200 km (2,000 miles) apart, have
put their security forces on high alert since Zimbabwe detained a Boeing 727
carrying the men and what officials described as "military material" on
Sunday.

Television footage of the plane's cargo has shown items ranging from
sleeping bags and camouflage uniforms to bolt cutters and compasses -- but
no firearms.

Zimbabwe officials say the group expected to buy weapons in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe government has divulged little information on the detainees,
declining to reveal where they are being held or what specific charges they
may face.

A leading Harare lawyer said while the law stipulated that suspects should
be taken to court within 48 hours, Zimbabwe's sweeping security regulations
allow the state to extend the period for a week or more.

In special circumstances, judicial officers can charge criminal suspects
outside courts, including at detention centres.

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The Star

      Plots and plotters
      March 12, 2004

      By the Editor

      The plot, as they say, thickens. We refer, of course, to Africa's
latest encounter with mercenaries. By yesterday, Cameroon had been added to
the list of possible destinations. But one could also have chosen the
Democratic Republic of Congo or Burundi. And equally, the intention of those
aboard the Boeing was not agreed upon by everybody.

      All indications are, however, that mercenaries were set on
destabilising Equatorial Guinea. Although given that country's history, that
would not have been a great achievement.

      There are several points to be made regarding both the plane now
impounded in Harare - with its 60-plus "passengers" - and the 15
"mercenaries" being held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea's capital.

      The last thing Africa needs is a bunch of mercenaries running (or
flying around) the continent. It is to discourage this kind of action that
South Africa passed the Foreign Military Assistance Act. Therefore, from our
perspective, it is possible that a crime has taken place.

      But the ironies abound. First among these is that it is being claimed
South Africa knew about the plot to topple President Teodoro Obiang Nguema
Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea and tipped off his government. If that is so,
why was the Boeing allowed to depart from Wonderboom Airport?

      Now both Mbasogo and various Zimbabwe politicians are jumping up and
down with indignation. Mbasogo is that paragon of democratic virtue who came
to power through a coup in 1979. He ousted his uncle, whom he later
executed. In Harare, there is another leader who sees himself as fit to
govern for ever.

      We do not for a moment buy into the claim by the plane's owner that
those on board were security guards en route to various mining operations in
the DRC. The evidence that we are talking mercenaries is overwhelming.

      The law must now take its course, but the talk in Harare of executions
is dangerous in the extreme. That country may welcome this heaven-sent
diversion from its own internal problems, but another travesty is the last
thing required in our neck of the woods.

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The Star

      Plotters ignored political environment
      March 12, 2004

        By Peter Fabricius

      The age of African coups is past, said my ex-securocrat friend,
thoughtfully. He was remarking, rather incredulously, on the apparent plot
to topple the government of Equatorial Guinea which unravelled this week.

      There was indeed something rather anachronistic about the whole thing;
a strange mixture of Mad Mike Hoare's Frothblowers, Frederick Forsyth's Dogs
of War and Evelyn Waugh's Black Mischief. Maybe the movie will be called
Black and White Mischief. That would acknowledge the roles of the white
ex-Executive Outcomes mercenary bosses, their black ex-Angola and Namibia
troops and their apparent Equatorial Guinea opposition clients, also black.

      "You and I and three friends could topple the government of Equatorial
Guinea," my friend continued. "But I don't think the African Union would
have tolerated it. They would probably have sent in troops, perhaps
Nigerians, and there would have been a very bloody fight."

      Africa has of course experienced a few hundred coups since its first
state became independent in 1957.

      For many years, the leadership of Africa almost accepted coups as a
routine method of transferring power. But that started to change in July
1999.

      At its summit in Algiers that month, the Organisation of African Unity
approved an historic resolution to outlaw coups.
      Departing quite radically from its 36-year-old policy of
non-intervention in the affairs of member states, the OAU leaders decreed
that henceforth governments that came to power by coups, or other
unconstitutional means, would be suspended from the organisation.

      The OAU suspended the governments of Cote d'Ivoire and the Comoros
soon after that. In the latter case, it began protracted negotiations to
defuse the intra-party conflicts which had sparked several coups over the
years.

      When the African Union (AU) took over from the OAU, it also took over
the anti-coup policy and strengthened it, at least on paper, by giving
itself much more explicit powers to intervene in countries to stop extreme
violence and abuses of power.

