Zimbabwe opposition re-elects Tsvangirai as leader

Reuters

      Sun Mar 19, 2006 1:07 PM GMT

By Cris Chinaka

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition re-elected veteran party
leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Sunday after he called for mass action to
ratchet up pressure on President Robert Mugabe's government.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in all 12 of Zimbabwe's provinces,
plus the party's youth and women's' wings, endorsed a new term for
Tsvangirai at the end of a two-day congress. There were no challengers.

Party members will also vote on Sunday for a new leadership team, which
analysts say will determine both the party's battle with Mugabe and its
stand-off with rival MDC members who have formed their own opposition group
after a recent split.

Nelson Chamisa, a spokesman for Tsvangirai's MDC faction -- seen by many as
the main opposition -- said earlier the party was expected to back the
former trade union leader's call on Saturday for a wave of protests against
Mugabe.

"We are ... expecting the congress to approve the political programme
proposed by the leadership," he said.

When he addressed 15,000 congress delegates on Saturday, Tsvangirai called
on Zimbabweans to launch a "cold season of peaceful democratic resistance"
against Mugabe's rule, saying only sustained mass protests could overcome
government brutality.

There has been no immediate response from the government to Tsvangirai's
call for mass action, but Mugabe's government has routinely deployed
security forces to crush political protests.

Another MDC executive member said Tsvangirai's statement was welcomed by
many delegates during a closed session late on Saturday, but details of when
and how the protests would be organised were not debated.

"The congress is going to adopt a number of broad political programmes,
including that proposal. ... But I think the details will be left to
committees that deal with strategies," said the official who declined to be
named.

"The focus is on the future ... although some people are still distracted by
the recent defections by some of our former colleagues," he added.

The MDC split after Tsvangirai, who has led the party since its founding in
1999, called for a poll boycott for a new Senate which he said was aimed at
consolidating Mugabe's hold on power.

A splinter group led by MDC deputy president Gibson Sibanda and
secretary-general Welshman Ncube accused Tsvangirai of dictatorship and last
month elected former student activist Arthur Mutambara as leader of the own
MDC faction.

Several officials from Tsvangirai's group are vying to fill up positions
left by Sibanda and Ncube, including veteran politicians and professionals.

Political analysts say the new leadership will almost certainly reflect
Tsvangirai's own uncompromising approach and could usher the party into
fresh confrontation with Mugabe's ZANU-PF, which has ruled Zimbabwe since
independence in 1980.

The southern African country is wrestling with shortages of food, fuel and
foreign currency, unemployment over 70 percent and the highest inflation
rate in the world from a deep economic crisis many critics blame on Mugabe's
government.

Opposition pledges to increase pressure on Mugabe

CNN

Sunday, March 19, 2006; Posted: 10:50 a.m. EST (15:50 GMT)

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, buoyed a large
turnout of enthusiastic supporters, vowed at his party convention Sunday to
step up political pressure against the government of longtime Zimbabwe ruler
President Robert Mugabe.
Tsvangirai brushed aside a damaging split in the Movement for Democratic
Change, describing his faction as "the mainstream MDC."

"We remain firm and resolute, committed to bringing about democracy and good
governance and to put an end to the suffering of the people," he said.

Tsvangirai described the split over whether to contest last November's
elections for a new upper house, or Senate, as a "temporary diversion."

Tsvangirai was expected to be re-elected unopposed as party president by his
supporters later Sunday.

Proposals circulated among some 14,000 delegates at a Harare sports center
included management reforms and plans to strengthen the party presidency and
appoint a chief executive in charge of day-to-day administration.

The proposals acknowledged "many weaknesses" in six years of "operational
experience" since the labor-backed party was founded in 1999 as the first
major challenge to Mugabe's ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic
Front.

Among the weaknesses were internal leadership disputes, lack of cohesion
between opposition lawmakers and other senior party figures and the failure
to lead mass protests on the streets across the nation.

"It is also clear that the machinery for contesting elections has often
exhibited serious weaknesses," the proposals said.

The opposition narrowly lost parliamentary and presidential elections in
2000 and 2002 in polling independent observers said was marred by violence,
intimidation and vote-rigging.

In parliamentary polls last year, the opposition won just 41 of the 120
elected seats in the Harare legislature.

The pro-Senate faction gained seven of the 50 elected seats in the upper
house in November.

Supporters of the rival Senate faction met in the southwestern city of
Bulawayo last month and elected Harvard- and Oxford-educated Rhodes Scholar
Arthur Mutambara to lead them.

Both factions are claiming the right to use the MDC's name, symbol, money
and property.

Police manned roadblocks around Harare Sunday. Opposition officials said the
heightened security was intended to scare opposition supporters headed to
the convention.

The government earlier this month arrested six of Tsvangirai's officials,
alleging they were involved in a plot against Mugabe and had a secret arms
cache. A judge subsequently ordered their release.

The opposition won a February 2000 referendum on a new constitution that
would have entrenched Mugabe's powers. Mugabe blamed the country's small
white minority for orchestrating his first defeat at the polls and ordered
the seizure of 5,000 white-owned commercial farms.

Since then the once-buoyant economy has been in free fall, with inflation
reaching 782 percent, 80 percent unemployment, and at least 3 million people
reliant on international food aid.

Mugabe rival in fight to survive

The Sunday Times, UK March 19, 2006

            Christina Lamb

            ZIMBABWE'S opposition movement is expected to announce a new
strategy of confrontation this week after six years of unsuccessfully trying
to topple President Robert Mugabe through democratic means.
            The shift is seen as a "make or break" move by Morgan
Tsvangirai, founding leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), to
retain control of the opposition after his party split and a new faction
emerged, led by a charismatic rocket scientist.

            The MDC's annual conference opened yesterday, with delegates
uncomfortably aware that their infighting has left Mugabe's hold on power
stronger than ever, despite the country's economic collapse and an official
inflation rate of 782%, the world's highest.

            "We need to regenerate and renew the party to make it much more
focused on removing the dictatorship," Tsvangirai told The Sunday Times on
the eve of the conference.

            "The first six years, the focus was on winning change through
elections, and that's got us nowhere, so now we have to take a new tack."

            In his opening speech, he asked delegates to decide whether to
"widen our options to include using people power to put pressure on this
regime that has reduced us to paupers and beggars in our own motherland".

            The 54-year-old former union leader has survived a number of
assassination attempts, endured a debilitating treason trial and fought a
presidential election and two parliamentary elections in which his party
workers have been tortured, murdered and had their homes burnt, only for the
polls to be rigged. But he is now under the greatest pressure since the MDC
formed in 1999.

            The party split into two factions when Tsvangirai defied a vote
by his national executive in October on whether to participate in elections
for a new Senate.

            The MDC leader felt the Senate did not represent the desires of
the party's grassroots and that contesting yet another fraudulent election
was a waste of much-needed money. But his decision exacerbated rifts within
the party.

            The MDC's secretary-general, treasurer, deputy leader, spokesman
and several other leading members staged their own congress in Bulawayo last
month and named as their leader Arthur Mutambara, a former student militant
and professor of robotics who has worked at Nasa, the American space agency.

            Although the 39-year-old has lived overseas for 15 years and
appeared as if from nowhere, more than half the party's 41 MPs have pledged
their loyalty to him.

            Tsvangirai's backers claim the split was engineered by agents of
Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF who had infiltrated the party. They note that
Mutambara is married to the daughter of one of Mugabe's chief advisers.

            "The Mutambara congress was paid for by Zanu-PF," said Nelson
Chamisa, a spokesman for Tsvangirai. "They used state trucks and vehicles to
transport people. It was blatant."

            The split has left Tsvangirai fighting for his political life
and with little option but to call on the people to prove he has the
grassroots support that he claims.

            "We have to extricate the country out of the jaws of
dictatorship and the only way is to galvanise the democratic forces to act,"
said Chamisa.

            But he added: "We will not follow the Yugoslav or Ukraine model.
We need a Zimbabwean solution for a Zimbabwean problem."

            It is not clear what form this new strategy will take. Senior
party officials have indicated it will mean a campaign of civil disobedience
and possible mobilisation involving university students.

Tsvangirai threatens to roll out mass protests

Zim Online

Mon 20 March 2006

      HARARE - Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who was
re-elected president at the party's two-day congress in Harare, on Sunday
vowed to organise massive demonstrations against President Robert Mugabe's
government.

      In his acceptance speech delivered to about 15 000 enthusiastic
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters at the City Sports Centre in
Harare, Tsvangirai, warned of "a long bustling winter across the country."

      "From today, fellow Zimbabweans, kindly save a penny and stock up
where possible. A storm is upon the horizon," Tsvangirai said.

      "I promise to lead from the country. I promise to use all available
resources and will-power to see off the tyranny in Zimbabwe today; to assist
in putting together the building blocks for a new Zimbabwe and a new
beginning," he said.

      There was no immediate reaction from the Zimbabwean government over
Tsvangirai's threats. But Zimbabwe's State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa
has in the past threatened to deal with Tsvangirai if he organised street
protests against the government.

      The MDC, which was Zimbabweans' only hope to end Mugabe's 26-year old
grip on power, is severely weakened after several senior leaders including
secretary general Welshman Ncube and Gibson Sibanda broke ranks with
Tsvangirai last November over strategy to unseat Mugabe.

