BBC
Publication of
Zimbabwe's inflation data has been postponed
"indefinitely", as analysts and
economists predicted the figure for April
would top 1,000%.
Officials at the Central Statistics Office (CSO) cancelled the release
of
the data to the media after their boss was called to an urgent
meeting.
Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate climbed from 782% in
February to
913.6% in March, the highest in the world.
Robert
Mugabe's government is facing a severe and deepening economic
crisis.
The economy has been hit by shortages of food, fuel,
foreign currency,
a crumbling urban infrastructure and water and electricity
cuts.
Mr Mugabe, 82, who led the country to independence from the
UK in
1980, blames the crisis to sabotage by his domestic and foreign
enemies.
Reforms call
Runaway inflation is so rampant
that ordinary Zimbabwean citizens have
to carry huge amounts of cash just to
buy everyday goods such as rice and
bread.
Transport, education
and housing costs also continue to rise steadily,
and many angry Zimbabweans
are now speaking out openly about the situation.
Fuel and food
shortages have left some two-thirds of the population
unemployed and
impoverished, with no sign of economic recovery, analysts
say.
A shortage of fuel has forced up the price of transport. Rents have
also
risen following the government's controversial demolition of many
homes,
creating more homeless people.
The International Monetary Fund has
called for a "comprehensive policy
package, comprising several mutually
reinforcing actions in the area of
macroeconomic stabilisation and
structural reforms".
May 10,
2006
By Tagu Mkwenyani
Harare (AND)The Zimbabwe
National Students Union [ZINASU] Secretary
General Beloved Chiweshe is
battling for his life after he was brutally
assaulted by Bindura police and
suspected members of the secret service.
This happened last night
when he was arrested alongside 17 other
students who demonstrating against
new fees at universities which are beyond
the reach of the poor. There are
reports that police have placed him in
solitary confinement, raising fears
that he could be tortured.
ZINASU president, Promise Mkwananzi and
a team of human rights lawyers
led by Aleck Muchadehama who visited him,
said he had severe bruises and a
swollen face. "We could recognize him at
first," said a member of the team
that visited him in the police cells.
Currently 18 students are still in
detention and police are yet to level any
charges against them.
"This is an illegal detention and an
unlawfull arrest. ZINASU is
pleading with all interested parties in the
civic society and the media
fratenity to lobby for the immediate release of
these innocent students,"
said a Zinasu spokesperson. Students are mulling a
boycott to force police
to release those arrested.
Harare
Bureau
Comment from The Nation (Malawi), 10 May
By Kondwani Kamiyala
So, the man who is a thorn in
the flesh of the West came, inaugurated a road
and went. This
anti-imperialist icon, it would appear, left Malawi with
nothing but the
bashing and trashing of Western ideas. Such attacks are
always part of his
baggage wherever he goes. For all that, the most sensible
thing he told
Malawians is that Malawi and Zimbabwe are one, to the point of
intermarriage. But that is all. As usual, Mugabe had no kind words for the
West. He urged Malawians, as if they were not so conscious of their history,
to shake off the fetters of colonialism. This call was normally greeted with
cheers, as is the case whenever immortal African political leaders play the
wise elephant. There is always some lizard to cheer. But Comrade Robert
Mugabe had it wrong. We had our independence long time ago and today to
claim to be fighting against colonialism is, to say the least, bizarre. Much
as we reckon some of the economic theories of the West widen the gap between
the rich and the poor, we cannot say we can do without the West. They
cushion our budget. They are vital in implementation of our development
goals in one way or the other.
What was the point in Mugabe
telling the rest of us his exploits against one
Ian Smith, who has no
bearing whatever on the Malawian on the streets' life?
Why did he not tell
us that much as we regard him as a great son of the
African soil to name an
important road on his name, we would end up in jail
if we were to wave at
him, for an open palm is the political symbol of his
nemesis Morgan
Tsvangirai? While telling Malawians that he never dreams of
living in
Europe, he should also have let us know that since he came to
power in 1980,
he amended that country's constitution several to quell
opposition and make
Zimbabwe a de facto single party state. Mugabe did not
tell Malawians of the
Public Order and Security Act (POSA) which restricts
public gatherings of
any more than five persons without police clearance,
prohibits street
demonstrations and all unsanctioned meetings, except church
services. That
is not to talk of the Presidential Powers (Temporary
Measures) Act which
enables the president to legislate or make new laws by
decree. These are
just a few of the laws in Zimbabwe that makes freedom a
dream for the
Zimbabwe people.
In Malawi, our biggest challenge is neither Tony
Blair nor George Bush. Sir
Roy Welensky is out of the question. Today we
must face poverty. Today we
must check corruption. Today our unemployment
figures are soaring high. Our
kwacha is buying less and less goods by the
day. Malawians are now engaged
in a soul-search why our mothers, sisters and
daughters are facing abuse.
Malawians are today asking themselves if this is
really the democracy they
sought in 1993. We are asking ourselves why abuse
against the economic,
political and religious rights of man continues to
increase as some try to
gain absolute powers. And Mugabe says to further
increase the unity between
Malawians and Zimbabweans, he extends an
invitation to the youth of the
ruling DPP to learn from his Zanu PF youths.
Needless to say here that the
Zanu PF Youth Brigade is notorious for
silencing political opponents by the
most violent of means. This is an
archaic kind of politics once imported
from Ghana by Dr Kamuzu Banda in 1965
when he set up the Malawi Young
Pioneers.
The youth, in the
present democratic dispensation should not be used as torn
boots to kick out
political opponents of those who still see colonial ghosts
everywhere. The
driving of our youth into the destitution of unemployment
makes them all the
more vulnerable to political abuse. Think of all the bus
touts or street
vendor who would be easily lured to become the ears and eyes
of the
political powers that be. We can't talk of the resemblance between
the
treason trial Tsvangirai faced when state owned media exposed a video
tape
recorded by one Ari Ben-Menashe showing Tsvangirai discussing with
operatives in Montreal, Canada, how they would assassinate Mugabe. That case
bears resemblance to what is happening in Malawi now. For a long time,
Malawi politics has always followed events in Zambia. But now, it must be
noted, our eyes must be fixed on Zimbabwe.
Zim Online
Thu 11 May 2006
HARARE - The government plans to hire
British and South African
researchers to carry out a survey of corruption in
Zimbabwe at a cost of
about US$10 million, in a move dismissed by the
opposition as a ploy to
hoodwink the public by a government that is among
the most corrupt in the
world.
The survey will seek to
establish the causes and impact of corruption
in Zimbabwe, with the
researchers expected to visit countries like South
Africa, Botswana, Britain
and the United States where there are significant
numbers of Zimbabweans
living there to establish the extent and effects of
corruption among them,
authoritative sources said.
President Robert Mugabe and his Cabinet
are understood to have already
approved the planned corruption survey while
the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is
expected to make available foreign currency
- in critical short supply in
the country - to fund international trips and
to pay researchers' fees.
The permanent secretary in the Ministry
of Anti-Corruption and
Anti-Monopolies, Ranganai Maunganidze, confirmed the
government will
undertake the survey and that foreign researches will lead
the exercise. But
he refused to say how much the government will spend on
the probe or when
exactly it was expected to
commence.
Maunganidze said: "We are going to have a
far reaching baseline survey
on corruption. It will take us to every corner
of this country.
"We will also send researchers to the Diaspora to
get views from
Zimbabweans there on how they have been affected by
corruption. It's a way
of showing government commitment to this scourge of
corruption that has
seriously affected our economy."
But the
main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party
said the survey
was a waste of money that could have been better used
fighting off hunger
threatening a quarter of the 12 million Zimbabweans.
If the
government wanted to tackle corruption it needed to start with
the ruling
elite and what is needed are not surveys but political will from
Mugabe to
order the arrest of his cronies, according to Nelson Chamisa, the
spokesman
of the main faction of the splintered MDC party.
"It is clear to
every Zimbabwean that corruption resides mainly in
government corridors,
among the ruling elite. We don't need a survey. What
we need is political
will from Mugabe to stamp out corruption. This
(planned) survey is just
meant to hoodwink the public," said Chamisa.
Zimbabwe is ranked
among the worst corrupt countries in the word by
international
anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International, while
the Foreign
Policy magazine and the Fund for Peace earlier this month
classified the
southern African country among the world's top five failed
states.
The influential Foreign Policy magazine cited poor
governance and
endemic corruption as chief reasons the once prosperous
southern African
country had plunged to become one of the most vulnerable in
the world.
Mugabe, blamed by critics for Zimbabwe's parlous state,
has repeatedly
spoken against corruption in public. But the opposition says
he has failed
to walk the talk against corruption, especially where his
close lieutenants
are involved. - ZimOnline
Zim Online
Thu
11 May 2006
BULAWAYO - Former state propaganda chief Jonathan Moyo
told the High
Court yesterday that President Robert Mugabe had earmarked him
for a seat in
the Senate if he had not stood as an independent in Tsholotsho
constituency
in last year's House of Assembly poll.
The former
information minister made the disclosure while being cross
examined during
the hearing of a case in which he is suing ruling ZANU PF
chairman John
Nkomo and senior member of the party's inner politburo
cabinet, Dumiso
Dabengwa, for defamation.
Moyo said: "President Mugabe called me to
a meeting that was also
attended by Vice President Joice Mujuru . he asked
why I was determined to
be a Member of Parliament and asked why I should not
wait and bounce back as
a senator."
The Senate was
re-introduced last year amid controversy that it was
being brought back to
extend Mugabe's patronage network and also as part of
a shadowy mechanism to
manage infighting in ZANU PF over the succession of
the veteran President,
who is expected to step down in 2008.
Moyo was fired from the
government and ZANU PF after he chose to stand
in Tsholotsho as an
independent in defiance of senior leaders who had
blocked him from standing
on the ruling party's ticket saying the
constituency was reserved for a
woman candidate.
But insiders say Moyo was really the victim of
internecine fighting
within ZANU PF over Mugabe's succession. The say the
reservation of
Tsholotsho - Moyo's home constituency - for a female
candidate was a ploy by
his enemies in the ruling party to frustrate
him.
Moyo and other senior ZANU PF leaders had backed former
parliamentary
speaker Emmerson Mnangagwa to be appointed vice-president
ahead of Mujuru,
which would have placed him in a strong position to succeed
Mugabe when and
if he steps down.
The plot to prop up Mnangagwa
fell through after it was discovered by
Mugabe and other ZANU PF old guard
leaders, who threw their weight behind
Mujuru and accused those who had
attempted to block her rise of in fact
scheming to topple the party
leadership.
Moyo is suing Nkomo and Dabengwa for Z$2 billion in
damages claiming
that they defamed him by allegedly lying to Mugabe that he
had led the plot
to catapult Mnangagwa to the vice-presidency as part of a
plan to topple the
entire ZANU PF leaders, including the 82-year old
President himself.
He is also arguing that the two ZANU PF
politicians also falsely
claimed that he had received unspecified sums of
money sourced from foreign
persons or countries hostile to
Zimbabwe.
The case, which gives a glimpse of the power struggle
within ZANU PF
over Mugabe's succession, will see confidential documents
which include
minutes of several ZANU PF committees and confidential party
correspondence
being produced as evidence in court. - ZimOnline
Zim Online
Thu 11 May
2006
HARARE - Zimbabwe civic society will next week commemorate the
government's controversial urban renewal exercise last year under which
armed police and soldiers demolished shantytowns and city backyard cottages
leaving close to a million people homeless.
