Mugabe in Major GNU Climb Down

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 19:32
      PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe was on Friday forced to accept the January
Sadc Summit Communiqué that eventually led to the formation of the coalition
as a binding document, sources revealed yesterday.

      The communiqué, which the veteran leader had all along refused to
recognize arguing that it was not part of the Global Political Agreement
(GPA), stipulates among other things that the appointments of the Reserve
Bank Governor and the Attorney General would be dealt with by the inclusive
government after its consummation. Section 7(vi) of the communiqué says:
"the appointments of the Reserve Bank Governor and the Attorney General will
be dealt with by the inclusive government after its formation".

      The sources said by acknowledging the January communiqué as binding,
Mugabe had effectively agreed to review his position regarding the
appointment of RBZ governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes
Tomana.

      The continued stay in office of Gono and Tomana is an "outstanding
issue" that has caused serious friction in the coalition.

      Mugabe had vowed not to replace Gono and Tomana saying the
appointments were done "constitutionally".

      Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T a fortnight ago suspended
co-operation with Zanu PF citing Mugabe's refusal to recognise the
communiqué.

      Mugabe has also refused to share the posts of provincial governors,
noting that those appointments were dependent on his benevolence. This was
in contradiction of section 7(vii) of the communiqué, which states that "the
negotiators of the parties shall meet immediately to consider the National
Security Bill submitted by the MDC-T as well as the formula for the
distribution of the Provincial Governors".

      Mugabe also refused to swear in Deputy Minister-designate Roy Bennett,
who is currently battling what his party says are "trumped up" terrorism
charges.

      Sources told The Standard it became clear that Mugabe was the
stumbling block after the Sadc foreign ministers' review of the GPA on
Friday.

      Sources who attended the closed meetings said the ministers were
"shocked" by the slow implementation and blatant disregard of the agreement,
which led to the formation of the inclusive government.

      "It became clear in the meetings that Zanu PF is the culprit. The
visit clearly exposed Mugabe and Zanu PF as the stumbling block," said one
of the sources.

      This forced Mugabe to make a major climb down from his position
regarding the January Sadc Summit Communiqué.

      In a statement the Sadc ministers on Friday said: "The parties agreed
to attend to all outstanding issues arising from the implementation of the
GPA and the Sadc Summit Communiqué of January 2009."

      The foreign ministers from Mozambique, Zambia and Swaziland - the
three countries forming the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security - then
recommended the holding of a regional summit to deal with the Zimbabwe
political stalemate.

      "We will be consulting on the summit. I cannot tell you when it will
take place but, trust me, it will be soon, very soon, almost immediately,"
said Mozambican foreign minister Oldemiro Baloi, who headed the three-member
Sadc delegation.

      The delegation met the negotiators before they paid a courtesy call on
Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara during the
two-day visit between Thursday and Friday.

      The visit followed Tsvangirai's regional tour to drum up support
following his party's disengagement from Zanu PF in the inclusive government
citing Mugabe's reluctance to address "outstanding issues".

      The MDC-T has since added Presidential spokesperson George Charamba to
its list of "outstanding issues", saying he was communicating "hatred and
causing discord" on the GPA implementation as well as rising cases of
violence against its supporters.

      Meanwhile, Tsvangirai's spokesperson James Maridadi said the MDC-T was
happy with the outcome of the meeting because the regional ministers managed
to impress upon Mugabe that the January communiqué was as binding as the
GPA.

      University of Zimbabwe political scientist John Makumbe said the Sadc
visit exposed Mugabe because he had been refusing to recognise communiqué.

      "Mugabe has been exposed. It has become clear that Mugabe is refusing
to comply with the Sadc communiqué," Makumbe said.

      He said the 85-year-old leader risks losing the support from his
colleagues from the region if he continues to flout the agreement.

      Yesterday Mugabe appeared conciliatory when he addressed mourners at
the burial of Shamva-Bindura Senator Misheck Chando.

      Although he struck his familiar chord on Western interference, Mugabe
called for more dialogue with his estranged coalition partners.

      "They (western countries) want us to go down on our knees and beg them
to forgive us. We ask who they are?" he said.

      "When you have as party, even as individuals, taken a stand that you
shall work together with our political neighbours, and they have
reciprocated at the same terms, then the requirement is that we continue
step by step together," Mugabe said.

      The conciliatory tone was in sharp contrast to his address to the Zanu
PF Central Committee where he said the MDC-T's disengagement will not affect
the operations of the inclusive government.

      Sources said Mugabe was trying to placate party supporters who had
called for Zanu PF to ditch the unity government. Zanu PF insiders said
Zimbabwe's long time ruler realised the coalition was "his only salvation".
      Baloi said Mugabe and Tsvangirai will meet tomorrow to discuss the
"outstanding issues".

      After presenting his speech at the Heroes' Acre yesterday, Mugabe held
a brief discussion with Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara who attended
Chando's burial.

      BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE AND VUSUMUZI SIFILE

5 shot as Dispute Over Farm Turns Bloody

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 19:24
      THE farm ownership wrangle involving a Reserve Bank deputy governor
and a Chinhoyi commercial farmer turned bloody last week after a man shot
and seriously injured five workers and assaulted several others.

      According to witnesses, including Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU)
officials, the shootings took place on Thursday after a worker identified
only as Tichiona who is employed by deputy RBZ governor Edward Mashiringwani
brought in "thugs" to evict the workers from Friedawil Farm.

      The pig farm belongs to Louis Fick, a South African citizen who is
also CFU vice-president.

      "We have just received news of the shooting," said CFU president Deon
Theron.

      "Unfortunately Louis wasn't on the farm at the time of the shooting as
he is in Harare meeting with his lawyers."

      One of the victims, Kelvin Rutsito, said Tichiona and another man
identified as Spencer hired more than 50 people from the nearby Chikuti
resettlement area after Fick's workers refused to vacate the compound.

      Tichiona who was armed with a gun loaded with rubber bullets,
allegedly fired at the workers who had gathered within the compound after
they ignored his warning shots.

      The workers who were shot included Josiah Bazare, Florence Bazare and
Nelson Arikani.

      Another 10 were reportedly injured in the commotion that ensued. Three
of those shot were rushed to a Harare private clinic while others were
treated in Chinhoyi.

      A medical practitioner at the Harare clinic who requested anonymity
said one worker was admitted and the other two were treated and discharged.

      "Two of them had big cuts on the head. The other one who was admitted
has a bad knee injury and we are waiting for a specialist," he said.

      Police, as has become the norm, did not react.  Police spokesperson
Superintendent Andrew Phiri said he was not aware of the case.

      "I am not aware of the case but I will try to find out, "he said.

      The shootings were a culmination of an ongoing dispute over the farm's
ownership.

