| The ZIMBABWE Situation | Our
thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe - may peace, truth and justice prevail. |
March 22 , 2004
~~~ Newsletter 049
~~~
Face up and sing
Thank
you to the junior minister moyo, with love from Zvakwana
Zvakwana
has been receiving such uncountable requests for our Get Up, Stand Up
revolutionary condoms that we are almost failing to cope up. The extra publicity
from junior jonathan on his radio and television stations as well as his daily
propaganda paper has made Zvakwana popular to many more people. Maybe he has
gone soft on his party and he is rising on our side.
More seriously . . .
HIV/AIDS, safer sex and sexual health is everyone's responsibility
The
regime's broadcasting systems did not tell Zimbabweans that all of Zvakwana's
revolutionary condoms went out with instructions about how to use them
effectively. While condoms do not offer 100% protection they do reduce the risk
of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. So if you
treasure your partner rubber up in a revolution of love.
Harare North Constituency - Preparing for
2005
Trudy Stevenson MP with Councillors Dr Mushonga, Bangajena,
Badza and Jongwe
Tuesday 23 March : 5.30 for 6.00pm - 8.00 pm : Mount
Pleasant Hall
Guest Speakers:
Hon Gibson Sibanda, Leader of the Opposition and MDC Vice President (to confirm)
Hon Renson Gasela, Shadow Minister Lands and Agriculture
Hon Job Sikhala, St Mary's, Chitungwiza
Mr Femai, MDC Chairman Harare Province
By the way it is up to all of us to participate instead of just being armchair critics and wringing our hands. Stay informed and stay in support of all efforts for democratic change in Zimbabwe.
Captured mercenaries - a zanu pf coup
It is quite apparent that zanu pf
will do anything to try to distract Zimbabweans from increasing zanu pf
incompetence and unpopularity. They are dragging us through continuous
propaganda that seeks to establish mugabe as the good guy by halting an
"alleged" coup in Equatorial Guinea but this is not taking our minds away from
the starving that we're suffering. And it is quite likely that the arrest of the
so-called mercenaries at Harare Regional Airport will backfire. Of key interest
will become the role of Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI) as arms dealers. In
fact this part of the saga will no doubt be very embarrassing to the
illegitimate Zimbabwe government. This is why the regime is so desperate to have
the trial conducted "in private". As Reuters reports:
The key question will centre on what role President Robert Mugabe's senior aides played in any plans to procure weapons from state-owned Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI), a cash-strapped agency under the firm grip of the government. The analysts told Reuters on Wednesday that proceedings against the 70 men, who were charged on Tuesday, could throw a spotlight on what one called "the murky operations of the ZDI."
Please check out: www.sokwanele.com for some very good and current information. Sokwanele - Zvakwana is a people's force through which democracy will be restored to the country and protected jealously for future generations to ensure that Zimbabweans will never be oppressed again.
All
over Zimbabwe activist groups are unifying. Change is
coming.
Zvakwana has much more in store. Using art, humour and lots of cunning we are catching the regime off-guard at every intersection - watch the streets for more details!
Zvakwana sends a very big pom pom to the Supreme Court as they bar
mugabe from e-mail snooping
The Supreme Court, sitting as a full
bench, declared last week as unconstitutional legal provisions that gives the
president powers to eavesdrop, including the powers to intercept mail, telephone
conversations and other such electronic telecommunications devices. The superior
court upheld contentions by the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LCZ), a grouping of
lawyers who had filed the constitutional application arguing that the
presidential powers provided for by the Posts and Telecommunication (PTC) Act
violated section 20 of the Constitution. The lawyers were challenging section 98
and 103 of the PTC Act, which gives president powers to intercept mail,
telephones, e-mail and any other form of communication. Section 20 of the
Constitution provides for freedom of expression, freedom to receive and impart
ideas and freedom from interference from one's correspondences. The case was
heard before Chief Justice, Godfrey Chidyausiku, Vernanda Ziyambi, Misheck
Cheda, Luke Malaba and Elizabeth Gwaunza.
From: Daily
Mirror
"I believe in compulsory cannibalism. If people were forced to eat what they killed, there would be no more wars."