      Ncube and several of the party's top leaders last month held their own
separate congress in Zimbabwe's second biggest city of Bulawayo where they
elected former University of Zimbabwe student leader Arthur Mutambara as
president.

      Analysts doubt whether the MDC still retains the capacity to mount any
real challenge to Mugabe after the recent split.

      But yesterday, a fired up Tsvangirai warned Mugabe to brace for "a
long bustling winter across the country".

      "We are our own liberators. Merely assuming an early end for a
dictator can be wishful thinking. You may have as many wish lists as
possible; the bottom line is that we must rise and confront what is before
us," said Tsvangirai.

      Tsvangirai also promised to hand over power once Zimbabwe was restored
to full democracy.

      "It has never been my intention to hold on to power after the people
have liberated themselves from this dictatorship. My contract with the
people does not extend beyond a certain time-frame.

      "A new Zimbabwe, a new beginning has no room for life presidents. My
wish is to execute our mandate in an honest and vigorous manner; preside
over a transition to full democracy and pass on the baton to another
Zimbabwean.

      "I believe there must be an exciting life for a pensioner - whether
that pensioner is a peasant, former factory cleaner or a former president. I
pledge to honour my word." - ZimOnline

MDC congress venue plunged into darkness

Zim Online

Mon 20 March 2006

      HARARE - A venue hosting a congress of Zimbabwe's splintered
opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party loyal to Morgan
Tsvangirai was last night plunged into darkness after a power failure.

      The state-run Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) only
managed to restore power supplies to the City Sports Centre, the congress
venue, after two hours.

      But there were no surprises at the two-day congress which ended on
Sunday after Morgan Tsvangirai was re-elected president of the splintered
party with Bulawayo legislator Thokozani Khupe being elected deputy
president after beating off challengers Gladys Mtombeni and Lovemore Moyo.

      Isaac Matongo was elected chairman while former legislator for
Chimanimani legislator Roy Bennett was elected treasurer.

      Former Harare mayor Elias Mudzuri was also elected the party's
organising secretary while Nelson Chamisa was elected  the party's
spokesperson after their opponents withdrew from the race at the last
minute.

      Dennis Murira lost to one M Komichi for the deputy organising
secretary's post.

      Harare lawyer, Tendai Biti is the new secretary general of the party
and will be deputized by Tapiwa Mashakada whom he had earlier trounced for
the secretary general's post.. - ZimOnline

Family bitter over ZANU PF official's failure to compensate them for death of relative

Zim Online

Mon 20 March 2006

      MASVINGO - A family in Gutu in Masvingo province has accused a senior
ruling ZANU PF official, Shuvai Mahofa, of reneging on her promise to
compensate them following the death of their relative in a land dispute five
years ago.

      The Museva family accused Mahofa of hiring thugs to beat up Misheck
Museva, a war veteran, after a dispute over land. Museva died from injuries
sustained during the brutal attack.

      But five years after the event, Mahofa who had initially agreed to pay
compensation, had still not done so.

      The family is now demanding Z$100 million, up from the initial Z$2
million which they say has been eroded by inflation. It also wants Mahofa to
pay 40 head of cattle as part of the compensation.

      Following the death of Misheck, the Museva family went and dumped his
body at Mahofa's residence at Mpandawana rural business centre demanding
compensation. Museva was only buried after Mahofa promised to pay the
compensation.

      A spokesman for the family, Abraham Museva told ZimOnline at the
weekend that Mahofa no longer wants to speak to them despite earlier
promises to settle the debt.

      "We have not received a single cent from Mahofa. We decided to bury
our relative after the intervention of the late Vice President Simon
Muzenda.

      "Mahofa herself had also promised to pay us. We need the money which
we feel is now $100 million because of inflation and the number of cattle
remains the same," said Museva.

      Contacted for comment, Mahofa refused to answer questions on the
matter insisting the matter was before the traditional courts.

      "This issue is now before Chief Gutu. Traditional chiefs are empowered
to deal with such issues and therefore I cannot comment on an issue that is
before a court of law. After all who are you to speak on behalf of the
Museva family?" said Mahofa.

      Museva died at the height of farm invasions in 2001 after Mahofa
allegedly hired thugs to beat up the war veteran in a bid to force him out
of a farm house which had been allocated to Museva.

      Museva's murderers were never arrested.

      The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change party and major
Western governments accuse President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party of
unleashing violence on political opponents in a bid to hold on to power.

      But Mugabe denies the charge insisting the charges are trumped up to
tarnish Zimbabwe's image. - ZimOnline

International Cricket Council set to grill Zimbabwe Cricket boss

Zim Online

Mon 20 March 2006

      HARARE - Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Peter Chingoka is set to be grilled
when he stands before the International Cricket Council (ICC) executive
board today in Dubai to explain the progress his interim committee has made
to address the crisis bedevilling the game in Zimbabwe.

      Zimbabwe is high on the agenda of the ICC executive board meeting
starting today and ending tomorrow that will also discuss the future tours
programme, anti-doping and anti-racism, among other issues.

      Observers expect the ICC to be tough with Chingoka this time round
after the international body had been roundly criticised for failing to
intervene in the Zimbabwe crisis, insisting that the dispute was an internal
issue.

      Chingoka is expected to give a verbal report on how his interim
committee, appointed by the government in January, has addressed serious
governance concerns that saw a number of key players turning their back on
Zimbabwe in protest.

      The ICC board is also expected to consider whether it is appropriate
to apply playing and administrative criteria to evaluate Zimbabwe's
readiness to resume Test cricket when it approaches the end of its 12-month
voluntary withdrawal from Test commitments early in 2007.

      Zimbabwe voluntarily withdrew its Test status in January following a
string of poor results and its failure to field players good enough for the
longer version of the game as the crisis raged on.

      The crisis reached boiling point last September when players, led by
then national team captain Tatenda Taibu, issued an ultimatum demanding that
Chingoka and Zimbabwe Cricket step down.

      Provincial administrators had earlier compiled a dossier raising
serious allegations of corruption and financial embezzlement against
Chingoka and Bvute.

      The ICC said today its executive board would want to hear an update on
how the interim Zimbabwe Cricket board was addressing the allegations of
financial mismanagement by appointing a reputable independent company to
conduct a forensic audit.

      Chingoka is also expected to explain how he has handled concerns
regarding the composition of the interim board as well as improving
relations with players to ensure their views are taken into account and a
team can be fielded of a standard that does not have a negative impact on
the integrity of international cricket.

      Meanwhile, in a move designed to embarrass Chingoka ahead of the ICC
meeting, clubs in the Matabeleland province decided to boycott their matches
yesterday in protest against his leadership.

      "All clubs in Matabeleland are boycotting cricket starting this
weekend pending a stakeholders meeting to be held on Thursday," Cricinfo
quoted a spokesman as saying.

      "We are doing this to send a clear message to the ICC that Peter
Chingoka does not have the mandate of anyone in Zimbabwe. So who is he
representing in that meeting."

      Chingoka's critics claim nothing has improved since he was
controversially retained to head the Zimbabwe Cricket  interim board while
those who were calling for his ouster were purged. - ZimOnline

Zimbabwean Farmers Find a New Life in Nigeria

 

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Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR

Alan Jack and Susan McTavish outside their new house in Nigeria. Jack coordinated the move from Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

Enlarge

Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR

Farm 5: The 2,500 acres allocated to Alan Jack in west-central Nigeria.

 

 

NPR.org, March 18, 2007 · Forced out of Zimbabwe by President Robert Mugabe's infamous land reform program, a small group of white farmers is taking advantage of a second chance in Nigeria.

Bukola Saraki, the governor of Kwara State, wooed the white commercial farmers despite some local opposition. He hopes to harness the expertise of the farmers from Zimbabwe to jump-start Nigeria's commercial agricultural sector. Nigeria spends billions annually on food imports.

Farmer Dan Swart says teaching people "the finer points of farming and finance" could "make Nigeria the breadbasket of West Africa."

A first-year yield of 4,000 tons of corn per acre may be "the biggest single yield in Nigeria for the last 40 years," says farmer Alan Jack. He coordinated the move to Kwara state and he's recruiting another 40 farmers to join the initial band of 13.

As he prepared to fly to Zimbabwe to recruit another 40 white farmers, Alan Jack said he looked

"We're very happy here," he says. "We're back doing what we do best, which is farm... Africa needs more success stories."

Silver lining from Kwara green fields

Vanguard, Nigeria

            YINKA OYINLOYE
            Posted to the Web: Sunday, March 19, 2006

            IN this season of political division and sectarian skirmishes,
recent reports from Shonga in Kwara State give a cause for optimism about
the future of Nigeria. The  reports also give a heart-warming indication of
the future of agriculture in Nigeria and, most importantly, of the
difference a visionary and committed leadership can  make. Shonga, a small
community on the western bank of the River Niger in rural Kwara, is the new
home of about a dozen white farmers brought from Zimbabwe  early last year
by Governor Bukola Saraki under the Kwara State Commercial Agriculture
Initiative. Less than a year after they cleared the first swathe of bush,
the  farmers have reaped 4,000 tonnes of maize and two tonnes of soya beans
from their maiden harvest, according to media reports. This yield from just
over 1,000  hectares of land is substantially higher than the Nigerian
average per hectare, which according to official statistics is 1.5 tons per
hectare for maize.