      Last year the AU - with the South African government very much to the
fore - reversed, by diplomacy, a coup in S<o Tomé and Pr'ncipe, the Atlantic
ocean island state near Bioko, the island where Equatorial Guinea's capital
Malabo is located.

      It is true that the AU has not reversed all coups since it outlawed
them. It was unable or perhaps unwilling to do so in the Central African
Republic, for instance, last year.

      But it certainly seems determined to stop coups where it can -
especially in more manageable island states.

      The plotters of this week's alleged coup apparently ignored this new
political environment. That is why one may describe their wild adventure as
an anachronism, whatever else you may call it.

      It must be said, though, that if the dogs of war need to update their
thinking about coups, so does the AU. It must also take into account a wider
political context - that pressure for coups often builds up because leaders
abuse their positions to stay in power - for instance by rigging elections.
And so invite violent removal.

      This is, ironically, true of both the countries which figured in this
week's saga - Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea. It is not surprising that the
Zimbabwean government thought - and perhaps still thinks - that it was the
target. If the cap fits, wear it, as they say.

      The AU is now arming itself with many weapons to deal with these
abuses of power which can make coup attempts inevitable. Foiling a crazy,
retrogressive coup plot by a bunch of ageing white South African soldiers of
fortune requires no political will. Facing up to the ostensibly legitimate
black leaders who manipulate the instruments of democracy to stay in power,
is a very different challenge.

      That requires real political will. That is the necessary next step in
the evolution of Africa's new thinking.
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The Star

      Team sets off to quiz suspected mercenaries
      March 12, 2004

      By Graeme Hosken, Basildon Peta, Estelle Ellis, Jeremy Michaels and
agencies

      Intelligence agents have left for Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea to
interrogate South Africans being held for allegedly plotting a coup in
Equatorial Guinea.

      This followed a meeting between Equatorial Guinea's Deputy Foreign
Minister José Esono Micha, President Thabo Mbeki and Foreign Minister
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in Pretoria early yesterday.

      Micha went on to Harare to meet members of the Zimbabwean government.

      The South Africans face charges in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea as
well as charges at home for contravening anti-mercenary laws.

      Fifteen alleged mercenaries, including at least seven South Africans,
were arrested in Equatorial Guinea on Saturday after South African
intelligence agencies tipped off their Equatorial Guinean counterparts about
the planned coup.

      Within hours, a Boeing 727-100 carrying another 68 South African
passport-carrying men was impounded at Harare International Airport.

      The group, employed by the UK company Logo Logistics Ltd, is claiming
to have been hired to perform demining and security work.

      The governments of Equatorial Guinea, Zimbabwe and South Africa all
allege they were actually planning to topple Equatorial Guinea's President
Obiang Nguema and replace him with exiled oppo- sition leader Severo Moto
Nsa.

      The plane is believed to have landed at Harare airport to pick up arms
and ammunition as well as two alleged ringleaders of the plot - Simon Mann,
a British national resident in South Africa, and South African Simon
Witherspoon.

      Equatorial Guinea's state radio said Moto had paid South African Nick
du Toit (48), the leader of the advance party in Equatorial Guinea,
$10-million (about R67-million).

      Speaking on state television, Du Toit said the advance party would
take strategic targets such as the presidency, the military barracks, police
posts and the residences of government members.

      South African security sources say the Zimbabwean group was heading to
a covert military training camp in
      Cameroon that was to be the staging point for a seaborne assault.

      They said Logo Logistics had recently bought a fleet of nine trawlers
which had been modified to take troops and had been fitted with machineguns
and rocket launchers.

      Meanwhile in Harare yesterday, four days after their arrest, the
suspected mercenaries had still not been charged and South Africa's high
commissioner Jerry Ndou had still not managed to see them.

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Street Children Rounded Up

The Herald (Harare)

March 12, 2004
Posted to the web March 11, 2004

Harare

POLICE this week rounded up street children who returned to Harare's central
business district barely a month after they were taken to homes and farms.

Harare Provincial spokesperson, Inspec-tor Cecilia Churu said police had
taken the street children back to the farms yesterday.

"We suspect these were children who ran away before we rounded up hundreds
others we took to various farms last month and they had re-emerged after
they noticed things had calmed down.

"This time we took them by surprise and took them to the farms with a few
others who had returned to the streets," Insp Churu said.

Some of the street children ran away from the farms barely a week after they
were taken there and were seen walking back into the city centre.

Scores were also seen camping and loitering around some shopping centres
close to the city centre last week.