~ Abbie Hoffman
Violence in Zengeza
Maybe we should rename the
Electoral Supervisory Commission to be the Electoral Scared Commission. The
photograph below shows ESC staff cowering in the back of their vehicle as they
fail to get onto the streets in Zengeza to report on the regime's violence
engulfing the community. It is high time that the ESC was disbanded because of
their partisan behaviour where they fail to report correctly on zanu pf's
intimidatory tactics.
Zvakwana street sheets take off
Yes, a traveller
moving between gangsta's paradise (Joburg) and Harare last week had his eyes pop
when noticing copies of Zvakwana in the seat pouches. It is solidarity like this
being displayed by activists within Scare Zimbabwe that we need more of. Keep it
up! By the way if you would like to subscribe your workplace to receive some
copies please send us your postal address to news@zvakwana.org
Speak Out! Get Up!
zanu pf is the biggest culprit when it comes to financial
impropriety
The Zimbabwean finance minister is not welcome in one
of Cape Town's most expensive suburbs. This was the verdict of Llandudno
residents, who are up in arms over Christopher Kuruneri's apparent plans to move
into a R30-million mansion. Llandudno councillor Pieter Venter said on Sunday he
was "observing with interest" the construction of Kuruneri's mansion. Llandudno
councillor Pieter Venter said on Sunday he was "observing with interest" the
construction of Kuruneri's mansion. He said residents "may have objections" to a
senior Zimbabwean government official moving into the area. "People are
obviously allowed to buy property where they want, but one wonders where a
Zimbabwean minister got the money from, considering the value of the Zimbabwean
dollar." The Sunday Times reported that Kuruneri, appointed finance minister in
a cabinet reshuffle on February 9 to spearhead Zimbabwe's economic recovery, has
been financing the property with foreign currency. This was despite the strict
limits imposed on exporting foreign exchange in Zimbabwe. Kuruneri is the sole
director of a company called Choice Decisions, which bought the property for
R2,7-million on April 22 last year. He also bought another property in the area
for R2-million. Since Kuruneri was appointed finance minister, the country has
cracked down on businessmen for contravening foreign exchange rules, closing
down three businesses
Guess
what?
What do
Innscor Africa Limited, the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, Farm and City Centre and
Lobels Bread have in common? They all placed advertisements in the
state-controlled press congratulating the small dictator on his birthday. We can
send you a list of the other mugabe-loving companies that gave him a pom pom if
you like so that you are informed about who you're dealing with.
He's got the right idea.
Tsvangirai threatens mass action
Morgan Tsvangirai
has announced that the MDC is organising a national alliance with other
"democratic forces" in Zimbabwe to force robert mugabe to come to reason. This
grouping of labour, women, activists and others will work out a "programme of
rolling mass action designed to push the regime to the long awaited negotiated
settlement." It is impressive that, with two treason charges against him,
Tsvangirai continues to speak out boldly and forcefully against the regime. But
people - we have to transform these words into action! Last year's "Final Push"
failed because neither the people nor the leaders were ready for it. We need to
get ourselves organised and get ready for what might come. The "broad alliance"
should include the MDC, ZCTU and the NCA, among other organisations. You can get
involved with any of them, and you can also start agitating and organising your
community on your own. When the time comes, we each have to be ready to make
sacrifices if we are going to succeed. Find out how you can get more
involved!
Contact the MDC on mdcinfo@zol.co.zw or 04-781 138/9
Contact
the NCA on info@nca.org.zw or 04-736 338 /
730 431
Contact the ZCTU on info@zctu.co.zw or 04-794 742/02
Zvakwana's Get Up Stand Up compilation of music that will rock the regime into retirement has been described as "sizzling". Want a copy? Email us at news@zvakwana.org if you live in Zimbabwe.
zanu
pf targets teachers
zanu pf youths in Chivi are forcing primary
and secondary teachers in rural Masvingo to form political branches at their
schools to show their allegiance to the ruling party. The youths, under
instruction from local zanu pf leaders, say they do this with the aim of
"reorientating teachers" back into the ruling party fold. Teachers are generally
perceived to be opposition party sympathisers. The strategy is meant to
outmanoeuvre the MDC ahead of next year's parliamentary elections. "At our
school the zanu pf youths came on February 26 and abruptly stopped lessons
saying they had an urgent and very important meeting," said a teacher in Chivi.