            The success story from Shonga has vindicated Saraki as a
foresighted and focused leader. More significantly, it may finally pave the
way for a green revolution in  Nigeria. Saraki is convinced that agriculture
offers Nigeria the best route out of poverty. But for the sector to achieve
its potentials, he argued that it must be driven by  commercial farming,
with the state creating an enabling environment and providing necessary
support.

            Thus when President Robert Mugabe began to throw the white
farmers out of Zimbabwe under his land reform programme, Saraki recognized a
window of  opportunity. He promptly reached out to the farmers and persuaded
15 of them to relocate to Shonga to pioneer his commercial farming
initiative. And thus began the  Shonga story. It is noteworthy that when the
governor announced this initiative in 2004, it ignited a furore. Vocal elite
and his political opponents in Kwara State  condemned everything about it -
from his decision to import the white farmers to the smallest details of the
collaborative agreement he signed with them.

            President Olusegun Obasanjo was one of the many dignitaries that
visited Shonga last year. The visit started a momentum for federal
initiatives on agriculture. The  President was so impressed with what he saw
at Shonga that he immediately summoned a meeting of the white farmers with
managing directors of financial institutions  where they brainstormed on how
to get around the inhibitions of financing agriculture in Nigeria. After
that meeting in Abuja, Obasanjo encouraged about a dozen  governors to visit
Shonga before leading them to Kaduna for a summit on agriculture. The
President has since the summit announced a number of policy decisions to
reposition agriculture and encourage commercial farming. The first was to
remove the cap on loans available for agricultural ventures under the Small
and  Medium-Scale Industries and Enterprises Scheme (SMIES). He also
announced a N50billion federal package for agricultural projects in 2006,
the largest  government support ever for the sector in Nigeria.

            Perhaps, the best compliment to the Kwara governor on Shonga is
the decision of some of his colleagues to adopt the project in their state.
On the same day that  politicians gathered in the six geo-political zones of
the country for public hearing, on the amendment of the Constitution,
Governor Adamu Abdullahi of Nasarawa  State signed a memorandum of
understanding with another group of 20 commercial farmers from Zimbabwe to
create his own Shonga in the state.
            If commercial farming takes root, it will change the face of
agriculture in Nigeria forever. That will no doubt be a great legacy for the
young man at the helm of affairs  in Kwara State.
            - Oyinloye is a policy analyst based in Lagos

Zim, China strengthen business ties

      March 19, 2006

      By Andnetwork .com

      ZIMBABWE and China will continue to foster good relations as part of
moves to help boost mutual economic benefits between the two countries, the
Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Cde Kumbirai Kangai, has said.

      Speaking at the launch of the Tianshi Zimbabwe branch in Harare
yesterday, Cde Kangai said the relations had for years remained brotherly,
something the two countries seek to preserve.

      Present at the function were the Deputy Minister of Industry and
International Trade, Cde Phineas Chiota, the head of the commission running
Mutare, Cde Kenneth Saruchera, Tianshi officials and a representative from
China's Economic and Commercial Affairs office Mr Hu Ming.

      Vice-President Cde Joseph Msika's wife, Amai Maria Msika, also
attended the event.

      "Zimbabwe and China's friendship has been like brotherhood and this
has continued for many years. We will always welcome Chinese enterprises to
invest in the country as this will help improve the local economic
environment," said Cde Kangai.

      Manager for the local office Ms Wendy Yang said Tianshi had created
job opportunities for over 3 000 people who are mostly into distribution.

      She said many people were using medicine produced by the company,
which, among other attributes, enhances fitness and boosts the immune
system.

      Tianshi was established in 1995 and has grown into a multi-national
company operating over 100 branches in different parts of the world.

      The firm, which has won several accolades for its products and began
business in Zimbabwe in 2004, specialises in traditional Chinese medicine
and therapy.

       The Sunday Mail

Zim govt set aside US$175 million for importation of fertiliser

      March 19, 2006

      By Andnetwork .com

      IN a major development that is likely to remedy the chronic fertiliser
shortages which last year almost derailed the 2005/2006 farming
preparations, Zimbabwe government has committed US$175 million towards the
importation of raw materials for the manufacture of fertiliser.

      This investment by Government will be the largest in the fertiliser
industry to date and will help rehabilitate the sector.

      The funds, to be provided by the Ministry of Finance, will be
earmarked for the purchase of Ammonium Nitrate (AN) used for the manufacture
of ammonium nitrate fertiliser, which is in high demand.

      Fertiliser companies like the Zimbabwe Fertiliser Company have been
struggling to access foreign currency for the importation of potash, another
critical component in the manufacture of fertiliser.

      Shortages of fertiliser on the local market have been compounded by
foreign currency bottlenecks and plant breakdowns, especially at the
Kwekwe-based Sable Chemicals, which has the capacity to supply the local
market when operating at full capacity.

      According to the Minister of Industry and International Trade, Cde
Obert Mpofu, whose ministry is presently trying to resuscitate the country's
fertiliser industry, this development bodes well for the agricultural
sector, particularly the forthcoming winter wheat cropping season.

      "As a co-ordinated approach towards the farming season preparations,
the Ministry of Finance will be disbursing a total of US$175 million towards
the importation of critical raw materials for the manufacture of fertiliser
in the country.

      "In the forthcoming winter wheat cropping season, the country has
targeted 110 hectares of the winter crop, which will go a long way in
meeting wheat demand.

      "Companies, which have been involved in the manufacture of this
critical input have been reeling under foreign currency constraints and high
input costs that had been militating against production.

      "For example, it costs US$500 per metric tonne to import the ammonium
nitrate and some companies need to import 400 metric tonnes per month.

      "Furthermore repairing the electrolysis plant at Sable Chemicals will
take up almost US$15 million.

      "The Finance Ministry has, however, pledged to make US$6,5 million
immediately available to kick-start the importation of spares and raw
materials.

      "We also have taken a holistic approach in dealing with the problems
affecting all the companies," said Cde Mpofu.

      Fertiliser companies have been struggling to meet the required 240 000
metric tonnes per annum, a development which forced the Government to mull
merging the industry's three major companies - Sable Chemicals, ZFC and
Chemplex - in order to decisively deal with the problems.

      However, this course of action was abandoned last month when the
Government sought a much more lasting solution.

      Indications from the Ministry of Industry suggest that an ideal
development partner for Sable Chemicals has been found.

      It is believed that by the end of the year the country will be able to
meet the local demand.

      Preparations for winter wheat for the 2006 farming season are now at
an advanced stage and farmers are reportedly refurbishing their irrigation
structures.

      The Zimbabwe Farmers' Union (ZFU) has already announced that it is
planning to increase its target yield for this year from the 350 000 tonnes
realised last year to 500 000 tonnes.

      In order to meet the target, the farmer organisation is aiming at
putting 120 000 hectares under irrigation.

      If the plans by Government for the fertiliser industry come to
fruition, the country might be able to shrug off a costly cereal import
bill.

      The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has already started importing wheat to
supply the domestic market.

      Source: The Sunday Mail

Govt to spy on phones, e-mails

From The Zimbabwe Independent, 17 March

Clemence Manyukwe

In yet another serious assault on civil liberties, government has drafted a
Bill to pry into telephone and e-mail messages and to compel service
providers to install equipment to help the state intercept private
communications. The proposed law, the Interception of Communications Bill,
2006, should be gazetted today and is set to be fast-tracked through
parliament. The Bill reverses a Supreme Court ruling in 2004 which declared
unconstitutional Sections 98 and 103 of the Posts and Telecommunications
(PTC) Act because they violated Section 20 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The full bench of the Supreme Court upheld contentions by the Law Society of
Zimbabwe that the presidential powers provided for in the Act to intercept
mail, telephone calls, e-mail and any other form of communication were
unconstitutional. Section 20 of the constitution provides for freedom of
expression, freedom to receive and impart ideas and freedom from
interference with one's correspondence.

However, the Bill restores the provisions that were ruled unconstitutional.
It seeks to empower the chief of defence intelligence, the director-general
of the Central Intelligence Organisation, the Commissioner of Police and the
Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to intercept
telephonic messages passed through fixed lines, cellular phones and the
Internet. The Bill also empowers state agencies to open mail passing through
the post and through licensed courier service providers. It authorises the
Minister of Transport and Communications to issue a warrant to state
functionaries to order the interception of information if there are
"reasonable grounds for the minister to think that an offence has been
committed or that there is a threat to safety or national security of the
country". If passed into law, government will use it to set up a
telecommunications agency called the Monitoring (and) Interception of
Communications Centre from where spy units will operate facilities to pry
into messages from both fixed and mobile phones. Sources yesterday said
government had already ordered equipment to be installed at monitoring
centres in Harare and Bulawayo.