      Mashiringwani has been trying to evict Fick so that he can take over
the farm.

      Last month, Mashiringwani moved onto the farm with 15 guards who
threatened senior staff and beat up one of the resident guards.

      Mashiringwani's workers also locked the gates leading to the pig sties
and crocodile enclosures and would not allow water and food to be taken to
the animals.

      Since then Fick's cattle have held in an enclosure and denied access
to grazing.

      The shootings at Friedawil farm comes against the backdrop of an
increase in cases of violence on commercial farms in recent weeks in
Mashonaland West province. The situation on farms around Chinhoyi has
reportedly been tense.

      Meanwhile, the country is heading for serious food shortages as the
renewed violence against the few remaining commercial farmers continues
unabated, the CFU has warned.

      Theron said production on commercial farms was almost at a standstill
with about 400 farmers facing eviction from their farms.

      He said 153 farmers had been hauled before the courts for allegedly
refusing to vacate their farms.

      A total of 12 farmers and 34 workers have been convicted to date,
heightening insecurity in the agricultural sector countrywide.

      He said due to the ongoing violations of commercial farmers and their
workers, prosecution threats and lack of security of tenure, the majority of
commercial farmers will not be able to plant crops this season
      -Additional reporting by our Chinhoyi Correspondent.

      BY SANDRA MANDIZVIDZA

Thugs Raid Minister's Home

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 19:11
      BULAWAYO - Unknown assailants on Wednesday night tried to break into
the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's office Gorden Moyo's house in
Harare as MDC-T reported an upsurge in attacks against its officials. Moyo's
personal assistant, Thabang Nare, said the assailants descended on the
minister's Mandara residence at 1am and started banging windows.

      "The minister had just finished studying when he suddenly heard noise
from downstairs," Nare said.

      "He went down to check and discovered there were people outside who
were trying to force their way in."

      The assailants had already broken one of the windows but failed to
gain entry.

      "Moyo told the people that he would shoot to kill anyone who tried to
get in. "That threat managed to scare away the assailants and they
eventually left," Nare said.

      He said they were still baffled by the attacks because the residence
has 24-hour security and the area was not prone to break-ins.

      This is the second time a home of a minister from the two MDC
formations has been raided by criminals.

      In June, armed robbers attacked Regional Integration and International
Co-operation Minister Priscilla Misihairabwi's husband, the late Dr
Christopher Mushonga at their Mt Pleasant home.

      Mushonga died in August from the injuries sustained during the attack.

      MDC-T secretary general and Finance Minister Tendai Biti received an
envelope with a bullet.

      Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party says Zanu PF militants have
re-activated their terror squads following the party's disengagement from
Zanu PF ministers.

      MDC T security administrator Edith Mashire was seriously injured
during a foiled kidnap attempt while Pascal Gwezere, the MDC-T transport
manager is still missing after he was kidnapped in Mufakose on Tuesday.

      Police spokesman, Wayne Bvudzijena was not reachable yesterday.

      BY NKULULEKO SIBANDA

Harare Residents Shocked by 'astronomical' Zesa Bills Electricity Bills

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 19:04
      THOUSANDS of homes in Harare might have power disconnected after the
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) last week sent out astronomical
electricity bills, some with amounts well above salaries of ordinary
workers. Most of the bills, which were based on estimates, range between
US$100 and US$400.

      Civil servants who form the bulk of the country's workers earn US$180
a month on average.

      Several consumers last week expressed concern that Zesa was using
estimates and yet it was able to deliver statements for each and every home.

      They said thousands of homes will be disconnected if Zesa does not
reduce its charges or arrange a long-term payment plan.

      One agitated consumer, Tonderai Kadengu of Kuwadzana in Harare who
received a bill of US$408, said it will take him two months to clear the
amount even if it means diverting his full salary to Zesa.

      "It's so stressing to receive such a huge bill when your salary is so
little," he said. "Apart from Zesa bills, I still need to buy food, pay rent
and water rates and other necessities from the same salary." Kadengu is a
secondary school teacher and takes home about US$170 a month.

      Mimrod Ndlovu from Kambuzuma said he received an estimate of US$261
for September.

      His house did not have electricity for the better part of the month
due to load-shedding.

      "How can Zesa justify a bill of US$261 for a domestic user in an area
which hardly has power? They must revise their tariffs otherwise we won't be
able to pay the bills," he said.

      Zesa Holdings spokesperson Fullard Gwasira said the company's billing
system was accurate although it sometimes sends estimated bills after
failing to access a consumer's property.

      He said Zesa reviews its information systems to guard against
customers paying more than they were supposed to.

      "Zesa sometimes sends estimated bills to customers for various
reasons, chiefly that we would have for one reason or another failed to gain
access to the property," he said.

      Gwasira said those who received high bills were not using electricity
sparingly or had not been paying for a number of months.

      Gwasira said Zesa is owed over US$200 million which he said should
have been channelled towards importation of power as well as material and
equipment for network maintenance.

      He said the power utility will disconnect electricity to non-paying
consumers to enforce payment.

      "This option is adopted in the event that customers fail to heed bill
statements, and have not approached our offices for a payment plan in the
event that they are genuinely not able to meet the commitment," he said.

      Consumers said the high electricity bills were part of a scheme by
Zesa to raise money to enable it to pay its workers bonuses in November.

      In March, Minister of Energy and Power Development Engineer Elias
Mudzuri set "ceilings" for electricity charges after an uproar from
consumers who were failing to pay the huge bills from their paltry salaries.

      He announced flat charges of US$30 and US$40 for high-density and
low-density residential areas respectively for the months of February,
March, April and May.

      Mudzuri was not immediately available for comment.

      Zesa owes regional power suppliers more than US$60 million.

      BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE

Bulawayo Budget Approved After 10 Months

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 19:01
      THE government has finally approved the Bulawayo City Council's budget
almost 11 months after it was submitted. According to a new statutory
instrument published in the Government Gazette on October 23, the Minister
of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development approved the budget
proposals, which regularises all service charges in US dollars.
      The MDC-T controlled council has been losing millions in potential
revenue every month because it could not charge residents in high-density
areas the fees proposed in the 2009 budget before they were approved.
      The new charges come at a time when there is confusion among
ratepayers, who are baffled by the inconsistent monthly charges.
      In terms of the statutory instrument, burial fees for adults have been
pegged between $26 and $82.80, depending on the cemetery and whether the
burial is on a normal working day, weekend or public holiday.
      For children under 12 years and stillborn babies, the fees range
between $32 and $41.40.
      Rentals for such hostels as Burombo, Sidojiwe and Vundu have been
pegged between $12 and $15. Most high-density houses have been pegged at
between $2.52 and $25.50.
      Last month, the deputy mayor Amen Mpofu publicly attacked Local
Government Minister Ignatious Chombo for delays in approving the budget.
Mpofu, who described the delay as an attempt to sabotage council, said
Chombo should stop politicising civic issues.