"Most of the schools here in Chivi district have received these surprise visits
from local zanu pf youths during the last month. They come in the company of a
rural councillor who stresses the need for teachers to set up branches,
especially if we are to be safe next year," said the teacher. "We have also been
told to contribute some money to the party's campaign," he said. zanu pf
teachers' branches have already been set up in Berejena High School, Daramombe
and Chiwanza Secondary schools, as well as primary schools at Run'ai and
Mandiva. Chivi is Masvingo governor josiah hungwe's home area. "hungwe himself
is harbouring ambitions for next year's elections. Hence all this premature
campaigning," said another teacher. "They believe that teachers have so much
influence in the rural communities and may sway the electorate's perceptions.
That's why they want to be so hard on us," she said.
We must support our teachers and drive back those who want to intimidate them. Give courage to the teachers at your local school to stay professional and to teach the truth. Contact the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) to find out how you can do more: ptuz@mweb.co.zw or 777418.
tip-offs!
Thanks to Zvakwana subscribers who continue to keep us informed of the murky dealings of the regime. We are currently investigating information received about the zrp and the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe. We will keep you posted!
International Women's Day - nothing to
celebrate
Leaders of this regime must be challenged to account for
the violations of women's rights that are taking place under their watch. They
must be asked the hard questions about the roles they have played overtly and
covertly in both public and private spheres. I quite like the private aspect
because it is here that many of us who pontificate in public about "gender is a
priority of government blah blah", must be challenged. How many of you beat your
wives last week? Yes, you my friend, the senior government official raise your
hand please! Who among you has ever sexually harassed a woman - including the
ones you promised land and never gave them? (Oh, and marrying the product of
your harassment later doesn't excuse the fact please note). Who has used Green
Bombers to campaign for them? Can you account for their activities? Can you
honestly say you have never sexually abused a minor girl? Of course comrade
senior army and police officer, we know how you treat "suspects" don't we? I am
still waiting for a reason to celebrate women's day. May it come soon.
Read the article by
Everjoice J. Win, a Zimbabwean feminist activist
Waiting for the Bus
All along the road from
Bulawayo
to Gwanda or Matopos or Vic Falls;
at bus-stops, lay-bys, under
shadeless trees,
the people wait beside their bundled things.
All day long
they wait, and sometimes all night
too, and the next day - anxiously
waiting.
Waiting for the public
transport to stop
and let them in and take them home. Waiting
with babies
to nurse, children to comfort
and feed, chickens, the occasional
goat.
They have learned to come prepared, with blankets,
izinduku, pots
for cooking sadza.
Waiting for ZUPCO or
SHU-SHINE, AJAY,
to get them to their Uncle's funeral,
their cousin's
wedding, their baby brother's
baptism. Waiting with the new Camper
Vans
cruising by. Anxious to be at work on
time. Anxious not to lose their
jobs. Waiting.
They take their time now not
by wrist-watches
but by the sun and the stars and the moon;
by the
appearance of the mopani worms;
by the ripening of marula fruit;
by the
coming of the rains. Not by bus
timetables but by birth, marriage and
death.
And while they wait they
count the jets that fly
to Harare and Johannesburg.
Liverish businessmen
sucking whiskies
are in these jets. And Chefs with mistresses
wearing the
latest digital watches,
Digital dolly-birds. All carry brief-
cases with
combination locks, and next
to nothing inside: dark glasses perhaps;
and a
newspaper to study the Stock
Exchange; something digital, perhaps,
for
calculating profit . . . and more profit.
It's something for people to
do while
they wait - counting the
jets high overhead.
Often the vapour trails are the only
clouds in the
sky. No Forex for buses,
They tell us, but the five-star hotels go
up, and
another Boeing is purchased.
All day they wait; all night; long
suffering.
And when, at last, a bus
does stop, its tyres
are likely to be bald, its brakes likely
to be held
together with wire, its body
battered, belching clouds of
brain-tightening,
lung-collapsing smoke. Who's responsible?