The Bill says operators of telecommunication services will be compelled to
install software and hardware to enable them to intercept and store
information as directed by the state. The service providers will also be
asked to link their message monitoring equipment to the government agency.
Such equipment should be able to render "real time, full time monitoring
facilities for the interception of communication". The Bill says the process
of interception should be such that "neither the interception target nor any
other unauthorised person is aware of any changes made to fulfill the
interception order". The Bill says service providers would be compensated
for information assistance rendered to the agency in monitoring information.
Over and above this, the service providers will under the proposed law be
compelled to keep personal information on clients and provide it to the
state if asked to do so. Failure by service providers to, among other
issues, install the requisite software and hardware to intercept messages
and transmit them to the government agency will attract a fine and/or
imprisonment of up to three years.

The law also empowers state security agencies and Zimra to intercept and
open mail which they believe contains information that can be used in the
commission of an offence or which can be used as evidence. The information
intercepted can be used as evidence in a court of law. The proposed law
comes almost two years after President Mugabe during the official opening of
the fifth session of the fifth Parliament of Zimbabwe on July 20 2004 spoke
of a "security of communications Bill meant to bolster the security of our
nation". The draconian piece of law is part of a raft of repressive
legislation passed by government to curtail freedom of information. Included
in this regime is the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
and the Public Order and Security Act.

From The Sunday Argus (SA), 19 March

Zim students expelled after fee demo

Three University of Zimbabwe student leaders have been expelled following
last month's disturbances over massive fee hikes, a student official said.
Mfundo Mlilo, Collen Chibango and Wellington Mahohoma were expelled from the
university following a disciplinary hearing held this week by university
authorities, said Promise Mkwananzi, who is the secretary-general of the
Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu). "They have been expelled for life
from the university," Mkwananzi said in a telephone interview. He said the
three, who included a student in his final year of a political science
degree, would appeal in the country's High Court against their expulsion. A
local legal body, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights sent representatives
to the disciplinary hearing, said Tafadzwa Mugabe in a telephone interview.
He confirmed the authorities' decision to expel the students. The trio were
among six student leaders arrested last month on the university campus for
allegedly taking part in an illegal demonstration over recent fee hikes. The
six were arrested and charged under security laws. The unpopular fee hikes
have seen fees go up by as much as ten times. Critics say that tertiary
education is at risk of being a preserve of the rich. They say the children
of rural villagers cannot afford the exorbitant fees, and have had to drop
out. Mkwananzi said Zinasu condemned the expulsion of the three students as
"unprecedented victimisation." He called on President Robert Mugabe, who is
the chancellor of the university, to reverse the expulsions.

Relying on illegal immigrants

From Mmegi (Botswana), 17 March

Ryder Gabathuse, Staff Writer

Francistown - A day without illegal immigrants in Francistown and its
environs could harm the city's economic activities. Some places would not
function efficiently without illegal aliens, who have become an integral
part of some organisations that solely depend on their services.
Professionals from Zimbabwe have fled the economic hardships in their
country and are all over the world searching for elusive opportunities.
Botswana has not been spared, as the influx of illegals has been a great
concern to authorities. With 28,120 illegal immigrants in the city's two
police districts of Number 1 and 15 in a city with a population of about
83,000, the figure is too high to be ignored. It means the illegal aliens
arrested last year made up 33.88 percent of the city's entire population.
Some were picked from their workplaces whilst others were arrested in the
streets whilst heading for their work places or searching for jobs. Illegal
immigrants from neighbouring Zimbabwe have literally become part of Botswana
and they now drive economic activities in Francistown and its environs as
they dominate the work force in both the informal and formal sectors.

Some of them are even self-employed in their endeavours to make a living.
Across the sectors, their contribution cannot be ignored. For a city that
chiefly depends on commerce for its survival with very few manufacturing
factories, dependence on illegal labour can be risky, as they can be
picked-up anytime by law enforcers leaving work places in serious disorder.
It was not a shocker that during one of the police-military round-up
operations in 2004, a man employed illegally by a ruling Botswana Democratic
Party (BDP) operative was netted wearing a campaign T-shirt with the
portrait of a sitting councillor. The man was employed in a butchery at the
Monarch location. This shows that even civic leaders do not help the
government in trying to get rid of these illegal immigrants. Without them, a
lot of mothers would not be able to go to work, as many of the housemaids
take care and cook for their children and family members. Police or military
raids targeting illegals from Zimbabwe, usually have negative results as
these workers are bundled away.

Batswana job seekers are known to shun jobs such as housemaids and herdsmen,
which they claim do not attract satisfactory wages and illegals, take
advantage of this and perform to their very best. If illegals are rounded up
on any given day, a number of industries would literally close, as the
majority of foreign workers do not have work and residence permits. Local
taxis and long distance buses would also be grounded, as drivers would not
be able to perform their usual business. A number of garages, panel beaters
and spray painters, depend mainly on the services of illegals. Kutlwano
Police Station traffic officer, Assistant Superintendent, Ephraim Simasiku
said that between 2004-05, his officers had arrested a high number of
illegal aliens driving public service vehicles - taxis and buses - without
residence and work permits or valid passports. "I don't have statistics here
immediately, but I can confirm that we continue to arrest many of them in
this industry," he said and added that many of their Batswana employers go
for these people because they are cheap to hire. "They argue that Botswana
PSV holders are rare to find and those that are there are not ready to take
the jobs because they are not well paid."

Despite the fact that the police charge them for breaking the law, they
continue hiring the illegals. This is the reality that authorities will have
to grapple with as Batswana and other employers at large, continue to
harbour illegal immigrants. The benefit of hiring illegals is that they are
cheap and generally perform to their employers' satisfaction. Some of them
are highly qualified academically to be handling some of the challenges they
are paid so cheaply for. They find themselves trapped by the need to
survive, as their economy back home cannot support their needs. This reality
has left a lot of Batswana job seekers especially those who are selective of
jobs, grumbling that the practice is denying them opportunities to make a
living. Their other concern is that for the economy of a city with a
population of over 83,000 to depend on the labour of illegal aliens places
economic progress of the city at high risk. "It robs us of job opportunities
and authorities must do something about it, before it explodes into a labour
war," asserts a group of jobseekers in Francistown led by John Solomon.
These job seekers have taken their concerns to the office of the District
Commissioner, Sylvia Muzila, office of the Francistown East MP, Phandu
Skelemani and the regional labour officer, Beseniah Buraga.

Officer commanding Number 1 police district, Senior Superintendent,
Boikhutso Dintwa confirmed to Mmegi that Batswana preferred to hire illegal
aliens. "This problem is prevalent. At the factories, lands, cattleposts and
even at homes, there are many Zimbabwean illegal immigrants who are
employed, simply because they are cheap to hire," he complained. Although he
could not provide any supporting statistics, Dintwa indicated that the
frequency of the cases was "frightening". "When you go to the cattleposts
and lands, illegal immigrants literally control everything and they run the
economies of those places." At one of their recent raids, the police were
able to arrest about eight illegals at one cattlepost and 10 at another.
"These figures show that these people are many and are in control of
economies in the rural areas." In Francistown, he said many of the workers
depended on the services of illegals. He said their raids have always netted
illegals in their hundreds. The police have done a lot to educate the public
about the dangers of harbouring illegal immigrants in a bid to keep the
situation under control, but their campaigns continue to fall on deaf ears.
"Batswana are very resistant. They are refusing," he said and pointed out
that they have concluded to apply maximum penalties to punish those, who are
still resistant. The maximum penalty is P1,000. Buraga admits that his
regional office is hit by a problem of shortage of staff. He however, said
that his office was not aware that majority of the industries in town
depended entirely on the labour of illegals.

15 000 attend MDC congress

Zim Standard

            By Foster Dongozi and Valentine Maponga

            THE two-day congress of  the MDC faction led by Morgan
Tsvangirai burst into life yesterday when more than 15 000 accredited
delegates packed the City Sports Centre in Harare.

            Despite the absence of hired buses and cars, thousands of
supporters, most of them decked out in the party's black, red and white
regalia walked to the congress venue located outside Harare's Central
Business District.

            Even perceived Zanu PF strongholds such as Mashonaland Central,
East, West, the Midlands and Masvingo had large delegations.

            Some delegates said they had sold their livestock and
agricultural produce to enable them attend the congress.

            Tsvangirai wore a broad smile when he arrived for the congress
where he received a tumultuous welcome.

            He appeared relieved that the large turn-out was confirmation of
his popularity with the grassroots.

            Emboldened by the huge turn-out, he immediately declared that it
was time to confront the regime through civil disobedience.
            He said he was prepared to go into the trenches and lead from
the front in the fight for a free Zimbabwe.

            Discussions on the sidelines of the congress indicate that one
of the resolutions today could be a withdrawal from Parliament and a boycott
of all future elections held under the current set up.

            "The options open to us are very clear. We need a short sharp
programme of action to free ourselves. In the final phase, the call is made
to you once again to intensify the peaceful democratic resistance to the
current tyranny. Your resilience to reclaim your rights has shaken Mugabe's
corridors of power."

            He said after failing to get justice from the courts, the MDC
had lost faith in the judiciary.

            ".Given these experiences  the courts or the legislative route
as presently constituted are unsuitable avenues for relief. You know it, I
know it and Mugabe and Zanu PF know it that we won the 2000 Parliamentary
elections and the 2002 Presidential election."