      BY OUR STAFF

NewsDay Launch Very Soon, Says Ncube

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 18:42
      PLANS to launch Zimind Publishers Group's daily newspaper, NewsDay are
still on course despite the uncertainty caused by the problems dogging the
inclusive government, the group's executive chairman Trevor Ncube has said.
Speaking at a ceremony to unveil the company's new printing press on Friday,
Ncube said the formation of the inclusive government in February had
inspired the group to introduce what would be the country's only independent
daily newspaper.

      "It is our aim to be the biggest media house in the country and this
printing press is pivotal to achieving that goal," he said.

      "The Global Political Agreement (GPA) and the Inclusive Government
gave us the reason to believe that the time had come for the NewsDay project
which necessitated the investment that we are commissioningtoday.

      "The fact that both the GPA and the inclusive government have hit
turbulence is no reason not to believe in a better Zimbabwe with a free
press. That day is still coming."

      Zanu PF and the two MDCs agreed to spearhead various media reforms in
pursuance of their power-sharing agreement signed on September 15 last year.

      The Zimbabwe Media Commission, which is supposed to take over from the
defunct Media and Information Commission that closed down several
independent publications, is yet to be set up.

      Last month, Media, Information and Publicity permanent secretary
George Charamba threatened to close down NewsDay and cause the arrest of its
editors if the paper started publishing without a licence.

      But Ncube, who already owns The Standard, the Zimbabwe Independent and
the Mail & Guardian in South Africa, said he remained hopeful the newspaper
will hit the news stands very soon.

      "At a public meeting in September, we indicated that we would be
launching NewsDay at the beginning of November," he said.

      "We continue with fine tuning our preparations while doing some fancy
footwork behind the scenes.
      "We are confident that we will win and that soon and very soon you
will be able to see NewsDay on the streets."

      The Solna Web Offset Printing Press, is the first of its kind in
Zimbabwe.

      Among other strengths, the printing press is capable of printing
broadsheet size newspapers and up to 32 page sections of tabloid size
newspapers in full process colour at the rate of 35 000 copies an hour.

      Prominent lawyer Sternford Moyo, said the printing press was a tool
for development and socio-economic progress.

      His sentiments were echoed by Finance Minister Tendai Biti who said
opening up the media space will quicken Zimbabwe's rehabilitation.

      "Some of us have been in the trenches for a very long time fighting
for the freedom of the press and this marks a fundamental realisation of the
dreams we have been fighting for," he said.

      "We may be having problems in the GPA and there may be some things
which dampened your spirits but understand that any marriage does go through
a pendulum searching period."

      Celebration Ministries Founder Pastor Tom Deuschle delivered a prayer
to bless the occcasion while and Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda and
mayoress, Fikile Masunda unveiled a plaque and cut the ceremonial ribbon
respectively.

      Other prominent political leaders who attended the launch included
Kusile/Mavambo/Dawn leader Simba Makoni, Media, Information and Publicity
Minister Webster Shamu and his Information Communication Technology
counterpart Nelson Chamisa.

      BY JENNIFER DUBE

Violence Intensifies After MDC-T pull out

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 18:40
      WAR veterans and Zanu PF militants have intensified attacks against
MDC-T supporters in the rural areas following the party's disengagement from
dealing with Zanu PF ministers in the inclusive government, the party has
said. The MDC-T said Zanu PF militias were holding political meetings where
they branded MDC-T supporters "enemies of the state" who must be crushed
because they had severed links with government.
      The main faction of the MDC recently "disengaged" from Zanu PF in the
inclusive government citing reluctance by President Robert Mugabe to address
outstanding issues in their power-sharing agreement.
      MDC-T secretary for social welfare Kerry Kay expressed concern over
the new wave of attacks against the party's activists and supporters.
      She said Zanu PF has "re-activated" its terror squads and camps in the
rural areas, blamed for murder, rape, plunder and general violence in last
June's election.
      "What they are doing is shocking," Kay said. "They are attacking our
supporters on the basis that we withdrew from the unity government, which is
not true. I fear this could degenerate into chaos to the levels of last
year."
      She said at least two MDC-T councillors' homes were last week burnt
down in Chaona in Mashonaland Central and Uzumba in Mashonaland East.
      Several MDC-T supporters have since fled from their homes following
threats by state security agents, war veterans and the youth militia.
      "We have information that Zanu PF militia met at Chaona Secondary
School this week where they announced that those who support the MDC will
not be beaten this time but will be shot," Kay said.
      In the Chaona area of Chiweshe communal lands several MDC supporters
were killed last year, homesteads were razed while property and livestock
were looted by suspected Zanu PF supporters.
      The Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) said several
teachers have since fled their schools after threats on their lives.
      PTUZ secretary general, Raymond Majongwe said youths were visiting
schools taking down names of teachers suspected to be sympathetic to the
MDC-T.
      In Buhera's Ward 27 in Manicaland province, Majongwe said, teachers
were harassed after attending a meeting addressed by Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai recently.
      Reports say that Zanu PF has reopened a training camp a few kilometers
from Nyamapanda in Mashonaland East province where it is recruiting youths.
      Fearing for the worst, the MDC-T has written to the Minister of Youth
Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Savior Kasukuwere of Zanu PF
expressing concern about the re-opening of the camps.
      In a letter dated October 12, Kay said Zanu PF youths and state
security agents were threatening villagers "with a bullet in the head".
      "The information coming from the people in the rural areas is that
Zanu PF youths, with in some cases army details, are threatening the people
'if you thought beating on the buttocks was bad last year, it will be a
bullet in the head this year'," Kay said.
      The letter was copied to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and other
government officials.
      Kasukuwere said he has forwarded the letter to the Joint Monitoring
and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) because it was wrongly addressed to
him.
      The minister who denied that Zanu PF youths were spearheading violence
in the rural areas, said training programmes for youths were "non-partisan
and in compliance with the GPA".
      Kasukuwere said the establishment of youth training was agreed upon
under Article 15 of the GPA.
      However,  that article, among other issues, states that "while
recognizing that youths undergoing training at national training centres
have a right to hold political opinions, they should not, during their
period of training, collectively and as part of a scheme of the training be
used or deployed for partisan political work".

      BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE

Sunday Special: Zimsec fiasco: exam dates out

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 18:36
      IT had become common around this time of the year to see pupils moving
around with old question papers, preparing for their school-leaving
examinations. Some would be seen in discussion groups, gathered under trees,
behind buildings and in libraries.
      This is not the case this year.

      Schools are still conducting normal classes, heightening fears among
parents and guardians that they will have to part with extra money to cover
their children's school expenses right through December.