Residents of Waterfalls, Glen Norah and Sunningdale expressed fears the
street children might end up resorting to criminal activities in the
suburbs.

One Waterfalls resident said some street children had camped at Zindoga
shopping centre before going back to the city after their return from the
farms.

"I am sure they are back in the city, but we usually see a few during
weekends," the resident said.

Some street children who ran away from the farms have indicated that they
were not happy staying on the farms.

They said there was not enough food.

Police, however, said it would take the concerted efforts of all
stakeholders to permanently resolve the issue of street children.

Inspector Andrew Phiri said as law enforcers, the police had the duty to
ensure there were no children living on the streets.

"The street children were taken to various homes and places. There are no
security mechanisms to ensure that the children are kept in those homes.
Everyone should be involved in the issue to help alleviate the problem,"
Insp Phiri said.

A few years ago, the City of Harare introduced drop-in centres where the
street children went to bath and slept during day- time.

This did nothing to keep the children off the streets, as they were not
allowed to sleep there at night.
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Health Minister Appeals for Aid

The Herald (Harare)

March 12, 2004
Posted to the web March 11, 2004

Harare

THE Minister of Health and Child, Dr David Parirenyatwa, on Wednesday
appealed for aid from the international community to strengthen the
country's health delivery system.

He said the support would help in strengthening the capacity of the health
sector to provide quality health services and in achieving the Millennium
Development Goals set by the United Nations.

Dr Parirenyatwa said this when he officiated at a function to welcome the
United Nations Population Fund deputy director for programmes, Mr Kunio
Waki, who is visiting the country.

"As Government, we envisage the achievement of the highest possible health
and quality of life for our citizens through combined efforts of
individuals, non-governmental organisations and international agencies.

"The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare cannot address these challenges
that the health sector faces alone and therefore believes in partnerships,"
said Dr Parirenyatwa in a speech read on his behalf by director for
technical support in the health ministry, Dr Davis Dhlakama.

He mentioned some of the challenges facing the country's health sector,
which include the procurement of essential drugs, retention of qualified
staff and the HIV and Aids pandemic.

"Although primary health care continues to be the cornerstone of the health
delivery system in Zimbabwe, the brain drain has reduced skilled labour and
worsened the ability of Government to provide basic health services.

"This is because of the current adverse macro-economic environment, which is
eroding the gains achieved by the health sector. This is why we hope that Mr
Waki will spread the message to the international community in order to help
us in overcoming some of the challenges," he said.

Dr Parirenyatwa said his ministry hoped that other partners whose activities
have an impact on health would be involved in improving the country's
quality of health.

He acknowledged the good relations between the Government and all UN
agencies, particularly UNFPA. Mr Waki, who met Dr Parirenyatwa during his
visit, said UNFPA would look at ways to strengthen relations with
Government.
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Police Arrest 26 Somalis

The Herald (Harare)

March 12, 2004
Posted to the web March 11, 2004

Harare

POLICE yesterday arrested 26 Somalis, who allegedly entered the country
illegally by using a canoe to cross the Zambezi River from Zambia.

The Somalis were arrested in Makuti. They are still in custody and
investigations are still in progress.

They were arrested by a policeman after they had boarded a bus to Harare.
The policeman had demanded their identity cards.

"On March 9, the foreigners entered the country using a canoe and travelled
to Makuti in an unidentified truck," said police spokesperson, Inspector
Andrew Phiri.

He said the suspects had spent the night at Makuti Travel Lodge.

The following day, a receptionist at the lodge informed the police but by
the time police arrived, the Somalis had left.

"The suspects had boarded a bus, which was heading for Harare before our
police officers had arrived," said Insp Phiri.

"After carrying out preliminary investigations, the foreigners later
revealed that when they boarded the bus to Harare, they were on their way to
a refugee camp."

The Somalis said that they were seeking refuge but could not say why they
entered the country illegally, Insp Phiri said.

Insp Phiri said the Somalis would be transferred from Makuti to Waterfalls
where a vetting process would be carried out by a Refuge Verification Team.
"We want to check whether they were genuine asylum seekers or not," he said.

"And even if they are genuine asylum seekers, they should have entered the
country following the normal procedures."

Insp Phiri urged foreigners not to enter the country illegally.

"The illegal way is dangerous since it might cost their lives because they
can meet dangerous animals along the way or the canoe might have capsized
during the process," said Insp Phiri.
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MDC Activist Gets 4-Year Jail Sentence

The Herald (Harare)

March 12, 2004
Posted to the web March 11, 2004

Harare

IRODGE MAVHURA, one of the MDC activists who robbed a Zupco crew of $19 000
before burning a $75 million Marcopolo bus in January last year has been
sentenced to an effective four years in jail by a Harare regional
magistrates' court.