            Tsvangirai said although he had a public fall out last year with
Gift Chimanikire, Welshman Ncube and his former deputy, Gibson Sibanda, they
had made a huge contribution to the struggle for a democratic Zimbabwe.

            "Allow me to note the work done by my colleagues who have chosen
not to be with us today but who pioneered and contributed to the growth of
the MDC and this democracy project together with us for many years. Thank
you for risking life and limb to try and rebuild Zimbabwe. We have not
forgotten that contribution."

            He, however, said: "Let me say I am happy to note that we have
dealt with this temporary diversion by surrendering the party back to you
today. You are the rightful owners of the MDC. The choice is up to you. You
have to take corrective measures and sort out the leadership at the top."

            Tsvangirai also honoured the thousands of Zimbabweans who have
been killed, maimed, raped, beaten up or had their homes and properties
destroyed for supporting the MDC.

            He called for national unity and healing.

            "We live in a fractured society. We are divided across race,
ethnicity and politics. The dictator loves these divisions. The dictator's
tactic is to divide in order to rule.

            "From the day we defeated Zanu PF in the referendum .the regime
started using fear and violence as a survival strategy. Robert Mugabe and
Zanu PF became the village bully, terrorising their own people, their
mothers, their children and their neighbours for political survival."

            However, in a move that is designed to ensure that his power is
not threatened in future, Tsvangirai is believed to have called for reforms
in the MDC.

            Chief among them will be the addition of more political power to
the office of MDC president. The president of the MDC will also appoint a
party chief executive officer who will be responsible for appointing staff.

Chombo, Chigudu clash over Mutare

Zim Standard

            BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

            MUTARE - Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo and
Manicaland Governor, Tineyi Chigudu, have clashed over who should be running
Mutare, paralysing the city's administration.

            The two officials, both ruling Zanu PF party stalwarts, have
locked horns over the composition and leadership of a commission the
government appointed two months ago to run this Eastern Highlands city.

            The fight is over Chombo's appointment of three new members to
the seven-member commission, headed by Kenneth Saruchera, only to
unceremoniously dismiss them within 72 hours.

            Chombo did not give reasons for his actions or consult Chigudu,
except to say the "restructuring" was to improve the efficiency of the local
authority.

            Chigudu, who reportedly was incensed by the minister's action
and felt betrayed, was reportedly holding meetings with the Zanu PF top
hierarchy in Harare last weekend.

            Saruchera and the commissioners who survived the purge appeared
to be in limbo last week, unable to hold commission meetings as they awaited
word from the Governor on the next move.

            Saruchera said: "I'm afraid I cannot comment either way on what's
going on at Civic Centre, except to confirm that we are in a state of
paralysis. The Governor is the only one who can comment."

            Chigudu, who is also the resident Minister and Manicaland boss
in the ruling party, could not be reached for comment.

Cash squeeze stalls airport construction

Zim Standard

            By Nqobani Ndlovu

            BULAWAYO - Construction of the Joshua Mqabuko International
Airport in Bulawayo has been crippled by lack of funds, with reports
suggesting the government owes contractors more than $36 billion.

            Speaking to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport
and Communications in the city recently, the General Manager of the Civil
Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Davies Chigudu, said construction of the
airport was put on hold at the end of last year due to the government's
failure to release funds through the Public Sector Investment Programme
(PSIP).

            He said inadequate government funding, which he described as in
"small chunks", was hampering the completion of the refurbishment exercise.

            "The refurbishment has been affected by shortages of fuel, lack
of various materials and problems in the financing of the project from the
Public Sector Investment Programme.

            "We need large chunks and a quick release of $140 billion to
allow contractors to purchase material and cover for lost ground and as of
February 2006, we have outstanding claims to the tune of $36.4 billion,"
Chigudu said.

            Construction of the airport, named in honour of Father Zimbabwe,
the late Vice President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, started in 2003.

            But inflation has also pushed up the cost of the refurbishment
exercise at a time the government lacks funds.

            The chairman of the parliamentary committee, Leo Mugabe,
condemned the way the project was being funded saying, "the money should be
released but not in pittance form as is the case now..."

            Meanwhile, Mugabe says Air Zimbabwe should not abandon the "Look
East" routes that have seen the national carrier accumulating losses
amounting to $98 billion a month.

Chombo owns up to 'Garikai' corruption

Zim Standard

            BY GIBBS DUBE

            BULAWAYO - Senior government officials and local authorities
have forced Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo to publicly admit
that there is widespread corruption in the allocation of "Operation Hlalani
Kuhle" houses in Gwanda, Beitbridge and Bulawayo.

            In a rare sign of defeat and apparent reference to Press reports
of corrupt activities in the housing scheme, Chombo said last Tuesday that
houses built under "Operation Hlalani Kuhle" were meant for victims of
"Operation Murambatsvina" and not government officials.

            The Standard established that Chombo swallowed his pride and
publicly admitted that there were irregularities in the allocation of the
houses after he was told to reverse the list of beneficiaries by Home
Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, Matabeleland South Governor Angeline Masuku
and the executive mayors of Gwanda and Bulawayo.

            According to authoritative sources, Mohadi recently told the
Matabeleland South Provincial Development Committee that he would recommend
the arrest of all government officials who had benefited from the housing
scheme in Beitbridge and Gwanda after he was informed that the new home
owners were not victims of "Operation Restore Order".

            "Mohadi fumed at the meeting and took some of the beneficiaries
to task indicating that most of the houses were corruptly allocated to
senior government officials, police and prison officers, relatives of State
officials and other unintended recipients," said one of the sources who
attended the meeting in Gwanda.

            He said Masuku, who was also of the view that corrupt government
officials not affected by "Operation Murambatsvina" hijacked the housing
scheme, supported the minister.

            Another source said that the two were also irked by the fact
that most of the beneficiaries were "outsiders" living in State houses but
wanted to make quick money by leasing the new houses to local inhabitants.

            "This scandal was more than meets the eye because these people
manipulated the housing waiting lists provided by local authorities in an
effort to grab the houses and rent them out to local people. However, this
was thwarted by Minister Mohadi and Governor Masuku who reacted to Press
reports that there was something amiss about the allocation of the houses,"
said the source.

            While Masuku could not be reached for comment, Mohadi said
Zimbabweans were aware of his stance on corruption. "I have strong views
against corruption and I hope by now the issue of irregularities surrounding
(Operation) Hlalani Kuhle houses have been sorted out."

            "I believe this issue will be handled carefully by the relevant
authorities . It should be sorted out amicably," said Mohadi who could not
be drawn to comment on his initial threats to recommend the prosecution of
unintended government beneficiaries.

            "I cannot say a lot about that now but I hope that things will
be worked out as per government policies and regulations," he said.

            The Bulawayo City Council and Gwanda Municipality also pressured
Chombo to ditch the new list of beneficiaries after uncovering
irregularities in the allocation of "Operation Hlalani Kuhle" houses in
their respective urban centres.

            The Bulawayo Mayor, Japhet Ndabeni Ncube, and his Gwanda
counterpart, Thandeko Zinti Mkandla, have in the past blasted government
officials for allegedly allocating the "Operation Hlalani Kuhle" houses to
senior State officials and their relatives, members of the armed forces and
ruling party cadres not affected by "Operation Restore Order".

            Mkandla said: "We are not going to allow some government
officials to hijack programmes aim- ed  at the poor and marginalised members
of our society. We are the local authority and we have the final say in the
allocation of houses as per our housing waiting list."

            The Standard revealed rampant corruption in the allocation of
"Operation Hlalani Kuhle" houses in Gwanda where senior government
officials,members of the uniformed forces, children and relatives of a
minister and ruling party activists benefited from the housing scheme in
Gwanda.

20% 'Garikai' houses for civil servants

Zim Standard

            By Nqobani Ndlovu

            THE government has dashed hopes of scores of people left
homeless in Bulawayo by "Operation Murambatsvina" as it has reserved 20% of
the houses built under "Operation Hlalani Kuhle" in Cowdray Park suburb for
civil servants.

            Nicholas Goche, the Minister of Public Service Labour and Social
Welfare, said the houses would be under "institutional ownership of the
government designed to help ease accommodation problems faced by government
officials".

            He said this on Wednesday during a tour of the "Garikai/Hlalani
Kuhle" construction site in Cowdray Park by some Cabinet Ministers,
government officials who included Stephen Mahere, the Permanent Secretary in
the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture, Cain Mathema, the Governor for
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province and city council officials led by the Town
Clerk, Moffat Ndlovu.

            Goche said: "This is a national government programme and not a
local authority programme. Bulawayo Metropolitan province is a new structure
where many workers in the structure do not have accommodation.

            "We have set a number of houses for institutional ownership by
the government so that government workers (civil servants) can go and stay
there."

            However, the announcement by the Minister comes amid reports
that some government officials have corruptly allocated themselves, their
spouses and children the houses.

            This is set to further worsen the situation as it would be
viewed as masking corruption that was unearthed recently. Bulawayo City
Council alleged there was massive corruption in the allocation of the
two-roomed houses.

