Farm Invasions And Security Report
Thursday 30 May 2002
NATIONAL REPORT IN BRIEF
- On Rivergardens Farm, Norton, Mrs Nyandoro, an A2 settler, stole mealie meal in the owner's absence. Several tonnes were stolen with some being issued to workers and no record kept. Her husband brought in GMB and samples were taken in of all the maize stock. She has also stolen milk from the on farm production.
- There is little change regarding production in Kadoma/Battlefields, with the
DA not allowing farmers to grow food for the nation, unless they make deals with
the settlers, which normally involve large amounts of extortion
money.
Support Unit moved in to Etna Mine/Farm, Chegutu, which is understood to be either state owned or owned by a black farmer, to clear out settlers. The settlers were moved on to the neighbouring farm, Maratonga, which is white owned. - In Masvingo East and Central, reports received from the ground indicate settlers are moving, told to move or have been moved by Government officials off selected properties detailed below, including Rathmore Farm belonging to Mr. Manangagwa, and Mushaid Farm and Cleveland Farm belonging to General Zvinavashe.
MANICALAND
All is quiet here. Nothing to report.
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Horseshoe - The labourers on Rushpeak Farm were evicted on 30.05.02 and the owner is not allowed to remove any of his personal effects. The owner of Nyamfuta Farm received a letter, purportedly from the DA, stating he was not allowed to remove his personal effects. The owner of Nyamsewe Farm has been told to leave all his personal belongings on the farm.
MASHONALAND EAST
In meeting therefore no report available.
MASHONALAND WEST (NORTH)
No report received.
MASHONALAND WEST (SOUTH)
Norton - On Rivergardens Farm Mrs Nyandoro, and A2 settler, stole mealie meal in the owner's absence. Several tonnes were stolen with some being issued to workers and no record kept. Her husband brought in GMB and samples were taken in of all the maize stock. She has also stolen milk from the on farm production.
Selous - On two properties A2 settlers commandeered the owners’ pipes and pumps to plant a wheat crop.
Chegutu - Support Unit moved in to Etna Mine/Farm, which is understood to be either state owned or owned by a black farmer, to clear out settlers. The settlers were moved on to the neighbouring farm, Maratonga, which is white owned.
Chakari - There is still no way forward on Chevy Chase Farm, which is unlisted, and the farmer is still not allowed to plant wheat despite approaches to the DA, Lands Committee and Mr Chikawore. On Dewares Farm, the President’s Office continues to use the owner's movable assets illegally depriving the owner of income. No farmers are allowed to plant wheat in this association.
Kadoma Battlefields - There is little change regarding production in this area with the DA not allowing farmers to grow food for the nation, unless they make deals with the settlers, which normally involve large amounts of extortion money.
General - Section 8's are received in large numbers in the Chegutu district at present. Many of the recipients have single owned farms. There are no letters of comfort being signed allowing farmers with Section 8 Orders to continue with farming operations. There is no clarification regarding whether Government will allow farmers to plant seedbeds on 01.06.02.
MASVINGO
Masvingo East and Central – at Chidza Farm 29 pedigree heifers were removed from the paddock, later found on a neighbouring farm and returned. Reports received from the ground indicate settlers are moving, told to move or have been moved by Government officials off the selected properties as indicated below: -
Limmington Farm belonging to Mr. Poyto
Mukwari Farm belonging to Mr. Ganyani
Zion Church Farms
Rathmore Farm belonging to Mr. Manangagwa
Mushaid Farm and Cleveland Farm belonging to General Zvinavashe
Penhurst Farm belonging to the late Mr. Mokombi
Chiredzi - The veld is taking a real pounding from the already existing settlers and many new settlers moving on. Trees are cut down and regular veldfires occurring. Poaching and snaring is now so rampant that the local butchers in town have lost sales due to the availability of meat on the streets.
Save Conservancy – at Mukwazi Ranch Agritex officials told the owner they would be moving into the Safari Camp. There is an increase in settlers over the last few days Mwenezi - Reports From the 26th May 2002 and 29th May 2002.