      "Our teachers initially advised that examinations would start
mid-October, but now they are saying that they are also at a loss," said
Tanaka Siso, an "O" Level student at a Harare school.
      On Friday the government announced November 26 and 27 as the dates "O"
and "A" Level examinations will start respectively.

      Representatives of teachers' unions last week blamed the chaos on the
prolonged registration process and confusion over fees.

      "Registration has taken longer than necessary," said Zimbabwe Teachers'
Association (Zimta) chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu. "We have not yet received
feedback on entries and the timetable too is not yet out."

      The problems have been exacerbated by confusion over registration
fees.

      The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) had proposed
registration fees of between US$40 and US$44 a subject.

      But the government revoked the fees after an outcry from parents who
felt the fees were exorbitant, and recommended that the examinations body
instead charges US$10 for "O" Level and US$20 for "A" Level.

      Despite the new fee structure, thousands of pupils failed to beat two
extended deadlines in September, prompting the Ministry of Education to
leave the registration open.

      The ministry also introduced a loan scheme which allows parents to
register at least six subjects for their children and pay the fees over
three months.

      But that still did not help the situation. Although the government
insists the examinations will be concluded by mid November, many parents and
pupils are skeptical.

      Ndlovu said: "As Zimta, our counts usually give us between 300 000 and
350 000 students registering for 'O' Level examinations each year but as per
the last count on 25 September, we had 140 000."

      Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) national co-ordinator
Oswald Madziva said the government loan scheme was poorly communicated
leading to many school heads failing to properly administer it.

      "This is a big scandal. As PTUZ we are seeing a trend of around 58%
non-registration rate in urban schools and as high as 90% for rural
 schools."

      Madziva said the high fees demoralised parents and guardians and meant
education is no longer a right for most poor students.

      Madziva said the country was better off with new faces at the
examinations body, which has in the past failed to pay creditors and
markers.

      "We have to get rid of the current system which does not reward
competence but loyalty and patronage to a certain political party," he said

      The government, he said, should revert  to the old system of starting
examination preparations earlier in the year so that registration is
undertaken around March as was the case in the past.

      This will leave enough time for preparations, he said.

      "The current scenario will see students having to write two or even
three papers a day if the examinations are to be completed this year. That
is stressful and heightens chances of poor results," Madziva said.

      Senator David Coltart, the Minister of Education, Sport, Art and
Culture said while the concern about delays was valid, people should also
look at the positive initiatives, among them the extension of the deadline.

      "We also wanted to first see how many people had been registered so we
could then order the final papers and do the timetables," he said.

      "But when making these arguments, people should also look at how the
examinations were run last year for example.

      "They were done in a shambolic fashion, with no money, antiquated
machines were used and the papers were mixed. What we have done this year is
to restore viability at Zimsec."

      A Zimsec official, who disputed claims by teachers' unions that
parents could not afford the fees, said all stakeholders should come
together and restore viability at the institution.

      "The same people who are crying foul over a $10 registration fee juice
up their mobiles several times a day using recharge cards of $5 each.

      "You will realise that after widespread complaints about the initial
fees of $40 and $44, which were in any case similar to those, charged by
Cambridge, we still lost about 40% of our candidates to Cambridge.

      "You tell me, what level of hypocrisy is that?" However, the official
dismissed the non-registration statistics given by the teachers' bodies
saying there was no way of determining that except by the Zimsec system.

      The hassles may have been too many but Coltart has a promise: "After
all this, the results will be out correctly, correlating to the expected
outcome unlike what happened last year where some candidates got results for
examinations they did not sit."

      BY JENNIFER DUBE

Harare Races Against Time as Cholera Resurfaces

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 18:30
      MOUNDS of earth, rubble, deep trenches and old water pipes have become
a common sight on roadsides in the Harare central business district (CBD).
It is no longer unusual to come across tractors or earth moving equipment
right at the heart of the capital.
      A few weeks ago, the City of Harare embarked on a programme to replace
old water pipes in the CBD.
      The programme started at a fast pace, but progress seem to be slowing
down along the way.
      This has raised concerns that the project may not be completed before
the beginning of the rainy season, plunging the city into a serious crisis.
      The fears have been worsened by the recent outbreak of cholera in some
parts of the country.
      The water-borne disease that killed 4 300 between last August and
early this year has re-surfaced.
      Harare was the epicentre of the last epidemic and authorities blamed
it on the ageing water infrastructure that saw some parts of the city going
without water for months.
      But in an interview, Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda said they were "on
top of the situation".
      "It (the refurbishment exercise) is taking a bit longer than it
should," Masunda said.
      "(This is because) when we dig up and replace the pipes, we need to
properly compact the dug area.
      "In some areas, this has already been done. The important thing for us
is to reduce, if not eliminate completely, the amount of treated water going
to waste through leakages."
      Although only joints in the old pipes needed repairing, Masunda said
they decided to replace even the pipes, thus prolonging the process.
      "The pipes themselves are not too bad," he said. "The problem is with
the joints, they are magnetised and now worn out. In a normal situation, we
would replace only the joints, but we have decided to replace even the
pipes."
      When chemicals, power and all other essential requirements are
available, the city's two water treatment plants - Morton Jaffray and Prince
Edward -have the capacity to pump out a combined 714 megalitres of water a
day.
      However at the moment, they are only pumping out not more than 600
megalitres due to erratic supply of chemicals and power.
      According to Masunda, 40% of the treated water is lost through
leakages, which means that only less than 400 megalitres is relayed through
to the domestic and industrial users.
      The demand for water in Harare and surrounding towns of Chitungwiza,
Ruwa and Norton currently stands at 1 000 mega litres a day.
      "At the moment we have to introduce a rigorous demand management, we
are just trying to manage this limited resource.
      "Once we have reduced these leakages, we expect the situation to
improve significantly, and get water to all parts of the city," he said.
      But Harare residents are not amused at the snail pace the
refurbishments are moving and the continued erratic supplies.
      "If the rains start anytime now, what will happen to all these
trenches?
      "We will obviously have ditches all over, and the consequences of that
will be much worse than we have been through," said Clement Mutumwa, a
vendor near the Angwa City complex.
      Combined Harare Residents' Association (CHRA) chairperson, Simbarashe
Moyo said while refurbishing the water pipes was a good idea, the current
initiative had not brought about any improvements for residents.
      "We are seeing all this digging in town, we acknowledge their efforts
to replace the pipes," said Moyo, "but honestly that is not transforming to
a normal provision of water at the moment.
      "We were hoping the digging would change the situation, but that has
not happened."
      Instead of focusing a lot on pipes in the CBD, Moyo said the council
should have prioritised increasing the pumping capacity of Morton Jaffray
and Prince Edward.
      "Our solutions must go beyond just digging in town. They must address
the root cause of the problem. Issues of pollution should be addressed.
      "The reason why we have to spend so much on water chemicals is because
not much is being done to contain pollution."
      Masunda argued that solving issues of pollution was not a
responsibility for the City Fathers alone.
      He said: "People have to do their bit as well. They have to help by
not polluting the system. They can do this by not throwing litter all over
and by properly disposing of sewage. If we are able to treat the sewage, we
will reduce the amount of chemicals we use."
      High levels of pollution have forced the council "to procure a
cocktail of between eight and nine chemicals to treat the water".
      Substantial amounts of raw sewage and industrial waste flow into the
city's supply dams.