The commemoration -
which will see civic society activists and
journalists touring city suburbs
to assess the plight of residents a year
after the demolition exercise - is
being organised by the National
Association of Non-Governmental
Organisations (NANGO), grouping civic
organisations in the
country.
"The objective of the field trip is to give the media an
opportunity
to derive an accurate picture of the impact of the Operation and
an insight
as to the relevance of the commemoration to affected groups,"
wrote NANGO
official Fambai Ngirandi, in a letter to the Zimbabwe Union of
Journalists
that was shown to ZimOnline yesterday.
The home
demolition campaign began on May 17 last year without prior
notice and just
weeks after the government had won a controversial
parliamentary
election.
The campaign that was roundly condemned by Western
governments, the
opposition, churches and human rights groups as a violation
of poor people's
rights continued until July, with President Robert Mugabe
only ordering
security forces to stop demolishing people's homes after the
United Nations
(UN) had sent in a special envoy to probe the
exercise.
In an unusually hard hitting report by a UN diplomat, the
special
envoy, Anna Tibaijuka, said the home demolition campaign had left at
least
700 000 people homeless while also indirectly affecting another 2.4
million
people.
Tibaijuka said the government urban renewal
campaign had violated
human rights and had also possibly breached
international law.
Mugabe and his government, who insist the
controversial exercise was
necessary to smash crime and to restore the
beauty of Zimbabwe's cities,
rejected the UN report saying Tibaijuka had
been pressured to write a
negative report by Western countries in a bid to
demonise Harare. -
ZimOnline
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 5:24 AM
Subject: Zimbabwe in a terminal state -
an open letter
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 8:20 PM
Subject:
Zimbabwe in a terminal state - an open letter
Dear
Colleagues,
This is a very sobering analysis by a highly respected
Zimbabwean academic. I think his most important point is where he states
“Zimbabwe is not going to change until there is a broad constituency for change
and reform”. For all the stirring talk and propaganda of some this must be taken
seriously. We do not have a united “broad constituency” at present because of
the divisions within the opposition. No matter what spin or gloss one puts on it
there is simply no broad constituency. The opposition has been seriously divided
and remains divided. Until we see the emergence of statesmen and women, who are
prepared to sacrifice their personal ambitions for the greater good, Zimbabwe
will continue its slide into oblivion. That does not have to be the case, but we
need mature, responsible leadership.
Even if reconciliation is not
possible, at the very least agreement must be reached so that we have a
functional coalition of all opposition forces. Only statesmanship will achieve
this.
It is now time for all of us to confront reality and to stop the
destructive bickering which has characterized opposition politics for the last 7
months.
Yours sincerely,
David Coltart
Click to see the attachment(You need to hqv3e Acrobt Reader.)
[ This report
does not necessarily reflect the views of the United
Nations]
JOHANNESBURG, 10 May 2006 (IRIN/PLUSNEWS) - As food prices
continue to
escalate in Zimbabwe, the number of children suffering from
severe
malnutrition has increased in suburbs around the capital, Harare,
according
to aid workers. But they do not rule out that the spike could be
linked to
HIV/AIDS, in a country with one of the worst prevalence rates in
the world.
New Hope Zimbabwe (NHZ), a local NGO providing community
assistance, said it
recorded 500 cases of severe malnutrition every week in
Epworth, one of the
capital's poorest suburbs.
"Epworth has the worst
cases in Zimbabwe, as most of the poor live in that
area. It was also the
worst hit by Operation Murambatsvina ['Drive out
Filth']. Most of the
people's livelihoods were destroyed - people are now
out of work and their
small businesses are now deemed illegal, and most
parents are dying from
HIV/AIDS," said Pastor Elfas Zadzagomo, NHZ executive
director.
The
Zimbabwean government said the operation was aimed at clearing slums and
flushing out criminals, but left more than 700,000 people homeless or
without a livelihood in the winter of 2005.
National malnutrition
statistics are hard to access in Zimbabwe. But
according to the UN
Children's Fund (UNICEF), there is a strong association
between severe
malnutrition and HIV/AIDS; around 70 percent of children
admitted to
hospital for severe malnutrition in Zimbabwe are also HIV
positive.
Life is tough for an HIV-positive baby in Zimbabwe's poor
suburbs, and often
short: parents do not have enough food; hospitals do not
have a reliable
supply of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. With inflation at 913
percent, people
are being squeezed by steeply rising prices for everyday
essentials and
shortages of medication, including the ARVs that help keep
AIDS at bay.
Last week the official Herald newspaper reported that the
parastatal
National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm), which supplies drugs
to all
state-run hospitals and clinics, had less than a month's supply of
ARVs in
stock because of the lack of foreign currency to purchase
them.
Charles Mwaramba, acting managing director of Natpharm, told a
parliamentary
portfolio committee on health and child welfare that the
Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe (RBZ) had allocated just US$106,000 to the company
between January
and March, against a required $7.4 million.
Joyce
Magunda, an Epworth resident in her thirties with a two-week-old baby
girl
and three other children, was among the thousands affected by
Murambatsvina.
Before the campaign she worked at a crèche in the
city. Now unemployed, she
has been struggling to rebuild her home and her
life, and relies on the
vegetable patch outside her wood and corrugated iron
shack to feed her
family.
A frail and careworn Magunda said she did
not have enough breast milk for
the infant and fed her maizemeal porridge -
totally inappropriate for a
baby - at regular intervals. "At least she
sleeps then and does not cry of
hunger all the time."
According NHZ,
most of Harare's street children come from Epworth. Aid
workers said poverty
and the loss of parents to HIV/AIDS were forcing them
to seek refuge in
urban streets.
On the outer limits of Epworth, Daisy and Tony Maulana, a
poor farming
couple in their fifties, are attempting to stem the flow of
children to the
streets of Harare by giving them a shot at education and
food.
The couple, with a few years of primary schooling between them and
10
children of their own to support, pooled their meagre resources to build
a
three-room school out of mud, cement and bricks in 2002.
"Our
children should stay here. Our people are poor, they do not have money
for
the school fees and they do not have enough to feed the children, but we
must have our children with us and not let them starve in the city," said
Tony Maulana. The centre provides free primary education and some senior
schooling to 1,400 children.
They also grow maize and vegetables,
which they share with the school
children, 11 volunteer teachers from the
community and their neighbours.
"The children do not have enough food -
there are many orphans with nothing
to eat; we are seeing our neighbours go
without food, so we help," said
Dolly Maulana. NHZ is trying to source funds
to start a nutrition programme
at the school.
Children's agencies
like UNICEF advocate community-based therapeutic care in
a programme that
treats severely malnourished children in their homes, as
part of a larger
programme to help vulnerable neighborhoods.
However, UNICEF has been
unable to raise even 30 percent of the required
funding of about $900,000,
spread over a period of two years, which would
help it implement this
critical programme in pre-designated rural areas of
Zimbabwe and key urban
districts.
According to UNICEF's Representative in Zimbabwe, Dr Festo
Kavishe, "The
treatment of severe malnutrition must be a priority
intervention in the
HIV/AIDS response in Zimbabwe. Community-based nutrition
care programmes are
the logical way forward, treating children with severe
malnutrition at an
earlier stage before complications occur. With Zimbabwe's
high rates of HIV,
rising orphan numbers and growing stress on the family
and health systems, I
cannot understand why such a good proposal remains so
desperately
underfunded."
The government accuses Western donors of
applying "sanctions" on Zimbabwe
over its land redistribution programme
launched in 2000, in which commercial
farms were seized, often violently, by
supporters of the ruling party.
News24
10/05/2006 17:15 -
(SA)
Harare - Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea have signed a new
agreement to fight
crime, reported the Zimbabwean state-owned Herald
newspaper on Wednesday.
Ties between the two countries were strengthened
two years ago, when Harare
foiled an apparent attempt to overthrow the
government in Malabo.
The Herald quoted Zimbabwe's attorney-general
Sobusa Gula-Ndebele at the
signing ceremony: "The agreement will help in
strengthening the relations
between the two countries and will also benefit
Zimbabwe as it will open
other areas of possible co-operation."
The
Herald said the agreement would also "promote exchange of information,
training, mutual legal assistance and institutional rapport between the two
African nations".
Relations between the two nations were bolstered in
2004, when police in
Zimbabwe arrested a plane-load of mercenaries destined
for Equatorial
Guinea.
The mercenaries had apparently planned to
overthrow the government of
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
Most of
the mercenaries served jail terms in Zimbabwe and have since been
released,
but ringleader Simon Mann is still in a high-security prison near
Harare.
New Zimbabwe
By Lebo
Nkatazo
Last updated: 05/11/2006 04:58:42
ZIMBABWE'S Local Government
Minister Ignatius Chombo violated the Urban
Councils Act by giving
directives to the City of Harare to purchase a luxury
vehicle for Zanu PF's
politburo member Tendai Savanhu, it has been
established.
The
revelations on the milking of the Harare City Council's finances by
Savanhu,
tipped in some quarters to be Chombo's choice to replace Sekesai
Makwavarara
as chairman of the commission running the city, were made
Tuesday at a Local
Government Parliamentary Committee hearing by Town Clerk,
Nomsa
Chideya.
Chideya was responding to a question from MDC Mabvuku
legislator, Timothy
Mubawu.
Mubawu wanted to know why the
government-appointed commission running the
affairs of the city was
affording Savanhu a special status not given to any
other
commissioner.
Mubawu quizzed Chideya on why a luxury vehicle had been
bought for him, and
why he was provided with aides -- a driver and a
municipal police officer.
Unlike other commissioners, Savanhu is employed
and has been provided with
an office at Town House and receives millions
every week in petrol,
entertainment and other allowances.
Other
commissioners receive a salary and seating allowances.
Chideya Savanhu's
perks had all been decided by the minister "who is running
the
show".
Chideya said: "The clerk does not set conditions of service for
the
commissioners. It is the prerogative of the minister. It was his
directive."
During the same hearing the town clerk revealed that more
than 55 percent of
Harare's $19 trillion budget was going towards paying
salaries.
He acknowledged that the development was also illegal as the
law stipulates
that between 28 and 32 percent of the total budget should pay
for salaries.
May 10, 2006
By George Nyathi
HARARE (AND) THE deputy
chairperson of the commission running the
affairs of Zimbabwe's capital,
Harare, Tendai Savanhu has been accused of
abusing his authority to force
employees at the Harare City Council Fire and
Ambulance Services to ferry 8
000 liters of water to his Emerald Hill Home
using council acquired
fuel.
Sources at Harare City Council said this afternoon that
the council
employees started transporting the water to Savanhu´s house
following his
appointment in 2004 to the position of deputy chairperson of
the commission.
The employees said it started as an order but later
turned out to be a
routine chore for the workers as they were threatened
with dismissal if they
failed to take water to Savanhu´s house.
"He
would come to the workshops and shout at the fire officers and
threaten that
he would deal ruthlessly with anyone who dared disobey his
orders. At times,
he would escort the fire tankers from the workshops to his
home as a way of
ensuring that the water was indeed taken there," said one
fire brigade
source.
It was revealed that some commissioners within the commission
running
the affairs of the council at one time tried to dissuade Savanhu
from this
action but their efforts failed to pay off as he was reportedly
too powerful
for them.