On Kayansee a Section 8 dated Jan 2002 was finally delivered by ZRP Gwanda. This is a photocopied document with no official stamp. A lawyer is of the opinion it is not a valid legal document for this reason. Other Section 8s served in the district are on the same format. Found snared in past couple of days are two eland, one kudu, one warthog and three cattle. This was investigated by A/Insp Ngulube, ZRP Beitbridge, who is also a “settler” on at least one property in the vicinity. Joco/Kleinbegin reports both diesel and ZESA powered water pumps were commandeered by settlers and used to supply their water needs from the property owner's boreholes without his authority. There has been a further influx of cattle from the communal area where there is active FMD. About 300 head have been moved, presumably without permits, in the past 10 days. This makes the total number of illegal cattle between 700 - 1000 head on these two properties. About 200 of these are in the conservancy area and are still regularly moved to and fro between communal area and conservancy. Several fires burnt large areas of grazing over the past few days. Cutting of trees, building, burning lands, snaring and slaughter/theft of cattle continues unabated. At Bothasrus about 300 cattle arrived that belong to Beitbridge MP and Deputy Minister of Local Govt., Kembo Mohadi. They came with two separate veterinary movement permits. One for 81 head from the Beitbridge quarantine station and the balance from Penemene. Permits were issued by one Ncube, and authorised by Dr Ndlovu, the DVO. Both places are in close proximity to recent or perhaps even present FMD. Mohadi had visited the owner of the property about two weeks ago to tell him to move his cattle out of the area into which these invading cattle have been introduced. At La Pache, there was a fire originating in the new squatter lands. A baboon was found caught in a snare. In general, there have been fires on several properties. Cutting, burning, building, snaring, wire theft and fence destruction and pipeline vandalism is ongoing. Grazing is disappearing fast with the excessive numbers of squatter cattle
Gutu / Chatsworth – the Blyth Farm owner moved some of his tobacco equipment into his yard. The settlers became aggressive and claimed this was prohibited as all farm equipment now belonged to them. The owner notified the police with little response. On Rossal Farm, Muirlands Farm Nelville Farm Middeldeel Farm, the slaughter and theft of both beef and dairy cattle is on the increase, with crimes even occurring in broad daylight.
MIDLANDS
Kwekwe - Glen Arroch has been sold. On Grasslands, 25 irrigation pipes were stolen while on Caberfeigh property was stolen from the guesthouse and main homestead. Police were notified. Eduan Estates reports the office was broken into and stationery stolen but no money found by thieves, whilst Dekel reports irrigation pipes, chemicals and an electric 20 hp borehole motor were stolen. On Delvillewood Estates, the Chairman of the Land Committee was grazing his cattle on the barley lands and a woodcutter was heard at 1.35 a.m. cutting down trees. The owner of Modena Farm has compiled and handed in a letter to the D.A. objecting to his farm being taken over. On this farm, a poacher, armed with knives etc. was caught and taken to the police.
MATABELELAND
No report received.
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| Thursday, 30 May, 2002, 16:37 GMT 17:37 UK
Mugabe launches CD charm
offensive
President Mugabe wants to restore his country's image
Zimbabwe has launched a marketing campaign in an attempt to
improve its image, tarnished by years of political and economic difficulties.
An interactive programme has been put together that provides "a factual and authoritative exposition... of what Zimbabwe really is", President Robert Mugabe said.
The Zimbabwean leader said his country had been treated unfairly by the world media, in particular over its land reform programme. "Over the past four years or so, the government and leadership have been subjected to a persistent and malicious media onslaught because we have seriously made attempts at correcting and redressing past colonial injustices, notably the skewed land distribution and ownership patterns. Challenge "Never in modern history has a country and its leadership received as many column inches of print and many hours of television as Zimbabwe," the Zimbabwean head of state said. However, in spite of the bad press, Mr Mugabe said more people worldwide had come to know about Zimbabwe in recent years. "Our challenge is to transform negative perceptions of Zimbabwe into positive outcomes," he said.
Land invasions led by self-styled liberation war veterans on white-owned farms have attracted international attention over the past two years. The loss of production caused by the land occupation, coupled with a regional drought, means that 750,000 people are facing starvation in the worst affected rural areas. In March, Mr Mugabe was declared the winner of presidential elections, which the opposition and the Commonwealth said were unfair and marred by violence. |
 |
. |
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Mugabe brings in some spin for a new-look Zim
|
May 30 2002 at 02:35PM |
Harare - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe launched a marketing campaign on
Thursday aimed at rehabilitating the image of the southern African country,
battered by more than two years of political and economic crisis.