Mavhura had been sentenced to eight years in jail but regional magistrate
Mrs Lilian Kudya conditionally suspended four years.

He had pleaded not guilty when his trial opened but was convicted for
breaching the Public Order and Security Act.

Mrs Kudya said evidence against Mavhura, who was jointly charged with Lloyd
Masawi, was overwhelming since witnesses positively identified him.

Masawi was discharged at the close of the State case and charges against 12
others who were initially charged with the two were also withdrawn before
plea but the State can proceed by way of summons.

Prosecutor Mr Obi Mabahwana said Mavhura was part of a gang of men who
hatched a plan to burn a new Zupco Marcopolo Scania bus plying the
City-Highfield route on January 13 last year.

Agreed facts are that at around 7:45pm on the day, Mavhura and his
accomplices boarded the bus in Glen Norah A while armed with a container
with petrol, matches and whips.

The conductor, Mr Sainos Makaripe, asked for bus fare from one of the gang
members but was referred to another man identified as the commander
responsible for the group. The commander promised to pay the bus fares
later.

As the bus approached a bus stop along Willowvale Road, the driver of the
bus, Mr Amos Magumbe, was ordered to stop.

As the driver stopped, the man jumped onto the bonnet and started assaulting
the driver with a whip. The driver and conductor managed to escape and
Mavhura sprinkled the bus with petrol before another member lit the bus and
fled.
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Dualisation of Harare-Norton Highway Reaches Advanced Stage

The Herald (Harare)

March 12, 2004
Posted to the web March 11, 2004

Harare

THE Government will next month open to traffic another section of the dual
carriageway on the Harare-Norton highway.

The Secretary for Transport and Communications, Retired Colonel Christian
Katsande, hoped the whole section of the dual carriageway from Kuwadzana
roundabout to Turnpike Service Station would be finished by the end of next
month.

The dual carriageway has so far been opened to traffic extending from the
Kuwadzana roundabout and ending a few kilometres before the Turnpike Garage.

"The plan is to open up that section of the road so that all traffic will be
diverted onto that new dual lane to make way for the rehabilitation of the
existing carriageway starting from Kuwadzana roundabout up to Turnpike," he
said.

Toll gates are planned at Snake World this year to collect tolls to finance
the carriageway, which since 1998, has consumed more than $1 billion. This
year $4 billion was allocated. The plan is to continue the dual carriageway
all the way to Gweru.

Apart from the Harare-Gweru highway, Rtd Col Katsande said plans were at an
advanced stage to clear the route for the first phase of the new dual
carraigeway on the Harare-Masvingo highway.

"Buildings that are within the road reserve, especially J Masters, are to be
removed. The Ministry is working on this in conjunction with the City of
Harare," he said.

Rtd Col Katsande said at least $2 billion had been sunk into that road so
far while $8 billion dollars was allocated during the current fiscal year.

"Part of the $8 billion will cover compensation for the relocation of
buildings in the way of the road and the remainder is to be used on the
road, including the extension of Mukuvisi bridge which is currently at
design stage," he said.

Work on the dualisation of the Harare-Masvingo highway from the corner of
Simon Mazorodze and Willowvale Roads to the roundabout to Glen Norah and
Chitungwiza started last June.

President Mugabe last year said it was "a must" that all major roads be
upgraded into dual carriageways to reduce road accidents, which were killing
and maiming hundreds of people every year.

The President was speaking at a memorial service for 37 people, most of them
Masvingo Teachers College students who died in a bus accident along the
Harare-Masvingo highway.

The dualisation which is going to cover the Harare-Gweru, Harare-Masvingo,
Harare-Mutare, Harare-Nyamapanda, Harare-Bindura, Harare-Chirundu and the
Harare -Airport roads was expected to cost $1 400 billion.

Government was using its own resources and the Build-Operate-Transfer
system. The Government has invited the private sector to partner it to
dualise the trunk roads on a Build-Operate-Transfer method of financing.

Through this, the private sector would raise money and dualise the roads and
then recoup costs plus some profit by way of road tolls. The private sector
would build and operate the road for 20 to 25 years and then hand the road
over to the Government after the expiry of the concession period.

At least three major companies had so far shown interest in the dualisation
of roads on a BOT basis.