The source said that Savanhu even prevailed
over his boss at council,
the under fire Harare commission chairperson,
Sekesai Makwavarara who also
threw her punches of dissuading Savanhu from
the abuse of council property
as well as fuel.
"Makwavarara tried
her bit to try and warn Savanhu to stop abusing
council vehicles and fuel.
She however hit a brick wall as Savanhu told her
openly that she was
supposed to remember that he (Savanhu) was her
(Makwavarara) boss in the
ruling ZANU PF politburo hence he would not take
orders from his junior
politically," the source said.
Ironically, Savanhu is a member of the
ZANU PF politburo, the party's
decision making body while Makwavarara is a
member of the party's central
committee.
When contacted for comment
by AND NETWORK, Savanhu did not refute the
allegations leveled against him
but said there was need for journalists to
stop writing about this
saga.
"I cannot comment on that matter. What I can tell you is that you
just
have to leave that matter alone. It is past and now history," he
said.
Sources at the ministry of local government, public works and
urban
development, headed by Ignatius Chombo told AND NETWORK that the
matter only
came to a stop last weekend after Savanhu was reportedly given a
serious
tongue lash by the permanent secretary in the ministry, identified
as a Mr.
Mbiriri, who is said to have summoned Savanhu to his office for a
tongue
lash.
AND ZIMBABWE BUREAU.
New Zimbabwe
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Political
commentator Brian Kagoro on Tuesday spoke to SW Radio Africa's
Violent Gonda
on the programme, Hot Seat. We reproduce the script of his
interview in
which he deals with the MDC split and equates the in-fighting
to 'political
cannibalism'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last
updated: 05/11/2006 04:58:34
Violet: We welcome Brian Kagoro, who is a
Zimbabwean activist and an analyst
to the programme 'Hot Seat'. Welcome
Brian.
Brian: Thank you Violet.
Violet: Now so much has happened in
Zimbabwe, especially where the
opposition is concerned since the last time
we spoke. That was late last
year, around the time that the MDC had split.
Now the two parties have gone
their separate ways and are now led on the one
hand by Morgan Tsvangirai and
the other by Arthur Mutambara. So lets start
with your assessment of this.
Brian: Well the split is an unfortunate
event. Unfortunate in the sense that
it's a much weaker opposition in terms
of its capacity to contain ZANU PF.
Even before the split, there were
already difficulties in the sense that
ZANU had managed somewhat to outflank
oppositional forces through the use of
either force; the use of repressive
legislation and sheer wear and tear. I
think people were growing weary; the
rejuvenation of energy that we began to
witness last year seems to me would
be dissipated by this positioning within
either faction. And, in any sense,
it is important for us to remember that
the leadership based in Zimbabwe
within the opposition is not that broad. So
this splintering into small
units; for whatever reason; is undesirable. This
is exactly where the
opposition in Zimbabwe was before the formation of the
MDC
Violet:
And now it seems if we are to compare the popularity of the two
parties by
the numbers that they are drawing to their rallies, it seems
Tsvangirai is
drawing enormous crowds compared to the people that are
attending
Mutambara's rallies. First of all, does this say the Tsvangirai
camp is the
peoples' party?
Brian: I think there are several ways to look at this.
Tsvangirai has been
around for much longer, he has been associated with the
pro-democracy
struggle, if you like, on a consistent basis, much longer and
also basically
it could be a signification that Zimbabweans generally do not
accept that
there should be a split in the opposition. It's not necessarily
a vote of
confidence in Tsvangirai and a vote against the other party, I
think it is
against the concept of a split opposition. And in there view the
broader
party might represent that opportunity to finally deal with the
ruling
party. That's one way of looking at it.
There is another way
though; several other ways in fact. The notion that is
often not articulated
amongst many circles in Zimbabwe is that the other
faction represented some
ethnic interest, an ethnic minority interest.
Whether or not that is a
correct assessment is neither here nor there. What
is important is there are
people within the country in whose opinion the
faction, previously led by
Welshman and now led by Arthur, represented an
ethnic clustering of people
from Matabeleland. And, I think the desertion of
various characters, Gift
Chimanikire and others back to the Tsvangirai camp,
might actually help prop
up that perspective; that the broader national
interest is greater served in
the Tsvangirai camp - it has a broader ethnic
spread than the other
camp.
Violet: And then also Brian, on the issue you mentioned that the
other
party, which was formerly led by Professor Welshman Ncube, had this
ethnic
tag surrounding it and also some say that it also has this elitist
tag. Now
what can you say about this? And still on this same issue, would
you agree
that the Tsvangirai side may be bottom heavy without the generals
at the top
and the opposite being said about the Mutambara
faction?
Brian: I think the best way to look at what has happened in the
opposition
politics is to look at what is elitism. Elitism is not the fact
that a
person has a degree. There are many people in the Tsvangirai faction
who are
degreed; who are well educated, in fact, well-off by Zimbabwean
standards.
Equally so there are many people in the Ncube camp, now the
Mutambara camp,
who are perhaps not that educated and not that well off. So
it is not easy
to make generalisations.
However, the perception is
that the leadership is entirely elitist or is
broadly elitist. Former
student leaders, university lecturers and that ilk
of person. That therefore
its linkage and real concern with grass roots
issues may be remote, that its
capacity to deliver programmatically in the
interest of poor people is also
remote. Now, those perceptions matter; I
think from a public relations
perspective and also from a political
programming perspective it would be
incumbent upon the Mutambara faction to
demonstrate firstly, that although
they are well educated, they are not
elitist; that they are organic
intellectuals who have an interest in the
welfare of ordinary Zimbabweans.
That they are not simply concerned with
arguments and abstractions and fancy
policies that are done in hotels. That
they have a strategy to get to the
real issues that affect ordinary
Zimbabweans.
On the other hand the
tag that all that you need is simply a populist
thrust - that all that
matters is really just that you should be seen as
popular and linked to the
grass roots - has its limitations. Countries are
not run by popularity.
Countries are run through systems and systems are run
by competent
personnel. Competent personnel often require training, and
therefore there
is always a fine balance that one needs in any movement and
political
system. A balance between activists and populism, to balance or
counterbalance that with a broad base of expertise, what others may see as
bureaucratic elitism.
In my view, I think the issue for me is really
critically whether either
faction or both factions actually have programmes
beyond being popular. We
want to know whether either faction has political
programmes that will
address the hunger that Zimbabweans are facing. Whether
they will have
political programmes that will address unemployment - rampant
unemployment.
Whether they have political and social programmes that will
result in an
economic turn-around. Whether they have conceptual clarity as
well as
practical experience to implement whatever ideas they might have.
Because,
governance is, at the end of the day, not simply about ideas in as
much as
it's not simply things that you say at the rally to the cheer of the
masses.
Violet: And judging from what you have seen so far from the two
factions, do
you think that either faction has what it takes to change
things in Zimbabwe
right now?
Brian: The real comedy Violet, is that
MDC 1 and MDC 2, which ever way you
choose to allocate the numbers, are like
identical twins that insist to the
whole world that they are different in
looks. In the sense if you talk about
what their programme is around ;
divesting state owned enterprises, it's the
same. What their programme is
regarding economic recovery - it's
substantially the same. What their
programme is regarding constitutional
review - it's substantially the same.
What their programme is regarding
democratic renewal - it's substantially
the same.
So, you literally would have two apes leaping and sitting -
looking at each
other and saying 'oh - you look funny', in a sense! I mean
it's insufficient
for political difference to be founded purely on the
character deficiencies
of either leadership. I think that is insufficient in
modern politics. What
we expect as a sign of political maturity and
leadership is that people
would be able to appreciate that every human
person will have character
deficiencies.
And, this is why we invest
so much in building systems and processes. The
question to either side is to
what extent are the systems and processes
strong enough to contain the
excesses of the leadership? Because there will
be excesses. Politics is not
a game of virtue. It's a game played by
imperfect men and women in an
attempt to achieve a sound political society.
And because of the very fact
that it is done by human beings who are
imperfect you are going to have
allegations either of dictatorial
tendencies, kleptomania, allegations of
discrimination against people. So
the potential to be evil resides in every
politician.
I'm quite sure, if you were to find one politician who is not
guilty of
evil, I would be able to confess to a politician myself, if that
were
possible. But because all politicians anyway are great salesmen trying
to
sell ideas and agenda, they are bound to overstate their case; they are
bound to understate their weaknesses. In my view the issue for MDC 1 and 2
is not for distinction in their political programmes, because there seems to
be none. For example, if you take ideology, none of them is out rightly anti
neo-liberal. None of them is saying to hell with the IMF and World Bank,
none of them is saying we are totally against privatisation, none of them is
saying we are totally against scaling down the state. So ideologically they
are sitting on the same side of the fence.
Violet: And can the two
groups work without each other?
Brian: No. I mean that is the reality. I
think the only one laughing all the
way to the bank right now is ZANU PF,
because the focus that is being paid
as to why the nation is starving, why
there is food insecurity, why we
continue to have harassment and this
democratic deficit that we are
experiencing in our country - That focus has
been turned away from the real
object of change, which is the state and its
undemocratic nature, as
presided over by the ruling party.
And that
attention is now being wasted upon each other. So you will meet the
Mutambara faction talking broadly about the Tsvangirai faction and the
Tsvangirai faction talking broadly about the Mutambara faction. As though
the country has no bigger problems! In my view Mutambara is not a problem
and Tsvangirai is not the problem. The problem is at some stage we have to
decide if we believe in the same thing let's get to the same church,
because, in order to achieve change there is no way - I am not persuaded -
that there is going to be one singular victory headed by Mutambara or by
Tsvangirai.
Violet: There are those who say that even though he seems
to have the
popular support, some believe that Morgan Tsvangirai is partly
held
responsible for splitting the MDC and should now allow fresh blood to
come
and take a back seat. Do you agree with this?
Brian: (Laughs)
That is a joke! I mean the downfall of the MDC; it's split,
is not the
single responsibility of one individual. There is no caricature
when you
look at the degradation that we witnessed in the MDC. It is the
responsibility of several actors: some internal to the party, and others
external; several interests: some internal to the party and others
external.
I think the reality is that there are people who are sitting on
the outside
of the Tsvangirai camp crying foul, who for years when
characters like
myself and Madhuku and Makumbe were being critical of the
direction that the
MDC was taking, were the very ones who were taking out
big sticks and
whipping us, trying to whip us into line. In a sense I think
it is if you
like poetic justice. Some of the biggest victims of the
so-called new split
and what they now regard as the excesses of Tsvangirai,
are the same people
who themselves acted as gate-keepers against the party
being held
accountable.
When notions first were being raised about
the party being held
transparently accountable in relation to resources,
they were the very first
people to cry foul and to suggest that anyone who
should so much as say that
there was need to be transparent and accountable,
was just a mischief maker.
So, I have very little sympathy for that sort of
politician because they are
totally dishonest.
Many people raised
issues relating to the MDC's accountability to it's civic
and labour
backgrounds. Many people raised issues about the accountability
of the MDC
to the electorate; their ability to give feedback beyond just
rallies. Many
people raised questions about leadership style;
decision-making style:
whether it was about the 'final push' or other
decisions. So I'm surprised
that some of our colleagues now find that there
were dictatorial tendencies.