Minister resides in luxury lodge

Zim Standard

            BY VALENTINE MAPONGA

            DEPUTY Minister of Environment and Tourism and MP for Insiza,
Andrew Langa, is using a refurbished Chivero National Parks lodge as his
home for the next five months, The Standard can reveal.

            Investigations have revealed that Langa is staying at the
comfortably refurnished and well-equipped lodge named, Kingfisher,
prejudicing the National Parks of millions of dollars. The National Parks
falls under Langa's Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

            Sources at the Parks lodges last week told this paper that the
bookings for the minister are "indefinite".

            "The other lodge has been booked indefinitely and we are not
sure when the minister (Langa) is leaving," said one warden at the lodges,
about 35km out of Harare.

            However, officers from the National Parks' reservations
department last week said the lodge has been booked for the next five
months.

            While the officers were not at liberty to talk about the
minister's booking, one of the The Standard's sources said: "I am not sure
whether the minister is paying for his stay, if he is paying, it must be
heavily subsidised."

            The lodge rates are $3.2 million a night, which means that Langa
is supposed to be spending over $96 million a month on accommodation alone.
It was not immediately clear how much Langa earns a month.

            The sources said Langa moved out of a house in Mt Pleasant,
where he was staying since his appointment as a deputy minister last year.

            National Parks public relations manager, Edward Mbewe, said he
was not aware that the minister was staying at the lodges but said they do
offer discounts to their regular clients.

            "Nothing has been communicated to me about that and I will have
to find out from our reservations. No one stays in our lodges for free
because our places are run professionally," Mbewe said.

            Contacted for comment, Langa refused to talk, demanding to know
the source of the story. "Who gave you that information? Go and get that
comment from your source. I can't talk to you about my personal life," said
Langa before switching off his mobile phone.

            In January The Standard reported that Matabeleland North
governor, Thokozile Mathuthu, was living at a Bulawayo hotel for months. The
revelations prompted Mathuthu to move out of the hotel.

Strange twist to 'arms cache' case

Zim Standard

            By Walter Marwizi

            THE arms cache "plot" court case took a dramatic turn on Friday
when a senior official of the Attorney General's office refused to represent
the State in a High court application filed by an ex-Rhodesian soldier at
the centre of the discredited assassination plot.

            Blessing Nyamaropa, the lawyer for Peter Hitschmann, confirmed
to The Standard that their application for his release failed to be heard
after Levison Chikafu, the prosecutor refused to handle the case.

            "We went to court yesterday at 2PM only to be told by the area
prosecutor that he was not in a position to represent the State. He said the
matter had to be referred to his superiors in Harare. He did not give
reasons why he was backtracking when he is the AG's representative in
Manicaland. He is the man who should handle such cases."

            Nyamaropa added: "In light of the development, Justice Charles
Hungwe said he was carrying the record to Harare where we expect bail
application to be heard on Monday (tomorrow). Right now we are in the
process of working on the logistics. We need to finalise on the lawyer in
Harare who will handle the matter."

            Asked about the basis for their application for the ex-Rhodesian
soldier who had earlier on dismissed his lawyers, Nyamaropa said: "In my
opinion, the State is chickening out of the case. He was being charged under
Section 10 of POSA - conspiring to possess weapons for the purpose of
banditry, terrorism, sabotage and insurgency - but the State withdrew
charges against his co-accused. In that case, how can Mr Hitschmann conspire
to commit such an offence on his own?"

            The refusal by Chikafu to represent the State comes at time when
details about the heavy involvement of the Central Intelligence Organisation
(CIO) into the case have surfaced.

            A copy of the ruling by Justice Hungwe in the case of the other
arms cache suspects reveals that senior officers of the Attorney General's
office working on the case were threatened by the CIO.

Polytech evicts students

Zim Standard

            BY OUR STAFF

            HARARE Polytechnic College is evicting students who failed to
top up their accommodation fees after the increases made last month, The
Standard has established.

            Students from the college said the administration ordered those
who failed to top up their fees to be barred from dining in the canteen.

            As a result, many students spent the whole of last week without
meals.

            "All those who have not paid are not being allowed to eat. The
majority of the affected students are now relying on bread but the prices
are now beyond the reach of many," said one student from the Civil
Engineering Department.

            Notices on both boards at the male and female hostels clearly
state that all students who have failed to pay should vacate the institution
no later than 15 March 2006.

            "All students who have not paid top up fees for accommodation
should move out of the hostels and be cleared by the matrons at 1000 Hrs by
15-03-06," reads part of the notice signed by the college principal, Steven
Raza.

            By Friday, a number of female students had already left the
hostels.

            "The wardens are just taking away the keys and ordering the
occupants to vacate before they lock the doors. Some of the students are now
moving out in order to avoid embarrassment," said one student.

            Accommodation fees, according to the students, were raised from
$4.9 million a year to $12 million or instalments of $6 million a term.
            According to the students, Raza ordered the canteen staff to
stop serving  food to students who have not paid up their meals and
accommodation fees.

            The students are required to pay a top up fee of about $10
million for accommodation and $15 million for tuition.

            As most of the students are struggling to raise money for
accommodation, the college has also marked 13 April as the deadline for
examinations fees.

            Raza was not immediately available for comment.

            But the deputy principal, Tafadzwa Mudondo, said it was not
necessary for him to comment since he had just had discussions with someone
from the Zimbabwe Independent, The Standard's sister paper.

            "We had a lengthy discussion about that with someone from there
basically talking about the same issues. But now the principal is out of the
country," said Mudondo before switching off his mobile phone.

            Last week, the University of Zimbabwe expelled three student
leaders for leading protests against a 5 000% increase in accommodation and
tuition at the country's premier institution of higher learning. The new
increases, which have since been nullified by the courts, would see some
students paying as much as $93 million a year.

Thumbs down to councils' merger

Zim Standard

            BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE

            THE idea of merging urban and rural local councils is Zanu PF
political project to "adulterate" the opposition vote in cities with the
rural ballot, where the ruling party commands strongest support, the
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has said.

            Urban planners said from a management point of view, the merger
would be disastrous to the two bodies.

            They argue the merger of the two authorities would put the
future of local government management in the country into disarray since the
rural and urban areas were different in the way they are run and generate
revenue, among other issues.

            A local urban planner, Percy Toriro, said the proposed
amalgamation faced challenges of addressing needs and aspirations of both
the rural and urban dwellers.

            "It would be difficult to bridge the gap between the aspirations
of the people in the rural areas and those in the urban centres," Toriro
said.

            Last week, the president of the Association Rural District
Councils (ARDCs), Jerry Gotora, said modalities were already underway to
merge urban and rural authorities into one entity.

            Pressed to comment how the merger would work, Gotora, said they
would start by merging the laws that govern the two councils.
            "We are not merging the two as yet, but the laws and then others
things would follow," Gotora said.

            But the Urban Council Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) opposes the
idea of merging urban and rural authorities saying it would hamper
development.

            First vice-deputy secretary of the UCAZ, Japhet Ndabeni-Ncube
says amalgamation of urban and rural councils would be very unfortunate.

            "The management of urban areas is very different from that of
rural councils and merging them would be detrimental to progress. The two
should remain separate," said Ndabeni-Ncube adding, "even merging the laws
would is not feasible."

            He said those that are calling for the merger were seeking
"political power, which is exactly what we are not seeking".

            The opposition MDC says the move amounted to gerrymandering by a
ruling party determined to remain in power. Zanu PF draws its support from
Zimbabwe's rural areas while the MDC enjoys political clout in the country's
urban centres.

            MDC pro-Senate spokesperson, Paul Themba-Nyathi, said the
unification of the two authorities would make it "easier and convenient" for
the Zanu PF government to tamper with constituency boundaries towards the
next polls.

            But Themba-Nyathi was quick to point out: "Zimbabwe is one,
whether in rural or urban areas people are fed up with Zanu PF's misrule.
This strategy will backfire because our urban influence is spreading into
the rural areas."

            The MDC spokesperson said instead of tampering with
constituencies, the government should address issues of good governance,
delivery of service and allowing democracy to prevail to win back people's
confidence.

            MDC anti-Senate faction national chairperson, Isaac Matongo,
also blasted the idea of amalgamating rural and urban constituencies saying
Zimbabweans had suffered enough under President Robert Mugabe that even
trying to rig polls would not save Zanu PF's demise in any future election.

            "It's a myopic plan that would not work because Zimbabweans are
suffering and given a second chance, the first thing they would do is voting
Zanu PF out of power," Matongo said.

            Since 2000, the MDC has accused the ruling party of tampering
with constituency boundaries, especially towards major elections.

            During last year's March parliamentary elections, the opposition
accused the ruling party of enlarging Harare South constituency to encompass
war veterans, who invaded farms just outside the capital city.

            The MDC attributed the loss of the seat to Zanu PF to the last
minute changes to the constituency boundaries.

UNICEF/WHO report drop in measles deaths

Zim Standard

            By Bertha Shoko

            TWO global health bodies report that measles deaths have plunged
by 48% over the past six years, thanks to an ambitious global immunisation
drive.

            According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), global measles deaths fell by 48 percent,
from 871 000 in 1999 to an estimated 454 000 in 2004. The two agencies are
attributing this massive decline in measles deaths to "major national
immunisation activities and better access to routine childhood immunisation".