      BY VUSUMUZI SIFILE

Epworth Ladies Show Positive Stamina

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 17:20
      TIRED of the stigma and discrimination in their community, a group of
HIV positive women from Epworth, came together and decided they would play
soccer to show those around them that their condition is not in any way
limiting.

      Their unorthodox method to fight stigma set even more tongues wagging,
but it was only for a short while.

      They have now won the hearts and admiration of not only their
community but the whole country.

      Recently the Epworth team known as the ARV Swallows emerged champions
in the Positive Women's Soccer League at Gwanzura Stadium, making headlines
in the country and around the world.

      The idea to start this league came from football administrator Chris
Sambo.

      Some of the team members told Standardhealth last week that they are
excited about their newly-acquired respect and appreciation by their
community that there is life after being diagnosed with HIV.

      "I heard about the women's soccer while attending a workshop by
Christian Care and I was immediately interested and I put down my name,"
said Annafields Phiri who helped setting up ARV Swallows.

      "After a while I was invited to the launch of the league at Jameson
Hotel where I was given a team name.

      "I was then asked to go to Epworth and set up a team comprising of HIV
positive women of whatever age who were interested. "

      Phiri said at first she did not take the launch seriously.

      It was only after she went home "and slept over it" that she realised
the initiative's potential to change people's attitudes.

      "I realised that by playing soccer, a game believed to be for men only
this might help society to respect us as women first who are capable of
doing anything and then as people living with HIV.

      "The next day after the launch I was knocking on people's doors and
sounding them out about the idea. This is how the ARV Swallows was formed."

      Team captain Janet Mupalume said when she first heard about the idea
of a soccer club from Phiri she dismissed it.

      "The idea of women playing soccer was a huge joke to me and we had
good a laugh with Annafields when she came to my home. Even my son laughed,"
Mupalume remembers.

      "But after some serious thought I knew there was nothing we couldn't
do as women living with HIV if we set our minds to it.

      "When we started people, especially men were laughing at us saying
look at these crazy women but today it's these same people who have respect
for us.

      "They don't frown upon us like before."

      Another team member Neria Kabudura recalled how they were jeered at
their first practice session.
      "Most of us had to learn how to kick the ball from scratch. We were
all kicking the ball in different and wrong directions.

      "Others were touching the ball with their hands and others going in
the wrong direction with the ball and the people who had come to watch us
had quite a show," Kabudura said.

      "Our coach was screaming at us throughout the session and we really
thought he was going to give up after that crazy first day of training but
he saw in us our will to learn and learnt to be patient with us.

      "When we won the championship at Gwanzura he was very proud."

      To the three women, this victory is not due to their newly acquired
football skills but their different experiences living positively with HIV.

      Mupalume said she decided to get tested after having been ill for
sometime.

      "I was sick for a long time I was so thin and worn out. Each time
people came to see me they would say, its only a matter of time but I got
tested and sought treatment and here I am today - very strong and captaining
the ARV Swallows!

      "Those people wanted to play God and he showed them he is the only
God," Mupalume said.

      Kabudura said she got tested in 2001 a year after she suffered from
tuberculosis.

      "When my result came back positive I couldn't believe it because I
felt very healthy. It was only in 2004 when I fell ill that I accepted I was
really not well," Kabudura said.

      "In 2008 I began taking Antiretroviral Drugs at the MSF clinic in
Epworth and today I am even healthy enough to play soccer.

      "Some of the people who used to laugh at me when I was ill died
because they were afraid of getting tested."

      Phiri also got tested under the same circumstances as Mupalume.

      Relatives used to come and tell her son to prepare to stay with them
because it was only a matter of time before she died while neighbours were
afraid to come near her in case they became "infected".

      But Phiri's spirit like all her other team mates who have had similar
experiences of stigma and discrimination was not broken.

      "God gave us the opportunity to live and be living testimonies to
everyone that there is life after testing HIV positive."

      ARV Swallows' story has already inspired an aid worker Joanna
Stavropoulou to make a film The Positive Ladies Soccer Club to celebrate
their fighting spirit.

      BY BERTHA SHOKO

'Medical services still out of reach'

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 17:15
      ZIMBABWE needs a lasting solution to the high tariffs demanded by
health care service providers, the Deputy Minister of Health and Child
Welfare, Dr Douglas Mombeshora has said.

      Mombeshora, who was speaking at the recent Association of Health Care
Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFOZ) Biennial All-Stakeholders' Conference in Nyanga,
said many Zimbabweans were now going to countries like South Africa for
treatment because of exorbitant charges demanded by health service
providers.

      "There are reports that it is now cheaper for patients to travel to
South Africa for treatment than to be treated in Zimbabwe," he said.

      "If that is still the case then we should seriously re-look at our fee
structure.

      "No society can call itself civilised if its citizens cannot access
health services."

      Mombeshora said his ministry was making efforts to retain skills
through the 100-Day Action Plan to get the country's health care system back
on track.

      AHFOZ chief executive, Shylet Sanyanga said cost-containment continued
to be a challenge even with the advent of multi-currencies.

      Her sentiments were echoed by First Mutual Medical Savings Fund
business development manager, Joey Shumbamhini who said they would join
hands with stakeholders in resuscitating and developing the healthcare
delivery system.

      "We are grateful that the whole industry is mindful of the urgency
needed in addressing this hence the appropriate theme of this conference,"
Shumbamhini said.

      "As a fund, we believe things can only look up in the healthcare
industry and those who view otherwise must be standing on their hands."

      Some of the recommendations made at the conference included lobbying
for duty exemption on raw materials for drugs, encouraging utilities to
reduce their tariffs, reallocation of resources and reduction of wastage and
advocating for more funding to the Ministry of Health.

      The two-day workshop was held under the theme Revisiting the
Healthcare Delivery and Financing in Zimbabwe: The Springboard to Tomorrow.

      The country is trying to resuscitate its health delivery system
following the formation of the unity government that has halted the economic
decline.

      BY OUR STAFF

Gold Output on the Rise

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 16:19
      BULAWAYO - Gold production increased by close to eight percent in
September but power outages held back increased production amid reports that
mines are losing about 100 hours a week of work time due to blackouts.
Chamber of Mines president, Victor Gapare told Standardbusiness last week
that power cuts, which were blamed for last year's collapse of the mining
industry continued to slow down the revival of a sector that was once one of
the country's biggest foreign currency earners.