When they were beneficiaries of these
tendencies they hardly accepted any
criticism. Now that they are on the
other end, the receiving end, it is
unacceptable that they should cry louder
than those who should be
grieving.
Violet: So when you say that now they are on the receiving end,
are you, in
a way, agreeing that there were dictatorial tendencies when the
MDC was
still one?
Brian: Yeah, and those were not attributable to
Morgan only - not
attributable to Tsvangirai only. There's certainly many
instances in which
we saw Executive dictates - either as the collectivity of
Morgan and his
'Top Six', or some of those colleagues who were in the Top
Six that are now
not in there. In my view there are no saints in the MDC
split saga. There is
absolutely no angel in that. There's no way one can sit
back and say this
faction is made up of the virtuous ones and the other is
made up of
sell-outs and the pretentious ones. No. No, if the truth be told,
there was
common culpability. They were commonly and collectively
responsible for
whatever degradation occurred in the MDC.
Violet: And
so what about Arthur Mutambara himself? Do you see him as
someone who can
bring new energy or new strategies to unlock the political
impasse?
Brian: Which political impasse? The one in the MDC or the
one in the
country?
Violet: Both.
Brian: Look, I have lots of
respect for Arthur as an individual. I'm not
sure that I am totally
persuaded; I'm not persuaded that his alignment with
one faction was
necessarily the wisest political decision on his part
because it essentially
means he is no longer neutral arbiter. He is seen as
pushing a particular
envelope and the envelope that belongs to Ncube and his
colleagues. Whether
his decision was based on judgement of which faction
presented greater
opportunities or which faction is more amenable to his
type of ideology
really is a matter of his personal political judgement.
But in the broad
perception, the danger, the real danger, is that whatever
good intentions
Arthur may have to bring both factions together and rework
the political
opposition so that it is united and forceful are right now
mired in the
accusation that he is a faction member, or he has become a
faction member.
But as an individual I think it would be remiss for anyone
to suggest that
Arthur is incapable. It would be remiss for people to
dismiss him as he's
been out of the political game plan in our country for
too long. I think as
an individual he must be given a chance. A chance to
prove that he is
genuinely committed to making sure that Zimbabweans of
different persuasions
come together in order to unseat dictatorship.
My only advice to him
would be; the best entry point is not to pull down
those who have been
around. No matter what their imperfections may be. The
best entry point
might be to build on the strengths of those imperfect ones
who have paved
the way for him to come on board. In a sense it is impossible
to suggest
that the nation should forget Morgan Tsvangirai. As it is
impossible for
anyone to suggest that the nation should forget Welshman
Ncube, Gibson
Sibanda, Paul Themba Nyathi, Priscilla Musihairambwi Mushonga,
umm Isaac
Matongos.
In fact, no matter what people think, it's important to realise
that these
individuals are part of the folk tale or folklore of Zimbabwe's
democratisation project. They are part of the heroic struggle that began in
the 90s and culminated in the 2000s to try and unseat dictatorship in this
country. And, for that reason, I think that Arthur owes it to himself as a
new entrant, or re-entrant to the political landscape, to acknowledge; not
only acknowledge the contribution, but also to acknowledge that these people
still have a role to play.
Violet: And Brian, what exactly is there
for the ordinary person and also
how do you propose the MDC sway public
opinion?
Brian: I think the first one is, if they insist on competing
against each
other or as factions in the political landscape, they should
expend their
energy and the few resources they have in a robust
communications strategy.
Communicate as they have done previously.
Communicating what they intend to
do, because I think right now a lot has
been lost in translation. There is a
need to communicate clearly. What is
the political programme? How do those
political programmes take on board the
failures of the last couple of years?
How does it build on the strengths and
successes of the last couple of
years. Firstly, so there's the issue of
communication.
Secondly there is the issue to look at, the issue of human
resource
capacity. We need to mobilise. It is correct that the new faces
rejuvenating
in every movement is the best medicine. We saw it in ZANU with
the entrance
of Jonathan Moyo and others; whatever their ultimate fate
became in ZANU.
But we saw how that brought a new energy; a new impetus. And
I think the
both Tsvangirai and the Mutambara faction require this new
energy, this new
impetus to drive this democratic struggle forward. I don't
think we should
fossilise the struggle around the same political dinosaurs
that have pushed
it for so long. They have done well, they must be
commended, they must be
honoured. But there is also a need to look at where
do we do renewal. So I
would be pushing for greater articulation and
engagement of civil society
and the citizenry around political
programmes.
Violet: And on the issue of new energy that you talked about
just now, some
analysts, like veteran journalists Geoff Nyarota, have said
that
pro-democracy groups need to form a national rescue team that includes
some
elements of ZANU PF. Do you agree with this?
Brian: Yeah, well
Geoff has a point. I'm not sure that this includes some
ZANU PF elements,
but, certainly, the notion of an expanded leadership base,
the notion of
bringing in new energy- some of it is not entirely new, the
notion of
getting people who have been working on national issues and some
who intend
to. There are great people who have never been prominent in our
country, who
have never worked for NCA, for Crisis, but who are great. They
have great
ideas.
I mean each time I read Alex Magaisa - whether I agree with him or
not - I
realise here has energy that is waiting to be utilised. I read many
others,
whether its Chido Makunike, Mavis Makuni and many others in our
newspapers.
I mean those are the ones whom I get to read. There are others
whom I meet;
I meet in Universities, I meet on shop floors, I meet as I move
around the
country. Great men and women who have lots of ideas; lots of
energy, and I
think that great leadership must entail going out there and
finding this new
energy. Bringing it on board and saying 'listen, we have
been fighting for
so long and we are now beginning to suffer from some kind
of fatigue'.
And to avoid becoming some form of internal cannibalism
because we start
fighting ourselves and each other when we think we are not
winning against
the enemy. We need new energy, energy that hasn't been
expended. There are
many people in the Diaspora. You know sitting in
Zimbabwe, right now I am
sitting in Harare, you have a lot of people who say
'oh no, those Diaspora
people must stay there'. For me that's nonsensical.
For me there are many
people who now are out there in the UK and in
Australia, America and
elsewhere who would be critical to the recovery of
this movement. I would
want those forces tapped, I would want those
interests, those energies
tapped and galvanised towards re-inventing
opposition parties in my country.
Violet: And what about on this issue of
jambanja - mass action? Some have
said that people are tired and hungry and
that this is the time to take
matters into their own hands and this is the
time for change. Do you think
that they will support this action? You are in
Harare right now, what do you
gauge from the mood on the
ground?
Brian: Ya, you know Harare has always been difficult. In I998, in
January, I
would have sworn that there would be no further mass action and
as you
recall there were bread riots - totally un-organised; spontaneous. In
January 1998. I would have sworn in March to June 1998 that because of the
response of the State, the stay-aways would not work; and they worked. And
equally so in 2002, 2003 and 2004 I would have sworn that given the
frustration with the electoral process Zimbabweans were so on edge that mass
action would succeed, and, as you know, mass action was a disaster. I think
that the magic that turns on mass action is neither people's fatigue, hunger
or no any other such factor. It is the capacity of the leadership to capture
the imagination of the populace. It is the capacity of the leadership to
organise people effectively. It is also the capacity of the leadership to
present a plan that goes beyond just the action itself. A plan that say;
"what if; what happens; what is the plan B if this doesn't work? In my view
I think mass action stands or fails on leadership. Ya.
Violet: And
finally Brian, some have asked that since you are well spoken
and very
eloquent, many people are not sure where you actually stand in this
whole
struggle. Where do you stand? How would you answer these people?
Brian: I
am certainly still a very active member of Zimbabwean civil
society - the
pro-democracy civil society. I am not a member of either MDC
faction and
certainly will never be a member of ZANU!
Violet: Thank you very much
Brian Kagoro.
Brian: Ok Violet.
VOA
By
Blessing Zulu
Washington
09 May 2006
Zimbabwe's
requirements for cash in circulation have increased so much in
the wake of a
recent round of public sector pay raises of up to 300% that
the Reserve Bank
of Zimbabwe may have to add zeros to existing bills or
issue larger
denominations.
Harare economist John Robertson says the central bank
needs to double the
cash in circulation or add zeros to the bills now in the
hands of the public
to avoid a shortage of currency as was seen in 2003. At
present the highest
denomination is Z$50,000, or about 50 U.S. cents, but
that won't even buy a
loaf of bread costing Z$85,000.
The central
bank is preparing to introduce a Z$100,000 bearer check -
essentially a
recycled bill of a lower denomination. But Robertson says the
RBZ needs to
bring out Z$500,000 and Z$1 million bills to avoid leaving
Zimbabweans
without enough cash to carry out routine transactions - or
wasting a lot of
paper printing smaller bills.
A Finance Ministry official, speaking on
condition of anonymity, said adding
zeros and printing larger denominations
are under consideration. Finance
Minister Herbert Murerwa declined to
comment on the looming cash crunch.
Reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA's
Studio 7 for Zimbabwe spoke with Harare
economist James Jowa, who said
adding zeros would be a counter-productive
move.
Associated Press
SHANGHAI,
China - China plans to set up strategic reserves for key minerals
such as
copper, uranium and aluminum, the government says, acting to ensure
supplies
amid record high prices due to soaring demand.
The government's plan
calls for moving quickly to build reserves for uranium
and other scarce
minerals similar to those planned for crude oil, natural
gas and coal, part
of Beijing's effort to stabilize supplies needed for
booming
industries.
The plan calls for "rather ample" uranium reserves - needed
for the dozens
of nuclear power plants China has planned or under
construction. Other
minerals to be stockpiled include iron ore, copper,
aluminum, manganese,
chromium and potassium, according to a summary of the
government's plans,
seen Wednesday on the Web site of the Ministry of Land
and Resources.
The reserves are crucial for "adjusting the market, coping
with emergencies
and guaranteeing the security of resource supplies," it
said.
The government has vowed to improve controls over strategically
important
commodities following several scandals resulting in major losses
in
international markets.
A trader with the government's National
Control Center, Liu Qibing,
allegedly took short positions on about 130,000
tons of copper last year,
expecting prices to fall. When prices instead
rose, the government was
forced to auction copper from its commercial
reserves to help reduce prices
and make up for its losses.
Although
China has ample reserves of some strategic commodities, including
rare
earths, it relies on imports for many others, including uranium.
Chinese
companies have been aggressively seeking exploration and mining
deals in
many countries, including Australia, Brazil, Chile, Canada and
Zimbabwe.
May 10, 2006
By ANDnetwork .com
ARTHUR Mutambara, the leader of Zimbabwe's
opposition Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) has told New Zimbabwe.com
that he expects the
dispute over the party name with a rival faction to be
resolved "very soon".
Speaking moments after addressing an
estimated crowd of 300
Zimbabweans in Wood Green on Tuesday night, the MDC
leader said: "Very soon
we will resolve the issue. When we get to election
time (2008), we want to
have a clear brand and that means we have to resolve
this issue sooner
rather than later."
The MDC split into two
factions following irreconcilable differences
among the party's senior
leadership. Both groups insist they are the
legitimate owners of the
party.
The party's first president, Morgan Tsvangirai, now leads a
rival
faction.
Mutambara said his faction was still open to
negotiations for an
"amicable divorce" with Tsvangirai's group, but believes
chances of such a
settlement have diminished after Tsvangirai spurned
mediation efforts by
Bulawayo South MP and lawyer, David
Coltart.