            These measles mortality data, calculated by WHO, are the latest
available.

            The largest reduction occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, the region
with the highest burden of the disease, where estimated measles cases and
deaths dropped by 60%, according to the two world health bodies.

            In Zimbabwe measles remains one of the main causes of child
mortality but the country has also been part of the successful measles
campaign. In the 2001-2002 measles campaign by WHO and UNICEF, 1.5 million
children were vaccinated against measles and at least 8 100 deaths averted
as a result under this WHO and UNICEF measles campaign. This year the
agencies are targeting 1.7 million children in Zimbabwe under the ages of
five for vaccination.

            Said WHO director general Lee Jong Wook: "This is an outstanding
public health success story. If progress continues at this rate, the global
goal to cut measles deaths by half will have been achieved on time."

            The agencies note that, although a safe, effective and
inexpensive vaccine has been available since the 1960s, an estimated 410 000
children under age five died from measles in 2004. This was as a result of
complications related to severe diarrhoea and pneumonia.

            Said WHO and UNICEF: "Many who survive are left with lifelong
disabilities including blindness and brain damage. Weak immunisation systems
that are unable to deliver measles vaccine to young children remain the
primary reason for countries still experiencing high measles deaths."

            WHO and UNICEF say they have concentrated measles mortality
reduction activities in 47 countries that account for about 98% of global
measles deaths. They have also been working to improve routine immunisation
and providing treatment to infected children. From 1999 to 2004, nearly 500
million children were immunized against measles.

            The agencies are however worried about the slow progress in
reducing measles deaths in parts of South Asia.

             "The challenge now is to increase measles immunisation coverage
in the region to at least 90%. And, it must be ensured that all children
receive a first dose of measles vaccine at nine months of age through
routine immunization services."
             UNICEF and WHO say the success of the Measles Initiative is due
to the strong support from partners such as Global Alliance for Vaccines and
Immunisation and the support of the donor community.

            The agencies now plan to expand the measles initiative to
broaden its technical and financial support to South Asian countries, where
measles deaths are reportedly still high.

            The initiative will also continue the successful child health
campaigns in which health workers provide not only measles vaccine but also
polio vaccine, insecticide-treated nets for malaria prevention, vitamin A
and de-worming tablets.

            Launched in 2001 the measles initiative is a partnership formed
to reduce and control measles deaths. It is spearheaded by the American Red
Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the Centres for Disease Control and
Prevention (United States), UNICEF and WHO.

            Other key partners include the Global Alliance for Vaccines and
Immunisation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Vodafone Group Foundation
and CIDA.

Outrage as private clinic detains patient over payment of fees

Zim Standard

            By our staff

            A private clinic situated in Belgravia, Harare, refused to
discharge a patient over a $50 million bill accrued over a 10-day stay at
the nursing home, The Standard has learnt.

            Larry Chitengwa, who is a Zimbabwean lecturer based in Botswana,
was brought back two weeks ago by his brother Lewis Muridzo Chitengwa - a
well-known Zimbabwean professional golfer based at  Harare's Wingate Golf
Club - for medical treatment. A family doctor referred the Chitengwas to Ray
of Hope Nursing Home, where Larry battled meningitis for at least two weeks
before the clinic was scheduled to discharge him.

            However, The Standard understands that Ray of Hope allegedly
demanded $50 million before Larry could leave their premises.
            Family members say they were puzzled by the clinic's conduct
after they spent at least $80 million on drugs and medicines which the
clinic asked them to buy during Larry's stay at the clinic.

            The family also insisted that it was not "morally right" to
detain someone who is still recovering from such a serious condition.
            Lewis said: "What the clinic decided to do is very disturbing.
We did not refuse to pay the money or say we don't have it. It is just not
morally right to detain someone who is ill.

            "The clinic refused to negotiate. We asked them for  a breakdown
of the money they were demanding and asked them to release my brother so
that he could go home and rest while we sorted out the money issue but they
were adamant,"he said.

            "We also told them that since Larry was based in Botswana, it
would be better if they released him so he could arrange for his funds to be
moved from Botswana. When we went to collect him from Botswana, Larry was
not in a position to sort his things out. Our concern at the time was to get
him here so that he could receive the proper treatment he urgently  needed."

            The family eventually paid the clinic the $50 million, securing
Larry's release, but Lewis says it is the timing of the demand, well after
banking hours, that they found irritating.

            "We kept asking them towards the time he was due for discharge
how much the fees were and no one could say. They never said anything
despite our persistent enquiries. I have complained to the medical doctor
who referred us to the clinic," Lewis said.

            The nursing home's administrator,  identified only as Mrs Moyo,
could not be reached for comment. However, the Sister-in- Charge of the
clinic, one Mugunza, said it was "standard procedure" that a patients had to
pay off their bills before leaving the clinic.

            Lewis told The Standard that Larry was in a much better
condition and was preparing to return to Botswana.

Family fears US deportation

Zim Standard

            By our staff

            THE Siddick family, left the country at the height of a wave of
land invasions, hoping to start a new life in America. But legal advice
could see them coming back to the hell they thought they had escaped.

            A US immigration judge is to rule whether the family should be
granted asylum or deported to Zimbabwe.

            Five years ago, Amida and Ayoob Siddick and their children drove
into Kirkland with two pieces of luggage each and adesire to find a safe
place to call home.

            After fleeing the deteriorating political conditions  in
Zimbabwe, they stopped briefly in Vancouver, British Columbia, where they
heard that King County's Eastside offered safe neighbourhoods and good
schools.

            Within weeks they had rented a home and enrolled all four
children in the Lake Washington School District. Ayoob got a job with Home
Depot and Amida became an office assistant at Lake Washington High School.
Their children made friends and settled into school life; son Mason was
named captain of the Lake Washington High School football team.

            But on the immigration front, things weren't going so well.
Because of questionable legal advice the family took earlier on, US
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)  refused to renew the family's
visa and denied them asylum. The family has appealed.

            As the word spread, the community rallied. A series of student
fundraisers brought in more than $16 000 in recent months for attorney
costs. Lake Washington High School held food fairs and put on a "Zimbabwe
Night" featuring the Siddicks as guest speakers.

            Both Ayoob and Amida said they were members of the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change.

            "My biggest fear is for my children. If we're taken away, we may
be going back to torture, corruption," Ayoob said. "I don't think any parent
would want to be in my position right now."

            The department can't comment on specific cases, said Sharon
Rummery, spokeswoman for the USCIS Western Region.

            "If an officer doesn't grant asylum, you have the right to take
your case before an immigration judge," Rummery said. "Asylum is a very
compassionate exercise of the law, and many people have been saved through
refuge and asylum."

            Ayoob and Amida met their first immigration lawyer in Zimbabwe
when they attended a seminar about how to migrate to another country. The
New York-based attorney told them their best bet was to apply for a visa
that would allow Ayoob to establish a business in the United States.

            After they arrived in Kirkland, the family watched their nest
egg disappear as they waited nearly a year for their attorney to file the
proper paperwork to allow them to start a business.

            As conditions in Zimbabwe continued to worsen, the family asked
the attorney if they should apply for asylum and were told not to, that they
could apply later if need be. They later found that the law requires that
immigrants apply for asylum within one year of arriving in the US.

            "If the Siddicks had known that, they almost certainly would
have filed that application, and almost certainly would have been approved,"
said Robert Pauw, the Siddicks' current immigration attorney.

            The family nevertheless applied for asylum several years ago,
which allows them to work while the application is being processed. The
application was denied by an officer with US Citizenship and Immigration
Services. The family appealed to an immigration judge, who is due to hear
the case.

            According to USCIS' latest statistics, it granted 14,359 people
asylum in 2004, 243 of whom were from Zimbabwe.

Tobacco leaf too small, but sales smoke

Zim Standard

            By Deborah-Fay Ndlovu

            THE tobacco marketing season begins next month with worries of
low delivery already haunting auction floors but sending high expectations
of better prices this time around.

             Tobacco farmers have in the past struggled to get a "fair
 price" for their crop but speculation is high that with only 55 million kg
expected to be delivered at the auction floors this season, prices could be
higher. An official with the Tobacco Sales Floors said buyers will have to
compete for a smaller crop, pushing up the prices.

             "The estimation is that there will be a smaller size crop this
year and that makes available less tobacco. That should induce competition
among buyers and it is likely to push prices up," the official said.

             Tobacco prices closed at an average of US$1.61 last season, a
figure which farmers said was too low. However farmers said they are pushing
for a US$2.20 for this season.

             A tobacco farmer, Thomas Nherera, said they expect prices to
average US$2.20 at the opening of the auction floors if they are to realise
profits.

             "We are looking at US$2.20  because the quality of the crop
should be better this time around," Nherera said.

             He said farmers' input costs increased last year because of the
depreciation of the local currency and said prices that are to be paid to
the farmer should reflect the high production costs.

             The Tobacco Industry Marketing Board sent out a circular last
week announcing that tobacco auction floors will open on 25 April with the
dual system expected to be operating. The dual system employs both the
auction and contract system in tobacco marketing and the marketing season is
expected to end on 31 August.