      "Electricity supply interruptions continue to be a cause for concern.
Mines are losing up to 100 hours per week because of the interruptions.

      "Zesa is currently supplying around 70% of industry requirements,"
Gapare said in an interview.

      The power utility is struggling to generate enough electricity because
its thermal power stations in Hwange, Bulawayo, Munyati and Harare either do
not receive enough coal or stopped functioning due to lack of repairs.

      This has forced Zesa to adopt a punishing load-shedding schedule that
is expected to get worse with the revival of Zimbabwe's collapsed
industries.

      But despite the power outages, Gapare said gold production output went
up by 7.9% in September from the statistics recorded the previous month, a
sign he said showed the sector was slowly finding its feet after years of
decline.

      "Gold production for September 2009 at 527.3521kg was 7.9% higher than
that recorded in August. This compares favourably with the production of
338kg achieved in September 2008.

      "Production for the year to September now stands at 2 538kg.

      "Projections for the year at this rate now stand at around 4 200kg.
All the major gold mines are now in production and capacity utilisation is
around 50% for most mines," he said.

      Zimbabwe's mining sector was brought down on its knees in 2008 at the
height of the country's economic crisis, as seen by statistics showing that
gold production in the southern African nation plunged to its lowest in 90
years.

      Zimbabwe produced eight tonnes of gold last year while in 1916, at the
height of the colonial era boom in southern Africa, the former British
colony mined about 29 tonnes.

      BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

Seek Alternative Funding, Zim Told

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 16:08
      ZIMBABWE must seek concessional donor funding to support medium term
growth rather than relying on IMF's Special Drawing Rights (SDR)-related
funds, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday. In August IMF
gave SDRs equivalent to US$250 billion in response to the global economic
crisis and the loan was given to all member countries including Zimbabwe.

      Zimbabwe got US$408 million while the remaining US$99 million was
withheld until the southern African nation settles its overdue arrears under
the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility-Exogenous Shock Facility
(PRGF-ESF) Trust.

      But the allocation created problems with Finance Minister Tendai Biti
and central bank chief, Gideon Gono, clashing on how to use the funds.

      In his report after leading a team to Zimbabwe to review progress in
the implementation of the government's revival plan, Short Term Emergency
Recovery Programme as well as assisting in drafting the 2010 budget, Vitaliy
Kramarenko said the SDR allocation provided a one-off rescue package for
Zimbabwe to boost its international reserves. The team was in the country
from October 14 and ended its mission on Monday.

      "In light of Zimbabwe's debt overhang and low-income status, the
mission advises the authorities to seek sustained concessional donor
financing in support of their medium-term growth and poverty reduction
objectives rather than relying on non-concessional SDR-related funds," IMF
said.

      "The SDR allocation provided an important one-off boost to Zimbabwe's
depleted international reserves, and should be saved."

      Kramarenko said real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to grow
by about 3% spurred on by prudent policies such as cash budgeting,
liberalised prices and a new foreign currency exchange system among others.

      He said political consensus "needs to be forged for continuing cash
budgeting, exercising wage restraint while reorienting expenditures to
developmental needs and priority social programs, resolving RBZ governance
problems and restructuring its balance sheet, enforcing the property rights,
and maintaining the rule of law".

      The mission said the global lender will continue to provide policy
advice and targeted technical assistance in the context of regular visits.

      "Access to IMF lending facilities would require a sustained track
record of sound policies and donor support for the clearance of arrears to
official creditors," Kramarenko said.

      Zimbabwe owes IMF SDR 89 million (about US$139 million) and together
with Somalia and Sudan remain in protracted arrears to the fund as at the
end of June 2009.

      Protracted arrears are those outstanding for six months or more.

      Two members-Somalia and Sudan-have accumulated arrears dating back to
the mid-1980s, accounting for 18% and 75% of total arrears to the Fund,
respectively.

      Zimbabwe, which has been in arrears to the PRGF-ESF Trust since
February 2001, accounts for the remaining 7 %.

      BY NDAMU SANDU

Sunday View: An Open Letter to Professor Jonathan Moyo

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 18:20
      I must say that you have become part and master of a terrible
political culture that treats political divergence as an unpatriotic attempt
to disturb the "natural order" of our national politics. While more urgent
issues such as deaths caused by man-made disasters like cholera,
state-sponsored political violence, and drought are in need of attention, we
still have members of parliament like you who have the time, vision, and
intelligence to abuse public space to insult alternative voices and
political opponents, and your expectations are that Zimbabweans should
render unquestioning audience and allegiance to their "selfless
liberators" - Zanu PF.

      Concerned Zimbabweans find this political conduct a part of the grand
and regrettable selfish political maneuvering and opportunism that continues
to contaminate our national politics.

      You still, on behalf of Zanu PF, act as the ill-functioning apparatus
of threatening, insulting and intimidating alternative voices and opinions
that are demanding accountability from their leaders. Are you surely
confessing to the suffering and expectant Zimbabweans that your task in
joining Zanu PF is to waste your energies in "exposing" MDC-T rather than
improving their terrible plight? It is said that a people without a vision
for the future will always hang on to the past, and a dirty past it is.

      Do you not realise how much pain and suffering under violent and
brutal punishment Zimbabweans have had to take for simply disagreeing with
Zanu PF? Do you not marvel at their audacity to still question, challenge
and even disagree with Zanu PF nevertheless?

      It is not the MDC-T but the power within the people of Zimbabwe that
scares you into this thoughtless and careless frenzy. The people of Zimbabwe
may be poor and hungry, but they do have aspirations, aspirations of
democratic ideals and human rights consciousness that gives them the dignity
they deserve, not the high sounding insults you never run out of.

      Human rights and democracy by the way, have nothing to do with the
West, they are a human aspiration. It is the search for these dreams that
drives the people of Zimbabwe into and across the crocodile-infested and
heavy flowing Limpopo into South Africa, among many distant lands away from
their beloved country.

      Your recent attacks of MDC-T in an interview serve to escalate
existing  tensions and are thus irresponsible. I found your rhetoric very
dodgy, escapist, misleading and scandalous and go against the very spirit of
power-sharing and political tolerance.

      They stand against giving the governed a voice to govern the conduct
of all public affairs including the decisions of their public leaders. The
political bullying tactics that you seek to reintroduce in the current
dispensation, the same that you used in 2000, are now outmoded and outdated.
You must appreciate that the leadership has to be challenged and questioned
and no amount of political bullying will take that right and responsibility
away from us, the people, not MDC-T.