Mutambara, however, appeared to make fresh overtures
towards
Tsvangirai's group when he called for a "coalition of democratic
forces" to
unseat President Robert Mugabe at the next
elections.
He said: "We are for unity. We have always been speaking
for unity,
but our strategy goes beyond unity. We are going to succeed in
unseating
Mugabe, with or without this coalition.
"But we are,
of course, cognizant of the fact that it would be easier
to remove Mugabe if
we formed a coalition of democratic forces. We are open
to pacts and
coalitions but such arrangements must be based on principles
and values. We
are building a political party with clear values and a clear
vision and
mission."
In London, Mutambara -- a militant former student leader
who later
worked as a rocket scientist for NASA -- faced tough questions
from a small
group of individuals thought to be loyal to
Tsvangirai.
He said: "The London meeting was slightly animated but
I enjoy debate.
I am happy that we managed to deal with their questions. It
is important for
people to realise that the problem of turning Zimbabwe
around cannot be left
to (Vice President) Joice Mujuru or Tsvangirai alone.
There are many more
other players who have a role to play and they have a
right to exist and be
heard."
Mutambara visited several
European countries including Belgium, the UK
and Norway in the past
week.
In London, he was expected to meet Foreign Office wonks early
Wednesday before returning to Zimbabwe. He is accompanied by secretary
general Welshman Ncube and Priscilla Misihairabwi.
He said of
his EU trip: "We have been meeting our friends and
strategic partners to
compare notes and explain the new direction of the
party, our vision and
strategy."
-New Zimbabwe-
zimbabwejournalists.com
Part of the
crowd that attended Mutambara's London
meeting last night.
By Sandra Nyaira
ARTHUR Mutambara, the leader of one of the
factions of the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) last night
received mixed reactions
from a crowd of 300 people that had gathered to
hear him speak at the
Dominion Centre in Wood Green, North London.
Critical and tough questions that include his presumed arrogance, why
his
faction hasn't let go of the MDC name yet they speak of re-branding, why
he
attacks Morgan Tsvangirai every-time he takes to the podium and what
plans
he and his party have in the event that they fail to remove Zanu PF
from
power through the ballot box kept pouring in from individuals and
others
evidently in a group that led a spirited attempt to discredit him and
his
camp.
An eloquent Mutambara asked Zimbabweans living in the
diaspora to
start participating in the politics of their country and not
leave their
fate in the hands of deputy President Joice Mujuru and Morgan
Tsvangirai. He
repeated the statement a couple of times and many took it to
mean he was
challenging their intellectual capacities and the role they
could play in
Zimbabwe's future. Pressed on the need to stop attacking
Tsvangirai,
Mutambara said:
"I'm saying Zimbabwe's problems
are too complex to be left to
Mutambara, to Tsvangirai, Mai Mujuru - it was
a way of challenging you to
say what are you doing about the problems in
your country. No-one is
disqualified from dealing with Zimbabwe's problems.
The task is so huge.
There is a role for that woman who is not educated, for
everyone but the
problem is most of you sit on the fence. Most of you are
observers and
analysts. I'm encouraging more of you to become players
without
disqualifying anybody."
Pressed further on attacks on
Tsvangirai and why he says the old MDC
had lost elections to Zanu PF, the
MDC leader said he had never said so.
"Elections were rigged in
Zimbabwe. Morgan is a hero who fought hard.
What I'm saying now is that it's
not good enough to say we fought a good
fight, the elections were stole!
They stole in 2000, they stole in 02, they
stole in 05 - let's try to work
out plans to make sure it will be difficult
for them to rig in 08. I do not
attack Morgan because he lost elections. I'm
working and fighting Mugabe
together with Morgan and Priscilla, the
difference is we are in the same
party with Priscilla, we are part of the
previous failures and we are saying
what can we learn from the past and
remember the enemy is Mugabe and not
brother Morgan Tsvangirai."
"I made it clear from the beginning, I have
no business fighting
Tsvangirai. Morgan Tsvangirai and us are fighting the
same struggle. The
enemy in Zimbabwe is Zanu PF. What we need to do is to
make sure that as we
fight to bring about change in Zimbabwe, we are
effective."
Besides the critics and the cynics in the audience,
the robotics
Professor did have many loyal supporters who jumped to heap
praises and urge
him on. They gave him standing ovations everytime he said
something that
impressed them. Said one of them in response to allegations
of Mutambara
being elitist and arrogance to ululations and hand
clapping:
"Arrogance and stubbornness are the virtues of leadership.
Mandela is
one of the people who was like that. You have to be arrogant and
you have to
keep on going, that is what real leaders are made
of."
Mutambara was mobbed by both foes and supporters after his
speech it
took him some time to leave the conference room.
He said
the issue facing Zimbabwe right now was about governance and
legitimacy and
the major challenge to those fighting for democracy was how
they could work
together to bring the country back from the brink back into
the community of
nations. "We are saying as we thrive to bring good
governance and legitimacy
to Zimbabwe the same standard of judgement we use
against Mugabe must be
used against us as political parties and civil
society. The reason why is if
we do not do that we won't succeed in bringing
about good governance and
legitimacy to Zimbabwe for if we do not deal with
this now we will have the
same problems recurring as they did in Malawi and
Zambia."
Asked why his group hasn't changed from the name MDC to form a totally
new
political party since it has been talking of re-branding and coming up
with
a new image, he said: "The issue of re-branding and the new party - I
have
no problem with it. I will tell you this, before October 12, I was fed
with
the MDC - forget break up and splits, many Zimbabweans were fed up so
the
issue of the name, we will very soon resolve it. We want to have a clear
brand and that means we have to resolve this issue sooner rather than
later."
Mutambara said his party would participate in elections
and also civil
disobedience (jambanja) in its efforts to get rid of the Zanu
PF government.
He was pressed on what Plan B, C, D and E his party had in
bringing change
to Zimbabwe but he decided to keep that close to his
chest.
"We reserve the right to use any tool in Zimbabwe as long as it
is
constitutional and democratic and jambanja in our book is democratic
disobedience, the use of mass action, demonstrations."
One
non-Zimbabwean who spoke at the meeting took the opportunity to
berate
Zimbabweans for their lack of unity and tolerance. He said: "I want
to say
to Zimbabweans in this room who are shouting for Mutambara and
Tsvangirai
that democracy is about a choice, democracy is about a plural
choice. In
South African the apartheid system was destroyed by COSATU, by
the ANC, the
PAC, by a series of forces working together in furtherance of
one agenda. We
are spending a lot of time attacking each other and not
speaking about how
we can work together."
Mutambara's parting shot to Zimbabwean
exiles after a long speech:
"Come and join the fight, come and become a
soldier and a freedom fighter in
Zimbabwe for social justice and democracy.
Some of you please do come home,
some please remain so you can help us with
resources, your networks, ideas
on the economy so please do not
misunderstand our position. If you do not
participate, we will fail. Making
Zimbabwe right will require everyone's
skills - there is a role for
everybody."
Looking at the nature of the meeting and the
intermittent disturbances
that almost saw security throwing out some people
during the question and
answer session, Mutambara took the opportunity to
warn Zimbabweans against
hating each other simply because they had different
political beliefs, a
culture he says needs to be dealt with in the country.
"Hatred is a very
destructive emotion - we must work together and deal with
our problems as a
country and not hate each other," he told the
audience.
Mutambara, who leaves for Zimbabwe today, has been on
a tour of Europe
for the past two weeks with secretary general Welshman
Ncube and deputy
Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
Suman Guha Mozumder in New York | May 09, 2006 21:20 IST
A
28-year-old peace activist from Jammu and Kashmir, who has made personal
sacrifices to encourage peaceful solutions to conflict in the trouble-torn
state, is among the recipients of the 2006 Reebok Human Rights award.
Khurram Parvez, who co-founded the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil
Society and works with Kashmiri Lawyers for Human Rights, will be awarded the
prestigious honour next week at a gala ceremony in New York.
Besides Parvez,
the award that recognises young activists who have made significant
contributions to human rights causes through nonviolent means, will be given to
Li Dan, leading Chinese AIDS activist, Rachel Lloyd, crusader and advocate of
girls in the sex trade in New York City and Otto Saki, a lawyer
dedicated to protecting human rights defenders in Zimbabwe.
Each of
the honorees will receive a $50,000 grant from the Reebok Human Rights
Foundation to further their work.
Two years ago Vanita Gupta, a young lawyer
for the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People who
spearheaded a battle for the release of 35 falsely imprisoned African Americans,
the victims of racial injustice, was among the recipients of the 2004 Reebok
Human Rights Award. India Abroad, a rediff publication, later honoured her with
the India Abroad Person of the Year award.
Parvez found his calling while a
university student in Kashmir when he witnessed the distress and hostility of
students used to a lifetime of violence.
"When the fate of ten million souls
is in question, it seems worth sacrificing anything and everything," he
says.
Please send any material for publication in the Open Letter Forum to
jag@mango.zw with "For Open Letter Forum" in the
subject
line.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter
1 - Bill Carter
Dear JAG,
I wholeheartedly agree with the
sentiments expressed by Mr. Gerry Whitehead.
Mr. Taylor-Freeme is
certainly entitled to his own opinions and beliefs, and
his aims in wishing
to help revive the economy may be 'noble', to use a
popular word, but where,
I believe, he is totally wrong is to use the
umbrella of the CFU to implement
them. He is bastardizing this once
prestigious name and organization, and
sweeping under the carpet all the
evils associated with the fast track land
expropriation exercise. He and
other likeminded people should resign from
the CFU and form their own
separate body, or join one or the other of the
indigenous farming unions,
and then get on with it.
Bill
Carter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter
2 - Cathy Buckle
Dear JAG,
I'm sure it won't come as a surprise to
hear that it's all off - again - and
the denials have begun, regarding who is
allowed to grow food in our hungry
country. Zimbabwe made international news
a fortnight ago with the
announcement that the government were asking white
commercial farmers to
return to the land and get some food growing. Minister
of State Security,
Didymus Mutasa said that he had held meetings with the
Commercial Farmers
Union (CFU) and that they (the CFU) now understood how to
work with
government. Mutasa was quoted as saying: "we asked them to
submit
applications for land and these will be treated favourably. They
are
Zimbabweans like everyone else."
The Vice President of the CFU, Mr
Gifford, then agreed that they had indeed
been talking to Minister Mutasa
about the future of agriculture in Zimbabwe.
Gifford said: "In fact, we have
just submitted to the government 200
applications for land from our
members."
Hardly were the words out of Gifford's mouth when Minister
Mutasa was quoted
in the media again but by now there was clearly some
difficulty with the
numbers. Mutasa said: "Some farmers have applied and
their papers are being
considered like any application, but we do not have a
number like 200
applications."
In the same week that all this was
happening 20 farmers in the Midlands were
being given 48 hours to vacate
their farms. At this point Justice for
Agriculture (JAG), whose name explains
their function, were asked what they
thought the CFU was doing. JAG were
damning in their condemnation of the CFU
and said: "the leadership (of CFU)
is still on their farms and
have politically been left alone. Some
individuals in the CFU have expanded
their operations on the back of this
crisis acting as agents for the
government. They have chosen to go this
lucrative route at the demise of
their members."
And now, barely a
fortnight later, it seems it's all off, and Minister
Mutasa is being quoted
on South African television. Mutasa said "No white
farmer is being invited
back." The Minister said he had not spoken to any
foreign journalists and
that all their claims about farmers being asked back
were wrong.