Put
together by a grouping of business and economic bodies and presented on CD-ROM,
the interactive marketing programme aims to "challenge the misconceptions and
misinformation that have been published worldwide" about the country, according
to the National Economic Consultative Forum (NECF).
Mugabe said the
country has suffered negative publicity because it embarked on a land reform
scheme aimed at redressing past colonial imbalances.
"Over the past four
years or so, the government and leadership have been subjected to a persistent
and malicious media onslaught because we have seriously made attempts at
correcting and redressing past colonial injustices, notably the skewed land
distribution and ownership patterns.
| Embarked on a land reform scheme |
However, in spite of the bad press, Mugabe said more people in the world have come to know about Zimbabwe in recent years.
"Our challenge is to transform the negative perceptions of Zimbabwe into positive outcomes," he said.
The CD-ROM, Mugabe said, "provides a factual and authoritative exposition and articulation of what Zimbabwe really is".
Land invasions led by self-styled liberation war veterans on white-owned farms, have attracted international attention and criticism over the past two-and-half years.
Violence-wracked legislative and presidential elections held over the past two years, in a country ruled by one man for 22 years, have also generated international interest and condemnation.
The launch of the CD-ROM, which was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),was attended by western and African diplomats, industry leaders, and trade and tourism officials. - Sapa-AFP
ZIMBABWE: Opposition still fighting for election re-run
JOHANNESBURG, 30 May (IRIN) - Despite President Robert Mugabe's consolidation of power in Zimbabwe, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has not given up its fight to force a re-run of the March presidential election.
However, reports that the opposition plan to use mass action and stayaways to force a re-run of the election appear to have put the MDC on the back foot.
When approached by IRIN, MDC media officer Percy Makombe, said: "We will not be commenting on this mass action as this will only pre-empt it. [Suffice to say that] there are things that are being done to address the issue of the stolen election."
MDC secretary general Welshman Ncube, however, was more forthcoming.
He said it was clear Zimbabweans would have to solve their own problems as the European Union appeared to have bought "[South African President Thabo] Mbeki's red herring of African solutions to African problems".
He said: "We are still consulting on what to do within the party, with other stakeholders, the trade unions, women's organisations, human rights organisations. We have been doing that for over a month, going to grass roots levels, asking what form of action we should take. Should it be mass action or stayaway etcetera, that is yet to be resolved.
"Action will be taken because we have not accepted the result, but we cannot say when and what."
A stayaway campaign attempted by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, shortly after the March election, was by most accounts a failure. Ncube said the MDC plans to make sure there was buy-in from "the grass roots" before a course of action was decided.
Meanwhile, the MDC continued to lobby governments and ruling parties throughout the region and continent. Said Ncube: "We are sensitising them and impressing upon them that the Zimbabwe crisis will not be wished away. It will not go away unless they address the fundamentals of that crisis. We have been to South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana and Burkina Faso. We are yet to go to Namibia, Angola, Zambia, Malawi and so on.
"Basically, we think it is the Africans who let us down quite badly over the last 18 months and they must share some of the responsibility for what has happened in Zimbabwe, they thought by standing with Mugabe they could end the crisis."
Ncube contended that as most of the region and Africa had recognised President Robert Mugabe's victory in the March election, which the European Union, the United States and Commonwealth believed was neither free nor fair, they cannot be charged with solving Zimbabwe's political and consequent economic and humanitarian crises.
He said: "The so-called African solution to African problems is being led by countries who do not think there is a problem ... they say Mugabe won the election and the results are legitimate, so what problem are they going to solve?
"Ultimately, the responsibility for charting the way forward rests with us in Zimbabwe ... the people of Zimbabwe will confront their problems, one way or another."
[ENDS]
IRIN-SA
Tel: +27 11 880-4633
Fax: +27 11 447-5472
Email: IRIN-SA@irin.org.za
SOUTHERN AFRICA: WFP sets up centre to coordinate food aid
JOHANNESBURG, 30 May (IRIN) - The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is setting up a logistical and information management centre in South Africa to coordinate the movement of food aid to at least 10 million people in the region threatened by starvation.
The regional office, expected to be up and running in the next few weeks, would coordinate logistical and transport operations, intervene where local bottlenecks are identified, and liaise with donors and UN agencies, WFP Regional Logistics Coordinator Pedro Figueuredo told IRIN.
WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned on Wednesday that millions of people were on "the brink of famine" in Zimbabwe and Malawi. Other countries in the region also faced grave food shortages from as early as June, after two successive years of poor harvests.