      Your attack of the only remaining papers that give truth-seeking
Zimbabweans alternative platforms for information and discussion, such as
The Standard and The Zimbabwe Independent, is very much a chilling reminder
of your hatred for open governance and transparent leadership.

      Since you identify MDC-T with every dissenting voice in Zimbabwe, do
you not consider this as failure by your party to convince Zimbabweans that
it deserves their following? By the way the citizens will no longer be
passive followers, not after what Zanu PF has done to this country since day
one at independence.

      That was a long time before the MDC-T that you want to blame for
everything was formed. The citizens of this country need not be
western-sponsored or MDC-T to question their leadership. In fact, it is very
arrogant to think that only the MDC-T can question your intentions in
rejoining Zanu PF.

      You spoke authoritatively about Gukurahundi and because of that, I
think it may help you to know that this very act of silencing political
opponents and insulting alternative views you are performing is the
perpetuation of Gukurahundi.

      I do concede that Gukurahundi had all the trappings of the conscious
act of genocide with the intent of wiping out a particular ethnic group from
specific geopolitical regions. However, I believe this was done because of
their political convictions than for the language they spoke. In that
context, Gukurahundi was and is any form of violent and verbal, hegemonic
and authoritarian suppression of the opposition and its supporters.

      It is not only an act of genocide but also an act of what I call
democide. This defines acts of political violence and the forceful
suppression of dissenting voices, with the sole purpose of destroying the
democratic values of fair political competition and the consent of the
governed. And you are doing exactly that.

      The Gukurahundi you talk about and care about so much never really did
end with the cessation of political violence in Matabeleland and the
Midlands but has continued in different and hidden forms to this day. It has
even expanded its focus to the new political opposition supporters like the
MDC-T.

      It has also ceased to be simply a military crusade to an essentially
political one. The same tactics used against the supporters of Zapu have
been witnessed when Zanu PF deal with the MDC-T. Where is your conscience?
      Let me end this letter by informing you that we, the people of
Zimbabwe, have a dream. Our dream is of a Zimbabwe where politics will
neither be about winning arguments nor about total devils and angels. Our
dream is about a country where politics and political debate is promoted on
the understanding that it is about influencing decisions that serve the
interests of all our citizens.

      Our dream is of a varied political leadership that does not spend
sleepless nights thinking of the next line of attack on Tendai Biti. We
dream of leaders that get into office to serve the nation better by
contributing to policies that will get Zimbabwe working again.

      Your conduct stands in the way of our dream. I say so because you are
part of the political leadership, the so-called liberators that have kept
the nation trapped in the blame-the-next-person-but-myself-psyche, and a
victimhood mentality that assumes we are all passive recipients of whatever
happens or happened to us.

      Zimbabweans will never again live within the confines of a controlled
political and public space!

      BY THABANI NYONI

Alex Magaisa: GPA crisis: Will they really walk alone?

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 18:16
      "I pray all the time but obviously the man upstairs is busy at the
moment. He's got bigger issues to deal with than our problems." These were
the words of a football manager in England this week. Needless to say, his
team are languishing at the wrong end of the football league table.

      When you watch and listen to the news of severely dire situations
across the world - the creeping famine in Ethiopia, the daily bombings in
places like Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan, etc it is easy to understand why
'the man upstairs' may, indeed, be too busy to attend to the woes of a
football team.

      There is also our Zimbabwe, for close to a decade now, a vessel
sailing in very rough and violent waters.

      I have been invited to countless prayer meetings. I have seen many
gather in their hundreds, all petitioning the highest authority for divine
intervention. For a while, since the signing of the GPA in September 2008,
Zimbabweans probably thought they had been afforded a reprieve. But just a
year later, things look confused and dire.

      The main political parties, the MDC and Zanu PF, that struck a deal a
year ago after a violent but ultimately fruitless election are presently
estranged. The MDC issued a statement on October 16 2009 that it was
disengaging from its relationship with Zanu PF.

      It remains unclear whether the unity government, itself having been
constructed on very shaky ground, will survive to fulfil its intended
purpose. To my mind however, it looks likely that these parties will
eventually walk hand in hand again. I attempt to suggest why this will be
so.

      First, it is important to get a full appreciation of the meaning and
implications of 'disengagement' as announced by the MDC. There are two ways
of looking at it: formal and informal withdrawal.

      The MDC could have issued a formal withdrawal by writing formally to
the relevant authorities indicating that it no longer wished to be a party
to the GNU. They could have resigned and walked away.

      They have not done that. Instead, the party has stated that it is
disengaging from relations with Zanu PF.

      Yet when you look at it closely, the reality is that the MDC has never
had a formal relationship with Zanu PF beyond the GPA. In fact, the MDC was
at pains to explain to its supporters that by joining the GNU it was not
making the same error that was made by PF ZAPU in 1987. In the aftermath of
the hideous atrocities in Matabeleland in the 1980s, PF ZAPU had under
duress induced by circumstances entered into a formal union with Zanu PF to
create a single party.

      So if the MDC was not in union with Zanu PF how then can it be said to
have disengaged? From what if not the GPA, which is the formal engagement
forum? For, that is the only relationship that they have.

      And is it possible to disengage from the GPA without disengaging from
the unity government? What is being said is tantamount to having your cake
and eating it at the same time, which is not supposed to be possible. The
MDC could have left the GNU altogether by formally withdrawing from the GPA
and that they have not done so indicates that they still have belief in the
GPA and they are not as yet, ready to walk alone. So what then is this all
about?

      To my mind, the MDC is seeking to regain ground lost during the time
that it tried so hard, plainly against the odds to molly-coddle ZANU PF and
hope that some day the old party would experience a St Paul moment and
change course. They have effectively gone on strike.

      Varikuramwa basa (They are on strike) in much the same way that
ordinary employees of a company resort to strike action as a method of
protest. An employee can of course resign, but rarely will an employee do
that unless he is persuaded that he is culpable in some way and it is in his
best interests to do so. The MDC could have taken the equivalent of
resigning, that is, formally withdrawing, but they have not done that.

      Whilst at first sight the target of this strike action is Zanu PF, to
my mind it's directed at SADC generally, but more specifically at South
Africa. It is South Africa more than any country in the region which would
want the Zimbabwean drama to subside.

      They have the football World Cup finals in June next year and they
would like the dirty little secret across the Limpopo to be kept under
wraps. The GPA has provided that veil, so far.

      The MDC knows that it is being used to keep this under cover. But by
this informal withdrawal, they are saying tinoirega ikaputika makatarisa (we
will leave and let it blow up in your face). It's quite likely that this
threat of withdrawal will become more and more potent towards June next year
and will place South Africa under some real pressure to get more involved in
resolving the trouble across the Limpopo.