A consortium of two local companies - Tolling Company of Zimbabwe (TOLZ) and
Zim-Highways had shown interest in the Harare-Masvingo, Harare-Gweru and
Harare-Mutare roads.

The third is a South African company, Nedcor, which has shown interest in
the dualisation of the Harare-Airport Road.

However, despite the commitment on Government's part, the project is facing
major constraints.

These include the shortage of fuel for construction equipment, construction
material like cement and bitumen and equipment for hire while high inflation
was making it difficult for the companies to forecast finance regimes
accurately.

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES: Updated 11TH MARCH 2004
Please send any job opportunities for publication in this newsletter to:
JAG Job Opportunities <justice@telco.co.zw>

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1.  Advert Received 5th March 2004

HEBRON FARM

TEL: 039 7474 713 P.O. BOX 420

e-mail: penelopescot@telkomsa.net KOKSTAD. 4700

We have two farms with a total of 930ha in East Griqualand, Kwa-Zulu Natal
RSA.

Seed potatoes and eating potatoes are the main crops, with a small amount
of maize,

Beef and fat lamb production being secondary enterprises.

We are looking for a manager in his late forties who has an agricultural
qualification and

must be a very practical hands on type of person, who is interested in the
above enterprises and has

a working knowledge of mechanics/building and general maintenance.

We can offer a house and salary is negotiable

Please write or e-mail a cv to AFW Scott
-----------------------------------------------------------------

2.  Advert Received 5th March 2004

For Sale: Premium Olive Plantation (Gingin West - Western Australia -
Approx. 1hrs drive North West of Perth)

Features:

    * 11,850 Olive Trees - 4 Varieties (Roughly 15 Months Old)

    * Sold with all Plant and Machinery

    * Modern Fully Reticulated Plantation

    * Excellent Water Licence

    * Hard Work All Completed

    * Sold as a Going Concern - Zero GST (Subject to individual buyers
classification)

For further information, as well as a colour brochure with photos, kindly
contact the undersigned.

Many thanks and kind regards,

Denis Sauzier

Tel: (+263 4) 335133

Fax: (+263 4) 332566

Cell: (+263) 91600200

email: saurel@mweb.co.zw <mailto:saurel@mweb.co.zw>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

3.  Advert Received 8th March 2004

Dear Jag

Looking for an opportunity to get started as an assistant, a secretary, a
trainee or with your books. I grew up at Entre Rios Farm in Bromley, where
my father was a manager, my mother a teacher. We lived at the farm for
nearly 25 years. I was born there.

The farm fell victim to what is now part of Zimbabwe's known history. We
relocated to Marondera where I enrolled for a secretarial course. I was
successful and am now looking for a suitable placement, anywhere in
Zimbabwe. Anyone out there willing to give me a chance?

I can be contacted at the following numbers:023 284 332
email nungu@africaonline.co.zw

Or e-mail, at the above address

-------------------Prudence Saineti-------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.  Date Advert Received

WANTED:

FARM HANDYMAN - C1/C2 GRADE

Can anyone recommend an all purpose handyman who can do the basics - weld,
plumb, do electrics and do basic mechanics. Any such person jobless after
farm evictions?

Contact: Heather - 062-3515/3559
email cccpigs@hms.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

5.  Date Advert Received

Dear Madame, Sir,

Please place this opportunity in your next issue of the JAG Classified Ads.
With Thanks.

Wanted for 3-year training contract in Botswana, a certified and
experienced practicioner/trainer in Holistic Range Management.

We are in the process of establishing an experimental range rehabilitation
and management centre based on a 15,000 ha. cattle/game ranch in the
Kalahari.  The holistic range management practicioner/trainer would join a
strong team of six professionals in diverse fields from ranch management,
to ecology and human resources development. For the holistic range
management practicioner/trainer position we are seeking a trainer certified
by the Savory Centre, who has a passion for the range and at least three
years practical experience.

Our objectives are explore holistic rehabilitation and management
approaches appropriate to the Kalahari, and through these approaches to
establish and operate a demonstration holistic ranching operation to
optimise species biodiversity and livestock/wildlife productivity.

Program is tied to a long-term range rehabilitation activity focusing on
training and application.  The successful applicant must be practical, as
well as theoretical, an effective trainer and a good team player.  For
further details contact Jonathan at
pantrust@dynabyte.bw

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For the latest listings of accommodation available for farmers, contact
justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw (updated 12th February 2004)

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