            TIMB technical services director, Andrew Matibiri, said the
opening of the floors is likely to be marred by low deliveries.

            "We expect 55 million kg to be delivered this year. There are
several factors that contributed to the decline in tobacco production
including the shortage of inputs like fertiliser and diesel. The rains came
late and when they came they were too much," Matibiri said.

            A sizeable amount of crop was destroyed by hailstorm last
December.

            Tobacco production has been on a decline over the last four
years. Production for 2005/6 came down from 73 million kg in 2004/5 farming
season.

3 banks terminate dividends

Zim Standard

            BY OUR STAFF

            THREE financial institutions have put on halt the payment of
dividend to shareholders ahead of the US dollar linked new minimum capital
requirements effective 30 September.

             Under the new capital requirements, commercial banks are
required to have US$10 million ($1 trillion); merchant banks, building
societies and finance houses US$7.5 million ($750 billion); discount houses
US$5 million ($500 billion), and asset managers US$1 million ($100 billion)
as minimum capital.

             Kingdom Financial Holdings Ltd (KFHL), which posted an after
tax profit of $199 billion in the financial year ending 31 December 2005,
said it had elected not to declare dividend "in light of the need to
conserve and build up the capital base". KFHL requires a whopping $1.9
trillion as minimum capital for its three arms- commercial bank, discount
house and asset firm.

             KFHL group CEO Franky Kufa said Kingdom would merge its
businesses as part of the capitalisation process. However Kufa said KFHL's
three major shareholders had pledged that "Kingdom will meet the capital
requirements come 30 September 2006".

             FBC Holdings, which posted a profit after tax of $562 billion
in the year ending 31 December 2005, said it was not giving out dividend "in
order to ensure that our businesses continue to be capitalised well in
excess of the existing and new minimum regulatory requirements".

             "The directors therefore recommend that apart from an interim
dividend of $55 per share paid in October 2005, no further dividend will be
paid in the year under review," chairman  Herbert Nkala said in a statement
accompanying the results.

             Nkala said the new benchmark was stretching the businesses,
which would therefore be expected to trade at near optimal efficiency levels
to meet and exceed the new regulatory requirements. Regional banking concern
African Banking Corporation is also singing the same hymn.

            Addressing an analyst briefing a fortnight ago, ABC group CEO,
Douglas Munatsi said: "We have to adhere to the new capital requirements set
by the Reserve Bank thus the group has taken a decision not to pay out any
dividend."

Zimbabwe's blunders turning out costly

Zim Standard

      Comment

            UNITED Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan did not include
Zimbabwe on his valedictory trip of Africa last week because to do so would
have been to reward a rogue administration.

            But he has thrown us a bone in the form of a separate visit
later in the year. That visit, his spokesmen say, will be related to the
growing humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. There will be no indulgence, we can
safely conclude, of the catastrophic Murambatsvina episode or any other
State scheme aimed at repression and illusion.

            Last year the government announced that after two of Annan's
special envoys had been to the country, the Secretary-General would visit
Zimbabwe in March this year, an announcement which appears to confirm that a
Zimbabwe visit was mooted during Annan's farewell tour of Africa last week
during which he swung through South Africa, Madagascar, Congo-Brazzaville,
and Democratic Republic of Congo.

            However, in view of the zero progress made in addressing the
humanitarian crisis the government authored, and especially after the
undiplomatic treatment of Annan's envoys - Anna Tibaijuka and Jan Egeland -
by the regime, a visit would have had the effect of validating Zimbabwe's
position viz a viz Annan's envoys. It is unlikely the Secretary-General
would have rewarded Harare for rebuking his special envoys, especially after
expressing his support for their work and confidence in them. The wide berth
Annan gave Zimbabwe last week appears to signal his displeasure with Harare.

            Since Tibaijuka's damning report, the government has done little
or nothing to address the plight of the estimated one million people
rendered homeless by its urban cleansing exercise. Nobody has been taken in
by the Garikai project which even the State media agrees is riddled with
cronyism.

            Nearly 10 months after the State-initiated  cleansing campaign,
the victims are still to be housed properly.

            The absence of records of the victims was deliberate: the
government never intended to rehouse them. It was always its strategy to
disperse them. The UN is not blind to this gerrymandering.

            The role and impartiality of the UN would have been compromised
seriously had Annan made the trip to Harare at this stage. Last week's
contrived coup plot that ended up with a farcical State case that a High
Court judge dismissed with a call to "censure" the security agents involved
only helped to advise Annan that Harare had done nothing so far to deserve
his presence.

            In his remarks in South Africa Annan said: "The situation for
Zimbabwe is extremely difficult. It is difficult for Zimbabwe. It is
difficult for the region and it is difficult for the world.

            "It is easy to blame these ills on the past and on outsiders.
The depredations of imperialism and the slave trade, the imbalance of power
and wealth in a flagrantly unjust world. But that cannot absolve us, the
Africans of today, from our own responsibility to ourselves."

            Those remarks provide a telling rebuke to Africa's apologists
for whom colonialism is to blame for every single failing.
            Harare put on a brave face saying the dates of Annan's visit
have yet to be agreed. But Annan understands perfectly that his reputation
would be hostage to a visit that rewards an unrepentant perpetrator of
violence, rights abuses and politically motivated internal destabilisation.

Acid test for civil society

Zim Standard

            sundayopinion by Webster Zambara

            THE conundrums pertaining to Zimbabwe's main opposition, the
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) are definitely causing tremors in the
body politic of the Zimbabwean landscape.

            Whatever the result, our political landscape will never be the
same. The entry of Professor Arthur Mutambara into mainstream politics
heightened adrenalin levels in many political enthusiasts throughout
Zimbabwe.

            To Zimbabwe's young democracy, multi-party politics had real
impact with the coming on the scene of the MDC. Personally, I was
particularly excited because I subscribe to the functional definition by
Diamond, Linz and Lipset (1988). To them, democracy entails meaningful and
extensive competition among individuals and organized groups (especially
political parties) for all effective positions of government power, at
regular intervals and excluding the use of force; a highly inclusive level
of political participation in the selection of leaders and policies, at
least through regular and fair elections.

            Political opposition contributes to ensuring healthy respect for
the rules of the game, ready to provide an alternation in government. Robert
Dahl (1971) even considers the presence of an opposition party as the "most
distinctive characteristic of democracy itself", and its absence "evidence,
if not always conclusive proof, for the absence of democracy". For this very
reason, my excitement is justified.

            Another pre-requisite for the inauguration and consolidation of
democracy is the existence of a strong and organized civil society which has
sufficient opportunities to express its opinions and which also has
sufficient possibilities to participate, especially at the grassroots level
of society.

            The life of civil society has to be coupled with the evolution
of a culture of civil mindedness. In other words, civil society is not
necessarily in conflict with the government of the day, but is, in the
context of a universal struggle for rights, dignity and respect - engaged in
an organic struggle with a give and take character.

            A strong civil society is an elementary pre-requisite for the
development of democracy. By the same token, civil society has to strengthen
the role of political society, that is, the political institutions,
particularly political parties in a multi-party system like ours, which must
be adequately developed to bring about a peaceful national community that
celebrates diversity.

            This is why I would argue that the MDC split should be put on
the agenda by the civil society. My wish is not to end up having splits in
civil society organisations, resulting in a multi-polarised society. A
cursory review of the reality on the ground shows that besides the
professional denial that there is a clear line of separation between the MDC
and prominent civic groups, the opposite is quite true.

            These two institutions formed what was technically termed the
"progressive movement". They both agreed that President Robert Mugabe has
ruled this beautiful and once prosperous country so badly that there was
every need to harness all their energies and resources at removing Mugabe
and Zanu PF from power. They at times invoked the dictum: "seek ye first the
removal of Robert Mugabe, and the rest will be added unto it."

            In this marriage of convenience, the MDC was never put under
serious scrutiny in terms of depth, content and character. The argument was,
the MDC did not create the crisis we are in, and they are not in power after
all.

            Two interesting arguments have been put forward in relation to
the events unfolding. Firstly, there are those that argue that members of
the civil society are playing a "wait-and-see" game. They want to see where
the pendulum swings before making public statements and articulating their
positions. No wonder why only the Bulawayo-based Zimbabwe Christians for
Peace made a public statement, but only on how unfortunate the split is.

            There have not been Press statements from associations,
coalitions, unions, forums or trusts on this development. This argument
concludes that these civil institutions realise how delicate the situation
should be treated, in case their very own institutions may start crumbling.

            The second argument is that civil society actors are generally
frustrated by the split, and particularly by the allegations of intra-party
violence, physical and non-physical, that has rocked the opposition.
Recorded statistics among civic organizations reveal that Zanu PF is the
chief perpetrator of violence. So, the argument goes, if a culture of
violence has permeated through our social fabric, when politics is treated
as war, then they have to go back to the drawing board.

            For long, political events are a curve ahead in terms of
determining events. The civil society is forced to be reactive, even to
catastrophic decisions by politicians. Civil society should stop the habit
of giving themselves the tag "we are the voice of the voiceless". Who do you
think you are? Give the people the voice! Empower the communities to deal
constructively with the conflicts they face on daily basis, using
non-violent methods. When you invest and empower the people, you will not
walk alone.