In
the two weeks that this has been going on a lot of people have asked me
if I
would go back to farming on the back of this information. It' a simple
and
obvious answer - No, not a chance. The reason is just as simple and
obvious -
nothing whatsoever has changed. Until property title is restored,
until
compensation is given, until law and order is restored, until
accountability
is enforced - nothing whatever has changed. At this point in
time the chances
of an arbitrary man walking past a farm and deciding he
wants it, and the
crops, implements and infrastructure - and then taking it
all and having his
theft supported by police and government - are as a
strong as ever. No way,
no chance. Not sour grapes, just plain and honest
common sense. Until next
week, love cathy
Copyright cathy buckle 6th May 2006 http://africantears.netfirms.com
My
books "African Tears" and "Beyond Tears" are available from:
orders@africabookcentre.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
All
letters published on the open Letter Forum are the views and opinions of
the
submitters, and do not represent the official viewpoint of Justice
for
Agriculture.
As a JAG member or JAG Associate member, please send any
classified
adverts
for publication in this newsletter to:
JAG
Classifieds: jag@mango.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.
For Sale Items
2. Wanted Items
3. Accommodation
4. Recreation
5.
Specialist Services
6. Pets
Corner
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.
OFFERED FOR
SALE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.1
For Sale (Ad inserted 11/04//06)
HONDA XR 250 R, trail bike with lights
and indicators, 18000km only. In
near original mint condition.
Phone:
091 326 965 for
details.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.2
FOR SALE (Ad inserted 11/04/06)
1x Kipor 6.5 kva, Petrol, Single Phase,
Portable, Electric Start
Generator
Set brand new. Change over switches
available. Call Harry
091-244245
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.3
FOR SALE (Ad inserted 11/04/06)
As new, golf caddy cart for sale.
Suitable too, to transport someone
suffering ill health.
For futher
details, contact Dr. Brana 091 324
283
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.4
CARS FOR SALE (Ad inserted 11/04/06)
Toyota Starlet Year 1997
116 000
km
Incredibly economical
Air conditioning
Kenwood Front Loader
CD
New tyres
Alarmed, cut out switch, anti hijack
Central
Locking
Available immediately
BMW 323i 1997
133 000
km
Alarmed
Central locking
Excellent condition
Available
immediately
Please phone 884076
Or
011204060
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.5
Car for Sale (Ad inserted 11/04/06)
1989 really neat, tidy and very
economical
VW Fox 1600 with mags, tow bar, radio & tape.
$540
million negotiable
Contact Kirsty Noble on
304426
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
1.6
Motor Bike for Sale (Ad inserted 11/04/06)
Honda CBX 1200. Good
Condition.
Offers
Contact Daniel on
091380837
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
1.7
Vehicle for Sale (Ad inserted 11/04/06)
1983 Toyota Landcruiser
Station Wagon with 4.2 Nissan Diesel Motor. Neat
Condition, with new
Interior, roof rack with side tent, good tires, etc.
$ 3
Billion
For further details please contact Venetia Bratley on 309914 or
011777668
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
1.8
For Sale (Ad inserted 11/04/06)
G.E.C Fridge/Freezer, recently overhauled
$25 Million
PR Roller Blades in good condition $ 2 Million
9
Children's Illustrated Encyclopaedias by Arthur Mee $ 3 Million
4
Blazers. 3 Watershed, 1 Peterhouse all in good condition $1
Million
each.
Tel: 073-3399 or
011423614
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.9
For Sale (Ad inserted 25/04/06)
1999 Nissan Double Cab, 2.7 diesel, full
house, canopy. One owner, good
condition 190 000km.
Tel. 086 22582 or
email benfer@mweb.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.10
For Sale (Ad inserted 25/04/06)
JALAPENO pepper pickle in plastic bags,
250 g net weight. $ 80 000
contact on 091 338573 or e mail gbeam@zol.co.za
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.11
For Sale (Ad inserted 25/04/06)
Playground equipment and nursery school
tables, chairs etc. surplus to
requirements as we have moved to another fully
equipped school. Tel
884294
or 011602903 or
E-mail gandami@mweb.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.12
For Sale (Ad inserted 25/04/06)
1992 BEDFORD AWD TRUCK AND TRAILER IN
VERY GOOD CONDITION
CAN BE VIEWED AT 23 SARK HSE, BLUFF HILL INDUSTRIAL
PARK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.13
For Sale (Ad inserted 25/04/06)
Enquiries and offers welcome; please
speak to Alec at 086 22302, or 091
257
161
1. Landcruiser PZ 75,
disassembled. +/- 70% complete.
2. Hunting seat and frame. Complete.
Tromps 4J
3. Two Poster car hoist. Complete
4. 10 x 16" used tyres
(mostly 750 x 16)
5. Various Buffalo tractor
spares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.14
For Sale (Ad inserted 25/04/06)
VICTORIAN BATH, with original feet and
taps - $20million
100 LITRE ROOF GEYSER - $70M
150 LITRE DOUBLE
ELEMENT NEW ROOF GEYSER - $120M
Please phone 334355 evenings or 091 305
313
anytime.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.15
For Sale (Ad inserted 25/04/06)
Office safe, two door, electronic
keypad. $40000000.00 (forty Million)
Phone Teresa Hook 305381, 331970,
331976,
011201744
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.16
For Sale (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
INGERSOLL RAND TOWED MOBILE AIR
COMPRESSOR:-
Air Pressure Capacity - 100 p.s.i
Powered by GM365 4
cylinder Engine (400 hp)
Suitable for rock drilling (for blasting), and other
compressed air
functions
Various hose fittings, etc.
CFM = 365
Good
working condition
PRICE - Z$ 1.6 billion o.n.c.o.
TOWED 8t PNEUMATIC
ROLLER (7 tyres) :-
Very useful for all types of road pavement &
hardstanding compaction,
etc.
(eagerly sought after by road contractors).
Ideal for farm and gravel
road
maintenance. Is normally towed behind a
standard 90hp tractor (or
larger).
Good working condition.
PRICE - Z$
600 million o.n.c.o.
WIDE SELECTION OF VARIOUS PLUMBING FITTINGS AND
PIPES :- details, list
and
prices available on request.
Please
contact Paul Brown on Hre 755 401/2, 091-754 302,
instamac@mweb.co.zw
for further
details.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.17
For Sale (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
TRAILER. "Tinto Tourer" 6ft steel luggage
(not fibre glass) TRAILER with
nose cone and 13 in wheels, in good condition,
(new heavy duty springs)
though needing a small welding job. Lights work, but
spare wheel was
stolen.
Net mass 240kg, gross 550kg Either I can get it
fixed and try to find a
spare wheel (155/70/13) and tyre, or I can sell it as
it is. It would
cost
350 sterling in UK, so I am looking for a sum in the
region of ZIM$70
million as it is, or $100 million when fixed.
Tel 079
24272. (no cell) P.O. 454 Marondera. It can be viewed
at
Gatehouse,
Carrington
Avenue.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
1.18
For Sale (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
"THE WEAVERY."
Phone your orders
to--Anne--011212424 or 332851.
Email joannew@zol.co.zw
Fax--332851.
SUPER
GIFT IDEAS FOR LOCAL OR OVERSEAS FRIENDS AND FAMILY. LIGHT,EASY TO
WASH AND
SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WINTER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!
Prices.
Small
woven bags--$750,000 each.
Large crocheted bags.--$1,800,000 each.
Large
woven bags.--$1,500,000 each.
Table Runners.--$1,150,000.
Set of 4
Fringed Table mats + serviettes--$3,400,000.
Fringed mats
only(4)---$2,300,000.
Set of 6 Fringed mats+
serviettes--$5,200,000.
Set of 4 Bordered table mats+
serviettes---$4,000,000.
Set of 4 Bordered table mats
only---$3,000,000
Set of 6 Bordered mats + serviettes--$6,000,000.
Set of
8 Bordered mats + serviettes---$8,000,000.
2m Throws--$3,800,000.
1m
Throw(Baby blanket)--$1,500,000 NEW.
Tea cosy(L)--$800,000.
Tea
cosy(m)--$600,000
Tea cosy(s)--$400,000.
Crocheted oven
gloves(pair)--$1,500,000.
Cotton(lined)oven
gloves(pair)--$900,000.
Aprons--$1,700,000.
Decorated cushion
covers--$1,300,000.
Plain cushion
covers---$1,100,000.
Scarves(knitted)--$1,600,000. each.
Hand Woven
Scarves--$2,000,000 each
Hats(Beanies)--$650,000 each.
Large plain
cotton rug--$3,500,000.
Med. plain cotton rug---$2,200,000.
Small plain
cotton rug.---$1,400,000.
Cotton Rag Rug--$1,400,000.
Med. plain mohair
rug--$2,700,000.
Med.patterned mohair rug.--$3,300,000.
X Large plain
mohair rug.--$10,500,000.
Bedspreads-- QS/DB/3/4
and
Single--$6,500,000,/$5,700,000/$5,200,000/$3,500,000.
Duvet
Cushions(opens into
a
duvet)--$11,000,000(Single).$13,00,000(Double).$15,000,000(Queen).NEW.
Toilet
sets--$2,500,000. NEW.
Bath mats---$1,100,000 NEW.
Wholesale prices
available for orders (over 6 of an article) or
large
purchases.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.19
For Sale (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
Turbo Glass Wolf hull with 150hp motor on
modified trailer with flanged
hubs, 140 lit built in tank, aux tank, bilge
pump, depth finder, ideal
all-round deck design, ski pole, 2 fishing chairs,
great for Kariba.
Samsung microwave oven 1000W
Baikal 12bore
shotgun
Homemade compressor on wheels
Dunlop 145x13 tyres
(new)
Various items of antique furniture
Bench
grinder
Various 1hp & 2hp electric motors
Long aluminium
ladder
Various Oregon pine door frames and doors (surplus to
renovation)
Various size gas cylinders
Contact Mark on 011416937
or
09-234757
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.20
Items for Sale (Ad inserted 09/04/06)
SECOND-HAND GOODS FOR
SALE
*Single wooden bed*, with headboard, mattress and spare pull-out
base
(12 mill)
*Teenager's Work station*, including desk, shelves and
small cupboard
(15 mill)
*Pine Dining room suite *with table, 6 chairs and
serving table, (60
mill)
*Wall unit with display cabinet* to match above
dining room suite (35
mill)
*Pine book shelf* - small (6 mill)
*Pine
book shelf* - large (10 mill)
*Bench grinder* (ATA), good condition (16
mill)
*Jigsaw* (Black & Decker), good condition (14 mill)
*Power
Sander* (Bosch), good condition (30 mill)
*Planer* (Bosch), good condition
(30 mill)
email: katie@gekko.co.zw or
phone
091252847
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.21
Items for Sale (Ad inserted 9/05/06)
Assorted Used Saddlery
Bridles,
saddles, halters & more
Tel: Shaunagh 011 214
694
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.22
For Sale (Ad inserted 9/05/06)
Jeep Wrangler 4.0L Sahara
ZW$ 8
Billion
2005 Model
1 owner from new
Only 9500KM
Silver
Hard and
Soft tops
4 X 4, Aircon, Airbags and CD player
Call Dave on 091 237
704
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.23
Humidifier for Sale (Ad inserted 9/05/06)
One humidifier. Make me a
reasonable offer; a new one is well in excess
of
$100 million
Contact
011 -
204093
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.24
For Sale (Ad inserted 9/05/06)
PETERHOUSE SCHOOL UNIFORM FOR
SALE
Peterhouse Boys school uniform for sale. To fit medium build Form 1
boy.