Nearly four million mt of food will need to be imported over the next year to meet the minimum food needs of the sub-region's population. Almost 10 million people in the famine-threatened countries need immediate emergency food assistance of some 1.2 million mt, the two agencies said.
Given the gravity of the findings by assessment teams in the six countries surveyed, FAO and WFP have called on donor governments worldwide to respond quickly and generously with food aid donations to "avoid widespread hunger from developing into a humanitarian disaster".
WFP regional spokesperson Brenda Barton told IRIN that donor attention was "now turned to the crisis and they see as we do, the grave crisis which lies ahead".
Figueuredo said the key regional ports that would be used to receive food shipments would be Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Durban in South Africa, and Maputo, Beira and Nacala in Mozambique.
Port captains, who would work with the local authorities to ensure that vessels are offloaded expeditiously and food is stored or moved out of the ports efficiently, are already in place in Beira, and Nacala (which will supply Malawi).
WFP is trying to increase the "discharge rate" - the amount that can be offloaded from a vessel per day - at the ports. Currently that stands at 2,000 mt for Dar es Salaam, Durban and Maputo. Beira and Nacala are slower because they don't have automatic bulk offloading facilities, instead maize would have to be bagged on the quayside.
Figueuredo estimated that a 25,000 to 30,000 mt vessel would take at least two weeks to offload, although consignments could be split between different ports.
A one-stop shop for customs clearance procedures for trucks and rail traffic between Zimbabwe and Mozambique was already being discussed, Figueuredo said. He added that WFP was also asking for special privileges to reduce border tolls.
"The concern is not that we can't feed or transport the food to the beneficiaries," Figueuredo noted. "It's a race against time in the sense that the ports, railways, roads, warehouses, silos - all need to be well-coordinated."
Poaching Threatens Elephant Population in Zimbabwe: Official
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xinhuanet 2002-05-30 16:10:25
HARARE, May 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The increasing levels of poaching of
wildlife on farms adjacent to some of the country's leading game
conservancies could reduce the country's chances of maintaining the elephant
population, the Herald newspaper reported on Thursday.
Secretary for Environment and Tourism Lucas Tavaya was quoted as
saying that it was "not economically clever" for some people resettled on
farms adjacent to game estates or ranches to unnecessarily kill animals.
"In fact it is myopic to poach animals for no apparent reason.
What some people fail to understand is that these animals are not for the
farmers staying on the farms but their children's nationalheritage," said
Tavaya.
"I think Zimbabweans should look far ahead to economically empower
themselves through the resource which is abundant here. Wildlife
conservation is for the whole country. Rural district councils should not
allow people to kill wildlife," Tavaya said.
"We would be a very happy people if we save our wildlife from
extinct. Instead of killing wildlife, we should be working extremely hard to
take over the management of wildlife," he said.
Poaching "for the pot was rampant on farms" in the provinces
ofMatabeleland, Midlands and Masvingo was threatening endangered species
such as the black rhino.
Although Zimbabwe was confident of getting support for its
proposal on the African elephant at the next Conference on International
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Chile, "we donot want people in our
national parks except our game people".
Official records indicate that wildlife worth more than 1.82
million U.S. dollars has been lost to massive poaching, illegal movement of
wildlife, over-hunting, subsistence and commercial poaching in ranches.
Up to 50 black rhino have either been snared or killed by
reportedly urban cartels working in cahoots with resettled villagers on
farms adjacent these conservancies and people from the communal areas.
Between 1996 and 2000, about 209 elephants, 138 buffalo and
108impala were poached among other wildlife.
Last month some poachers killed at least seven elephants.
A few months ago, the National Parks and Wildlife Management
Authority launched a probe into allegations of illegal movement ofwildlife,
massive over-hunting, subsistence and commercial poaching in commercial
ranches by some farmers' cartels, communal and resettled farmers.
The country's black rhino population in the Intensive
ProtectionZones and conservancies is now under threat from commercial
poaching, poaching for the pot and other factors. Enditem
ANANOVA
Zimbabwe crisis talks may be revived
Mediators are hoping to revive crisis talks between Zimbabwe's ruling party
and the opposition.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Sule Lamido met with Robert Mugabe, describing the
meeting as "enlightening" and is optimistic the talks could be resuscitated.