"Not me," says
the Chef dipping his fingers
in his girl-friend's
cocktail, shifting his vast
belly, vast enough to accommodate
at least
seven baby goats. "Don't look at
me," says the Managing Director,
"my
bottom line is profit. I owe it to
the shareholders. Another whisky
please."
And I don't think it is
going to be any
different tomorrow or the next day
or the next. The time
of sweet-becoming
is over. For those millions who depend
on buses,
nothing has changed; only their
expectations have once again been
dashed.
The time of bitter arrival
is here:
not safe new buses, but the amassing
of personal wealth, the
cultivation
of another crop of heroes. Street
names change, statues
change; hotels go up, jets
go up, and the people go on waiting.
© 1995, John Eppel
From:
Sonata for Matabeleland
|
Watch out for Zvakwana papers on the
streets! |
Zvakwana, Sokwanele, Enough!!
Make sure you SPEAK OUT - keep discussion alive, keep information flowing.
Please remember Zvakwana welcomes feedback, ideas and support for actions.
Visit our website at www.zvakwana.org
Enough is enough, Zvakwana, Sokwanele.
| EX-SAS MAN IN AFRICAN COURT |
 |
Simon Mann looked grim as he appeared in leg irons and handcuffs along with the group he is accused of putting together.
He faces life in jail and a $200,000 fine if found guilty.
The group, consisting mainly of South Africans, Angolans and Namibians, was arrested in Harare on March 7 after their plane was detained.
They were charged with conspiracy against the government of Equatorial Guinea, along with immigration, firearms, and aviation offences.
Chief prosecutor Mary Zimba-Dube said Mann was the ringleader and acted on instructions from exiled Equatorial Guinea opposition leader Severo Moto.
"The accused Simon Mann was contracted by Severo Moto...to assist him in toppling the president of Equatorial Guinea by a violent coup d'etat," Zimba-Dube said.
"Simon Mann...recruited 69 men with military background to carry out the task.
"The 70 accused persons conspired and agreed to possess dangerous weapons which were to be used in carrying out the task."
Fuel Queues Resurface in Harare
 |
|
| |
The Herald (Harare)
March 23, 2004
Posted
to the web March 23, 2004
Harare
FUEL queues have resurfaced in Harare as a result of the failure by some companies to get foreign currency on the foreign currency auction floor, the Petroleum Marketers' Association of Zimbabwe spokesperson, Mr Masimba Kambarami, said yesterday.
He said some of the fuel importing companies have had their bids turned down at the auction floor, thereby leaving them without the means to import fuel.
"The majority of bids by fuel suppliers to get foreign currency from the auction have been turned down and those that are selling fuel are some of the companies that got foreign currency.
"Another reason is that filling stations are charging different pump prices and obviously motorists buy from those filling stations that sell the fuel at a cheaper pump price," Mr Kambarami said.
He said the queues at some filling stations would disappear as soon as more fuel importers get foreign currency.
Mr Kambarami said his association was looking at establishing a "Special Purpose Vehicle Company" that would access foreign currency on behalf of all the other fuel importing companies.
"Currently each fuel company gets its foreign currency directly from the auction and some are failing to get the required foreign currency to import fuel.
"The Special Purpose Vehicle Company will aggregate the requirement of foreign currency for all the fuel-importing companies and place orders for the different companies each week or every month," Mr Kambarami said.
He said plans to implement the Special Purpose Vehicle Company were at an advanced stage and it is hoped that the company would get preferential treatment at the auction floors.
He said there were different pump prices at the filling stations because of the variables in landing costs.
"Those companies that import via the pipeline would sell their fuel at a cheaper price than those who import through the road vehicles. However with the new system fuel would be obtained in bulk and at a cheaper price," Mr Kambarami said.
Bids are turned down for a variety of reasons at the auction floors, one of them being that a bidder may offer a price lower than the accepted levels.
The introduction of the foreign currency auction system at the beginning of the year was envisaged to benefit the critical fuel importation sector.
A survey by The Herald revealed that there were few filling stations selling petrol at between $2 750 and $3 000 a litre.