Items include: Blazer, black longs, white shirts, khaki shirts
and
shorts,
sports kit, school ties, etc. Also includes black metal trunk
and wooden
tuck box. $25 million.
Please phone Katie on 091252847 or email
katie@gekko.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.25
Property for Sale (Ad inserted 9/05/06)
General Engineering Factory and
Foundry for sale or long lease. Norton
Industrial site.
Contact for
Details: 062-2271 until 31st May 2006, 04-333727 and
091413613
Email: force2@mweb.co.zw
---------------------------------------------------------------
2
WANTED
ITEMS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.1
Wanted (Ad inserted 11/04/06)
WANTED: Cash paid for old Wisdens
Cricketers Almanacs. Contact
mnmilbank@zol.co.zw
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
2.2
Wanted (Ad inserted 11/04/06)
LOOKING TO RENT OR BUY "BREEZE BLOCK
MOULD"
PLEASE CONTACT
jahme@zol.co.zw
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
2.3
Wanted (Ad inserted 11/04/06)
Second Hand Trailer for vehicle and tow bar
application! Good condition
incl. lighting! Should be able to take 2
motorcycles!
Phone: 04 442681
Cell: 011 621
572
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
2.4
Wanted (Ad inserted 25/04/06)
"Harare Dawn Rotary Club are looking for
playground equipment to install
at
the Safety Sam Training Centre in Mt.
Pleasant, which they were
responsible
for
rehabilitating.
If
anyone has any equipment they would like to donate or to sell at a
reasonable
price please can you let me know by e-mail on
hderobeck@mango.zw.
The only type of
equipment we do not need is a swing. The reason is that
there is too much
danger of children being hit by over-exuberant
swingers.
Replies can
go to Greg Pozzo at Interprint,
770908.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
2.5
Wanted (Ad inserted 2/5/06)
Wanted
Looking for a maid/cook to work
in the Glen Lorne area. Must be able to
read and write and have some
cooking experience. Duties also, include
general housework and
childminding. Accommodation is offered and would
suit
someone elderly,
without any dependants.
Please contact - greencroft@zol.co.zw
or phone 499790
or
011409930
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.6
Wanted (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
WANTED urgently is a Working / Non- Working
TV, VCR and Hifi. Cash paid
instantly. Please contact Joel on joelsonwozhi@yahoo.com or leave
a
message
with Mercy on 011 611
637.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.7
Wanted (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
Planning to leave we will buy your T.V or
DVD Please give us a call
on
741671
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.8
Wanted (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
Looking for a safari trailer please contact
Chris on
chris_louise@earth.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.9
Wanted (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
Looking for a single canoe, please contract
T Quail on 011406965 or email
quail@zol.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.16
Wanted (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
Stragglers Cricked Club is desperately
requiring a lock up filing
cabinet.
Please phone N Quail 011604066,
064-7528 or email quail@zol.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.10
Wanted (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
"Sunflower /cotton/ soya seed wanted either
for cash on or a toll
crushing
basis for stock feed, please call Mr Wallis
023894597 or 495897 or
496829
evenings"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
2.11
Wanted (Ad inserted 9/05/06)
2 - 5 Kg Pecan nuts. Preferable
shelled.
Ph 011 206673 or email pippa
@zol.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.12
Premises Wanted (Ad inserted 9/05/06)
Workshop premises in or around
Harare for small company. Please call
Graham
or Jenny on 011406023 or
091286657.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
Accommodation Wanted and
Offered
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1
APARTMENTS TO LET (Ad inserted 11/04/06)
Choice of two apartments to let
in a small, quiet secure block in
Avondale.
Fully furnished two bed roomed
apartments with private garden. One, whose
owner would prefer letting on a
short-term basis, is available
immediately,
whilst the other becomes
vacant on the 1st May 2006.
For further enquiries, please call 011 602
144
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2
Home For Sale (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
Total security, retirement home,
holiday home or family home:
3 bed roomed home in small complex within Mount
Edgecombe golf estate 2
in
Umhlanga, South Africa 248 m sq. 3 bedrooms
main en suite, family
bathroom,
double lock up garage, lounge/dining room
and kitchen. Lovely setting,
close to Gateway, La Lucia Mall and the
beach!
50% bonds available for non-residents.
Rand
2,050,000.00
Please phone South African cell number
0843938175.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.3
House for Rent (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
HOUSE AVAILABLE TO RENT HILLSIDE
DAMS BULAWAYO
Lovely home tucked in between the rocks and the trees with a
developed
garden, peaceful and picturesque, formerly an author's
home.
Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and partly furnished, would prefer
tenant
to
keep on resident staff, -to look after two cats!
If
interested contact Angela Meadows on 091301537 or Bulawayo
245848.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.4
House Wanted (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
I am look for a 3 bed roomed house in
Mount Pleasant or surrounding
areas.
Must have excellent security. No
pool would be preferable.
Please contact Michelle on 091 402
559.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.5
Accommodation Wanted (Ad inserted 9/05/06)
"A friend of mine is looking
for a very small, modest cottage/flat to
rent
for herself and her 2 year
old son. Modest rent, as she is a struggling
single mom. Please e-mail carol@powerspeed.co.zw or sms 091 264
160."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.6
Accommodation Wanted (Ad inserted 9/05/06)
Cottage or small home to
rent. North Eastern suburbs near to Glen Lorne.
Contact Ian Henderson
091241257 or
799410
---------------------------------------------------------------
4
RECREATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.1
(Ad inserted 11/04/06)
SINGLES DINNER CLUB
Looking to meet new
single friends? Join the singles dinner club held at
a
variety of
restaurants! Ages 25 to 45 preferred.
For further information please
contact Lesley on 091 832129 or 300963
between 6 pm and 8 pm during the
week.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
4.2
(Ad inserted 9/05/06)
MOTHER'S DAY AT HADDOW HOUSE.
SPOIL YOUR
MOTHER WITH A SPECIAL THREE COURSE LUNCH ON SUNDAY THE 14TH
MAY
We will be
open from 8am so you can either come for Breakfast or Lunch.
For bookings
please contact us on 733405, 726954, 011206205,
011403316
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5
SPECIALIST
SERVICES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.1
(Ad inserted 11/04/06)
Transport for Hire --- Harare area. Mazda T35 -
Box body - with Driver.
Contact zanadu@zim.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.2
(Ad inserted 25/04/06)
FULL BIRTH CERTIFICATES & other ADVISORY
SERVICES
.... 13yrs on and still providing much needed Advisory
Services...
.... As follows:
BIRTHS - Full (Long) Birth
Certificates
- New Registration of Births
ADOPTED
CHILDREN - Full Birth Certificates (Tracing of
biological
parents)
DEATHS - Death Certificates (original &
duplicate)
MARRIAGES - Licence to marry
-
Marriage Certificates (duplicates)
ID CARDS - New &
replacement
PASSPORTS - See Note below
IMMIGRATION - Residence
& Work Permits for Zimbabwe
- Re-entry
Visas
CITIZENSHIP - Restoration
- New
applications
- Surrendering
(renouncing)
COMMISSIONER OF OATHS - Certification of
documents
-
Affidavits
- Power of
Attorney
PARA-LEGAL SERVICES - Enquire as to your specific
requirements
DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS -
Mediation
- Arbitration
NOTE:
Passports - currently these are only being issued in
special
instances.
Financial Arrangements - We will always assist
'bona fide' financially
distressed persons.
Phone us for further
information and/or to arrange a no obligation
consultation.
Thomas
Vallance ACIArb
Paradigm Trust (Pvt) Ltd
Trust Executives &
Administrators
Tels: (B) 744 648 (M) 011 617
161
Eml:[paradigm@zol.co.zw]
[paradigm@mango.zw]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
5.3
(Ad inserted 25/04/06)
EXTRA TUITION FOR O LEVEL ( GCSE) CHEMISTRY AND
PHYSICS
Need some help? Private lessons offered.
Phone 442610 or
091609077, or email carolyn@cajj.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.4
(Ad inserted 2/05/06)
NATUREWAYS SAFARIS
TRAIL FILLER & GROUP
SPECIAL OFFERS
Odyssey Luxury Backed Up Safaris @ US$80 per person per
night
Including all meals, local drinks, luxury camping equipment &
services of
Professional Walking & Canoe Guides
Explorer Semi
Participatory Canoe Safaris @ US$50 per person per night
Including road
transfers from & to Kariba, meals, teas, coffees, cordials
&
wine
with dinner, equipment & services of Professional Canoe guides
THESE
RATES APPLY FOR GROUPS OF 6 PLUS OR TRAIL FILLERS i.e. joining
trips
we
have already confirmed...
Contact Julie on 333414 (phone / fax) 091 249382
(cell) or
julie@natureways.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.5
(Ad inserted 9/5/06)
G - TECH
- Diesel and plant maintenance
-
Site contracting
- Generator and stationary engine installation and
maintenance
- Tractors
- Hydraulics.
Contact Graham at gtech@zol.co.zw or call 011 406023, 091
286657, 04
741001,
075
2264
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.6
(Ad inserted 9/05/06)
1. COTTAGE @ SUNSHINE MOTOR CLUB FOR
SALE - IDEAL FOR WEEKENDS
AND HOLIDAYS
PLEASE PHONE FOR FURTHER DETAILS -
741913.
2. MOTHERS DAY - WHY NOT CONTACT DAPHNE PITTAWAY -
GIFT
VOUCHERS
AVAILABLE -
REFLEXOLOGY AND AROMATHERAPY INCORPORATING
NEUROMUSCULAR MASSAGE
PHONE # 04 309444 Cell # 023 894
758.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.7
(Ad inserted 9/05/06)
GACHE GACHE LODGE - KARIBA
A wonderful GETAWAY -
fishing, birdwatching, game viewing by boat or
vehicle, sundowner (booze)
cruises and more.
Book now for the August school hols...
Please help
spread the word that we are now fully operational!
Full catering, laundry and
teas inclusive in price.
CONTACT: townsend@zol.co.zw or 011 208 836
Visit
our new website! www.gachegache.com
TOUR LEADERS (PVT.)
LTD.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
6
PETS
CORNER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.1
Wanted (Ad inserted 25/04/06)
I am desperately looking for a Toy Pom
puppy (5-6 weeks old).
If anyone breeds them please let me
know.
E-mail - stodd@zw.safmarine.com
Cell - 011
421
289
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.2
Home Wanted (Ad inserted 25/04/06)
Please another appeal for white male
bull terrier, approx. 4 years
desperate
for a kind and loving home Tel
Michelle on 884294 or 011602903 or e-mail
gandami@mweb.co.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.3
Good Home/s Wanted (Ad Inserted 25/04/06)
Julio - 7 year old Tan coloured
male Dashchund (pedigree) & Duke - 6 year
old Tan coloured male Dashchund
(slight mixed breed with jack russell
somewhere!). Both are very good
natured, love people and loads of
attention. They both have been nutured and
are up-to-date with all
injections etc. Would prefer if they are taken
together as they are big
buddies. Pictures are available to send via
email.