Zimbabwe is suffering its worst economic crisis since 1980, a situation
exacerbated by opposition claims President Mugabe fixed the March
presidential election.
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and South African President Thabo Mbeki
sent mediators to Harare in April to facilitate political talks, but hopes
for progress faltered over the election issue.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change is refusing to accept Mr
Mugabe's victory and is filing a court challenge alleging voting was swayed
by violence, intimidation and rigging.
The MDC is demanding a new election held under international supervision
within a year. Official results showed opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai
losing by some 400,000 votes.
Mr Mugabe has refuses to consider new elections.
Severe food shortages have been caused by farm disruptions and erratic
rains.
The World Food Programme estimates half of Zimbabwe's 12.5 million people
will need food aid to avert starvation this year.
Story filed: 13:08 Thursday 30th May 2002
MSNBC
Journalists to go on trial next month in Zimbabwe
HARARE, May 30 - A Zimbabwean magistrate set on Thursday trial dates next
month for a U.S. and local journalist charged with publishing ''falsehoods''
under President Robert Mugabe's tough new media law.
Andrew Meldrum, a correspondent for Britain's Guardian newspaper, and
Lloyd Mudiwa, a reporter for Zimbabwe's independent Daily News, were charged
after publishing a story that alleged Mugabe supporters had beheaded a
woman.
The Daily News later said it had doubts about the alleged murder
after failing to locate the woman's grave. The paper apologised to Mugabe's
ZANU-PF party.
Meldrum, a U.S. national, will stand trial on June 12, while Mudiwa
will go to court on June 20, Magistrate Joyce Negonde told a Harare court.
Meldrum and Mudiwa -- among 11 journalists to be arrested since
Mugabe's controversial re-election in March -- attended Thursday's hearing,
but declined to comment to reporters outside the court.
''We are happy the state has finally set a date and we hope we can
prove our case that the state is being vindictive with these prosecutions,''
said their lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.
Under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act,
journalists can face fines of up to Z$100,000 ($1,818) or up to two years in
jail if they are found guilty of publishing ''falsehoods.''
Mugabe's government has been accused of cracking down on journalists
since March 9-11 presidential elections which were rejected as fraudulent by
opposition
Settlers to Make Way for Commercial Farmers
The Daily News (Harare)
May 30, 2002
Posted to
the web May 30, 2002
Takaitei Bote, Farming Editor
SOME land occupiers who have been told by the government to vacate commercial farms allege that they are being moved to make way for commercial farmers to plant winter wheat while others say they are being moved out to make way for government officials to take over the farms.
The government this month ordered provincial land committees to remove illegal occupants on farms to allow commercial farmers to engage in production without disturbances from the resettled farmers
The government, however, said all the land occupiers being moved would be allocated land elsewhere after there was an outcry by people who claimed they had championed the Zanu PF government land reform campaign prior to the 9-11 March presidential election but were now being victimised by the same government they voted for.
Farmers told Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister, Joseph Made, at a workshop for opportunities for newly resettled farmers last Friday that they were unhappy with the government's decision to evict them even from designated farms.
While the government has ordered new farmers to move out of unlisted farms, some farmers from Karoi and Mazowe alleged they were being evicted from farms to allow farmers to plant wheat. Some of the farms were allegedly being taken over by government officials.
A new farmer on Sangakilo Farm in Karoi, Patrick Gwasera, said: "We have been assured by the government that they will not evict us because the farm is designated. Surprisingly we are being told to make way for the original owner of the farm who wants to plant wheat."
Sangakilo Farm is demarcated for acquisition. Gwasera said government officials had ordered them to leave because the new farmers did not know how to grow wheat.
"The government told us last year that we would remain on the farm to contribute to food security. If they want us to do so, why don't they give us a chance to learn so we can produce the wheat?" Gwasera asked.
Gwasera joined hundreds of other people from communal areas in Karoi to occupy Sangakilo Farm last October.
He said most of the new farmers on the farm did not plant crops last season because they had no inputs and equipment
The Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) two weeks ago confirmed that government officials had in the past few weeks addressed meetings and communicated the message that commercial farmers must be allowed to plant winter wheat.
A CFU official said: "Authorisation to waive the Section 8 order restrictions and allow a farmer to plant wheat are vested in the Ministry Lands and Agriculture, who is the acquiring authority.