Please contact Marlene on pott@zol.co.zw or telephone 020 -
64007.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.4
Homes Wanted (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
Terrier Rescue desperately need homes
for the following dogs whose owners
have left the country. 1 male white
English Bull Terrier, superb. 3
staffordshire bull terriers, black 1 male 2
bitches and 1 scotty bitch
called Toto. Please help am inundated. E-mail gandami@mweb.co.zw or Tel
Michelle on
884294 or
011602903
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.5
Dog Meal for Sale (Ad inserted 2/05/06)
Dog Meal $ 1200000 k per 20 kg
bag, please order on Harare
495897
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.6
Puppies for Sale (Ad inserted 9/05/06)
7 Beautiful Rotweiller x Great
Dane puppies for sale to approved homes. 3
Dogs, 4 Bitches, six weeks old,
tails have been docked have been dewormed
and had Parvo jabs, $10,000,000.00
each.
Phone: 091311531 or
091213888.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.7
Wanted (Ad inserted 9/05/06)
"Schnauzer puppy desperately wanted, to
replace a much loved pet that has
died.
Please phone 04 443017 or 011
218792."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
JAG
Hotlines:
+263 (011) 205 374 If you are in trouble or need advice,
please
don't hesitate to contact us - we're here to help!
+263 (04) 799 410 Office
Lines
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
To
advertise (JAG Members): Please email classifieds to: jag@mango.zw
with
subject
"Classifieds".
Mail and Guardian
Harare, Zimbabwe
10 May 2006
11:31
A white Zimbabwean security expert who has been in
custody for
two months on conspiracy charges has finally had a trial date
set for the
end of June, reports said on Wednesday.
President Robert Mugabe's government maintains that Michael
Hitschmann, from
the eastern border city of Mutare, was at the heart of a
terrorist plot that
could have seen the Zimbabwean leader assassinated.
Hitschmann and eight others -- four members of the main
opposition party and
four police officers -- were arrested early in March
when police found a
stash of arms at Hitschmann's house.
The eight were released
after several days in custody but
Hitschmann, who is a registered arms
dealer, has been in police cells ever
since.
"The
investigations have since been completed and a trial date
has been set,
which is the 26th of June," state prosecutor Florence Ziyambi
was quoted as
saying.
Lawyers for Hitschmann have fought without success to
get their
client released on bail. State lawyers say there is a high
possibility he
would flee, according to the state-controlled The Herald
newspaper.
The authorities said they believed prominent
former opposition
legislator Roy Bennett was also involved in the alleged
plot.
Bennett has since fled to South Africa, where he has
filed an
application for political asylum.
One of the
charges levelled against Hitschmann and those
arrested with him was that
they planned to spill oil on a highway leading
into Mutare ahead of a visit
by the president. They wanted Mugabe's fleet of
cars to slip and have an
accident, it is alleged. -- Sapa-dpa
The Herald
(Harare)
May 10, 2006
Posted to the web May 10,
2006
Harare
DIABETICS have called on the Government to regulate
the price of essential
drugs in both the private and public health sectors,
saying that was the
only way it could achieve the goal for health for
all.
In different interviews, people suffering from diabetes said only a
few
among them could afford to buy drugs and medicines for the condition.
Diabetes is a chronic condition and diabetics have to inject themselves with
insulin on a daily basis for the rest of their lives, as their bodies are
unable to produce enough of the hormone. Failure to do this can result in
fatalities. However, surveys conducted by The Herald show that everyday some
diabetic patients were risking their lives because insulin drugs are now
selling at between $1,5 million and $3 million for a month's supply in most
private pharmacies while insulin needles are selling at around $130 000
each.
For a month, a diabetic person now has to spend approximately
$4 million on
needles and insulin that is at least $6 million, which for
most Zimbabweans
is too high to spend on drugs considering that rentals and
food also cost a
lot. Mrs Sarah Hamanda of Mabelreign said life for a
diabetic was slowly
getting out of han d. "The price of insulin is
unbelievable. For something
so necessary for a chronic condition to be
priced at such levels is madness.
I have no choice but to buy the drugs or
else I will die but surely the
Government is aware of the plight we find
ourselves in.
"Quite recently most of us who are employed were able to
buy insulin and
needles on a monthly basis but now, we are feeling the
pinch. I can just
imagine how it is for the unemployed and those not on
medical aid cover,"
she said. Another diabetic, Mr Innocent Moyo, said he
had since stopped
discarding needles after using them to pump insulin into
his blood, as
required. Instead, he was now using the same needle three to
four times a
week. "I do not know whether this puts me in any danger but I
have no
choice. There is no way I can buy 30 needles at more than $130 000
each
every month. "Besides buying insulin, I have to take care of several
other
things like rent, school fees, food, transport and all this on an
irregula r
income as I'm self-employed," he said.
It was also not
uncommon for some pharmacies to run out of insulin despite
it being on the
essential drugs list. In Zimbabwe, diabetes currently
affects six percent of
the population and is the fourth main cause of death.
There are two main
types of diabetes with people suffering from type one
diabetes producing
very little insulin and require injections of insulin to
survive. This is
the most common type in children and young adults. Those
with type two
diabetes cannot use insulin effectively. They can often manage
their
condition through diet alone. In many cases, oral drugs are needed.
It
accounts for 90 percent of diabetes cases. A third type of diabetes
develops
during some pregnancies but usually disappears afterwards. Common
symptoms
of type one diabetes include excessive thirst, frequent urination,
sudden
weight loss, extreme tiredness and blurred vision. Diabetes, being a
chronic
life-long condition, requires careful monitori ng and control.
Without
proper management, it can lead to hyperglycemia, which is associated
with
long-term damage to the body and the failure of various organs and
tissues.
Short and long-term complications of diabetes include
cardiovascular
diseases, kidney failure, nerve diseases and eye
complications. The
Government says it is looking into the pricing system of
drugs in the
country with a view of coming up with a solution.
Mail and Guardian
Godwin
Gandu | Harare
10 May 2006 03:59
Controversial United States ambassador to Zimbabwe, Christopher
Dell, has
again defied Harare by publicly accusing the government of
"burgeoning
corruption".
Last November, Zimbabwe threatened to invoke an
unspecified
clause in the Vienna Convention on diplomatic guidelines to
expel Dell for
"meddling" in Zimbabwe's internal affairs. In an address to
students in
Bulawayo on World Free Press Day on Wednesday, Dell said
Washington would
not change its attitude until Harare undertakes "profound
reforms".
"So far I see structure, but no real debate. I see
form, but no
substance. I see committees, but no commitment to change
policies that have
shown they do not work ... I, for one, will watch with
interest to see how
this turn-around will be effected."
Dell said President Robert Mugabe's "look east" policy should
not be
selective in the lessons to be drawn from that part of the globe. He
quoted
from a speech by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev after the death of
Joseph
Stalin: "Those who stand in information revolution's way will simply
be
buried, buried under the ashes of history and consigned to
irrelevance."
Dell put the boot into the Zimbabwean state
media for what he
called "gross exaggerations", that painted a "very rosy"
picture for its
audience that "recovery is only months
away".
The Mail & Guardian spoke to Dell shortly after
his Bulawayo
address.
Do you anticipate any action from
the government after you
repeated remarks that got you into trouble with the
administration last
November?
I don't believe so; the
government seems to want to hold me to a
double standard. They want to
accuse the United States of being the cause of
the economic woes without
recog-nising that, if they choose to make the
United States part of the
problem, then the United States has got the right
to reply. It's my view
that none of the comments we make in reply to
government accusations are
either inappropriate and/or interference.
What did the US
government advise when you left the country
immediately after the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs expressed its displeasure
at your conduct?
Oh, they basically said keep doing your work. It is the role of
diplomats in
a given country to talk to all elements of society. We talk to
government
officials; we talk to opposition officials; we talk to civil
society,
churches, and teachers. It's our role to understand what is going
on in the
country. There is nothing, unusual, inappropriate or special about
Zimbabwe
in that sense.
Should they order you out, what are the likely
consequences from
your government?
I have no reason to
believe that's going to happen. If it
happens, I'm a career diplomat --
there will be other assignments.
What did you make of
Mugabe's play on your name, that he can't
spell Dell, only
Hell.
I thought that was very abusive. I have the front page
of that
day's Herald framed in my office. It's the sort of thing you would
expect,
as an ambassador, from places that tend to have disagreements with
us. It
didn't bother me at all.
Engineering News
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
China's Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) will invest $2,3-billion in the
construction of a new hydroelectric power plant in Mozambique, crucial to
the southern African country's plans to exploit its mineral resources,
officials said on Wednesday.
"The Mepanda Nkua dam and
hydroelectric plant, on the Zambezi river,
will be built at a cost of
$2,3-billion. The government has signed a
memorandum of understanding with
Eximbank on the financing arrangements," an
official in Energy Minister
Salvador Namburete's office told Reuters.
"A decision on the
commencement of the project is dependent on
agreeing all terms after a
technical audit by the bank, and talks with
potential consumers of the
electricity such as mining companies and South
Africa's power utility
Eskom," the official said by telephone from the
Mozambique capital
Maputo.
Mepanda Nkua power plant is expected to produce 1,300 MW
and would
come on stream in 2010 or 2011, according to Energy Ministry
estimates. The
facility is 70 km south of Mozambique's main Cahorra Bassa
power plant, in
which Portugal is preparing to hand over its 85% stake to
the Mozambique
government.
Mozambique was pressing for a late
2006 project start, the official
said.
He said the memorandum
of understanding with Eximbank also provided
for the bank to fund the
construction of the $300-million Moamba-Major dam
in Maputo province, which
will provide clean drinking water for residents.
Specific funding
details, such as interest rate and period for
repayment, were yet to be
worked out, the official said.
China is pouring billions of dollars
into Africa for investment in
infrastructure and commodities.
This year the Eximbank extended to $3-billion from $2-billion loans to
Angola for the rehabilitation of infrastructure ruined by three decades of
civil war that ended with the battlefield death of veteran rebel leader
Jonas Savimbi in 2002.
Companies with or eyeing projects in
Mozambique, such as diversified
miners BHP Billiton and Brazil's Companhia
Vale Do Rio Doce, say a shortage
of electricity could hamper
investment.
Mozambique itself does not have enough electricity to
supply its
manufacturing sector, seen as a major player in fuelling economic
growth.
President Armando Guebuza has made infrastructure
rehabilitation the
key cog of his economic agenda as he strives to convert
10 years of
sustained growth in Mozambique into better lives for a majority
of his
18-million people.
Mozambique neighbour Zimbabwe already
purchases some of its power from
Cahora Bassa, while growing demand from
South Africa means even with
additional supply, demand will not be fully
met.
"There is a genuine looming shortage of electricity in
southern Africa
and Mozambique is well-placed to plug some of the gap," said
an official
from Guebuza's office.
Cahora Bassa has a capacity
of around 2, 075 MW but produces far below
that. The government plans
repairs and infrastructure improvement to bring
the plant to full capacity.
It also plans an additional plant adjacent to
Cahora Bassa to generate
another 850 mw of power and is in talks with
various banks on the financing
model, the energy ministry official said.
Mozambique's power supply
is expected to dramatically rise in the next
5 years. Brazil's CVRD plans a
1 500 MW plant at Moatize as part of its coal
mining project there.