Such authorisation, when issued must encompass the right to plant and harvest without interference. Should the above authorisation be forthcoming, we as farmers stand ready, willing and able to play our role in feeding the nation."
There are reports that the government had asked some commercial farmers in Goromonzi and Chinhoyi to resume land preparation for the much needed wheat crop.
Zim to Pay More for US Visa
The Daily News (Harare)
May 30, 2002
Posted to
the web May 30, 2002
Raymond Mgadzah, Senior Business Reporter
THE fee for processing a United States non-immigrant visa has been increased from US$45 to US$65 (from Z$2 475 to Z$3 575 at the official rate) with effect from 1 June 2002.
Under the exchange rate used by the US government one US dollar is equivalent to 380 Zimbabwe dollars, compared to the official exchange rate of US$1:Z$55.
This means that the cost of the visa processing fee, which is payable in Zimbabwe dollars only, will shortly increase from Z$17 100 to Z$24 700.
A spokesman for the US Embassy in Harare said the cost of the US non-immigrant visa, which is required for persons travelling to that country on holiday or on business, was being increased to meet new administrative charges.
The spokesman said: "Unfortunately it is necessary to increase the US visa processing fee in order to recover the costs associated with the new machine readable visa. It's a new kind of visa that can be read by a computer."
The spokesman said that in addition to the visa processing fee, Zimbabweans wishing to travel to the US must pay a reciprocity fee of US$55, payable either in US dollars or as $20 900.
This fee is charged to citizens of countries which charge US citizens wishing to visit them for visas. Unlike the visa processing fee, the reciprocity fee varies from country to country.
Prospective visa applicants have been notified of the increased cost of the processing fee by a Press advertisement.
The advertisement warned that the visa application fee, which must be paid for at the main branch of Standard Chartered Bank in Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo and Mutare would be non-refundable.
The advertisement said: "After payment of the visa fee, the teller will give the applicant a two-part receipt. This receipt must be presented to the Consular Section on the day of the visa interview.
Photocopies of this receipt will not be accepted. "If the applicant is granted a visa, an additional reciprocity fee of US$55, or Zimbabwe dollar equivalent thereof, must be paid at the US Embassy at the time of the interview.
Applicants should bring sufficient funds with them on the day of the interview to pay this reciprocity fee."
-->
Domestic Debt Shoots to $279bn
The Daily News (Harare)
May 30, 2002
Posted to
the web May 30, 2002
Ngoni Chanakira, Business Editor
Despite the plea by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr Simba Makoni, for his government colleagues to live within their means, the State's apparent insatiable appetite to continue blowing the country's fiscus continues unabated.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), which falls directly under Makoni's ministry, yesterday said the government's domestic debt had galloped from $231,1 billion at the end March, to $279,3 billion during the middle of May.
This is piled on top of an overall balance deficit of US$625 million (Z$34,4 billion) owed to the international community.
The amount includes a US$201 million for the current account, as well as a US$424 million on the capital account deficits.
The government, which has promised across-the-board increments to the civil service, police, army, chiefs and headmen as well as politicians, utilised more than $15 billion within a week.
The RBZ said the domestic debt stood at $264 741 700 000 as at 3 May, this year, which shot up to $279 354 900 000 as at 10 May.
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, which have suspended balance of payments support for the country's economic recovery programme, warned Zimbabwe against a huge domestic and foreign debt.
It set an amount of $200 billion as a domestic debt that was manageable. However, the two institutions have been thrown out by the government as advisors because they are alleged to be bringing in "more suffering than help for the citizens".
The RBZ said its lending to banks during the period up to 10 May had declined, while that for the cash-strapped government increased.
Figures from the Central Bank show that the government's domestic debt is now increasing by a rate of at least $10 billion weekly, which is about $8 billion more than the money Makoni promised the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in his 2002 National Budget presented in Parliament in November, last year.
Amid much applause from fellow parliamentarians, Makoni set aside $2 billion for this sector.
He said the cash would revive the ailing sector. Early last year, the government restructured its domestic debt from short to long term.
Makoni said in December, 2000, 94 percent of government domestic debt was short-term.
By June, last year, the short-term component had been reduced to 72 percent, according to Makoni.
He said this was in line with the debt restructuring policy, which targeted that short-term debt should not exceed 70 percent, and at least 30 percent become medium to long-term.
However, Makoni said, during the period under review, the government debt with a tenure of more than a year increased from six percent to 33 percent.