      So in essence, the MDC's conduct is no more than a threat of what
might happen if the terms and spirit of the GPA are not upheld and if SADC
does not play its part as the guarantor. It's easy for SADC to take a
lackadaisical approach to the issue; to be complacent and pretend that all
is well in Zimbabwe when plainly arrogance and selfishness continue to stand
in the way of progress.

      And the regional body has not done enough in its role as SADC. Some
might argue why the reliance on SADC - well, the regional body placed itself
in that role so either they execute their role faithfully or they disengage
and leave Zimbabwe to its own devices. Therefore, for as long as SADC
pretends to be a guarantor to the GPA, it has a duty to fulfil its mandate
and to so faithfully.

      There is a saying in Ndebele, olulophondo alugoxela which I am told
has the Shona equivalent in rine manyanga hariputirwe (however much you try,
that which has horns cannot be concealed). Unless, SADC takes a more robust
approach, confronting the real problems impeding the full implementation of
the GPA, the horns will appear at a very embarrassing moment.

      Yet also the MDC knows it is not easy to take the decision to formally
withdraw from the GNU. They have in mind the bigger picture and they
recognise the little steps that have been taken economically. They knew what
they were getting into when they entered this marriage with Zanu PF. Like
the person who shares a bed with a dog, they knew they ran the risk of being
stung by fleas.

      It's very easy for observers to chide Tsvangirai and the MDC for being
inconsistent - for example, citing the positive statements that they have
made in respect of President Mugabe and ZANU PF despite evidence to the
contrary.

      These observers may be right but they also exhibit a partial
understanding of the politics involved here. I like to think that Tsvangirai
and the MDC have tried, unsuccessfully so far it has to be admitted, to
paint a good picture because they have been looking at the bigger picture.

      They could not, in the formative stages of this relationship, continue
to behave as if they were in opposition. They probably hoped that they could
have influence in private settings and the public posturing was designed to
help achieve this end. But it has not worked, hence the strike. It could be
said that they were naïve but I do not think they can be blamed for trying.

      For its part, ZANU PF's strategy has not changed one bit. That is not
surprising. The party almost lost power in last year's elections. The
presidential election was a confirmed farce which is why it took more than
six months before a government could be formed. They could have been
arrogant and

      chosen to bulldoze their way after the farcical presidential election
but they knew they would struggle to gain legitimacy. They needed the MDC.
The GPA provided the veil of legitimacy that they craved. They needed
acceptance. The GPA provided that cover. It still does. They know fully well
that the GPA still provides that veil and never mind the rhetoric to the
contrary, they know an MDC withdrawal would drag back Zimbabwe to those
darker days where legitimacy would be in contention.

      Consider for example, the threat that President Mugabe may appoint
acting ministers. These will likely be ministers from Zanu PF. The key thing
here is it is a threat. They are also trying to stand their ground against
the MDC's informal withdrawal, itself a threat against Zanu PF. It's like
someone who approaches another and says, 'I want to commit suicide'. Why?
Anyone who really wants to commit suicide just goes ahead and does it. Why,
if he is serious and sure of his choice, should he feel the need to tell
someone? You just commit suicide and people bury you. To tell someone shows
that you are not sure; it shows that you need help - you want to make people
scared or even feel sorry for you.

      However, there is a risk of course that Zanu PF could go ahead
contrary to the letter and spirit of the GPA (Article 20 which is now
schedule 8 of the Constitution) and fill the positions. Unfortunately, this
will only serve to create  more 'outstanding issues' on top of the already
existing 'outstanding issues'!

      (Maoutstanding ishuz achawanda).It must be recalled that two of the
'outstanding issues' namely the appointments of the central bank governor
and the Attorney general were executed during a period when the two parties
were engaged in disputes over positions in the GNU. So Zimbabweans may have
to brace for yet more 'outstanding issues'.

      So all in all, both parties are continuing with the same old script of
threats and counter-threats. Those who doubted the prospects of the GNU may
feel vindicated. But one hopes the leaders, including the SADC leaders will
see sense and try to resolve the present dispute.

      They all know that at this juncture it is necessary to ensure that the
GNU fulfils its temporary mission. I hear people talk of elections. Kunganwa
chazuro nehope (people forget too quickly). Ideally Zimbabwe needs an
election to permanently deal with the challenges. But is Zimbabwe really
ready for an election? I am not sure. None of the parties have pushed for
by-elections to fill vacancies because they are conscious of the effects of
elections in the current environment.

      My experience and observations are that there has been much goodwill
towards the GNU even from those who are often accused of trying to take over
Zimbabwe. People were starting to warm to it; to give it the benefit of
doubt. But all this will be undone if this creature, however unsightly,
meets an early death.

      It will be back to Ground Zero and I do not think that is in the
interests of the ordinary men, women and children who continue to toil in
the streets and fields of Zimbabwe. All that is needed is for common-sense
to prevail. For now, I doubt that either of the parties will walk alone. It's
more likely they will give it another go.

      Alex Magaisa is based at, Kent Law School, the University of Kent and
can be contacted at wamagaisa@yahoo.co.uk    or a.t.magaisa@kent.ac.uk

Comment: Harare Must be Hiding Something

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

      Saturday, 31 October 2009 18:15
      LAST week Zimbabwe demonstrated that it can thumb its nose at the
international community and get away with it, yet again. Manfred Nowak the
United Nations human rights expert, is the latest to find himself at the
receiving end of Harare's rogue conduct. He was detained at Harare airport
on Wednesday by state security agents and deported to South Africa on
Thursday.
      Zimbabwe's behaviour is driven by fears that the international
community will unearth damaging evidence of its deviant actions. Nowak is
the UN Council's special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment.
      The urgency of an objective fact-finding by an independent UN expert
has been highlighted in recent weeks by reports of abductions, arrests,
intimidation and harassment of supporters of Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T). There has also been a
raid on a residence rented by the PM's party, as well as the clamp down on
human rights defenders.
      Nowak was told the decision to postpone his visit was due to talks in
Harare between mediators from the 15-nation Sadc region grouping and leaders
of Zimbabwe's trouble Government of National Unity. Apparently Zanu PF
ministers cannot do more than one thing at a time!
      Sadc ministers were in Harare to mediate in the growing differences
over power-sharing between President Robert Mugabe and Tsvangirai and Deputy
Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, who head the two MDC formations, the other
partners in the inclusive government.
      However Nowak's visit was for a week, meaning the government could
have allowed him in but dealt with him after departure of the Sadc leaders
since he would still be around.
      Nowak is the second high-ranking UN official to be denied entry. Last
year Zimbabwe refused entry to Haile Menkerios, the UN Assistant
Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
      Deportations are a weapon for dealing with missions that place the
government in poor light. On two separate occasions in October 2004 and
February 2005, delegations from the Congress of South African Trade Unions
(Cosatu) flew into Harare on fact-finding missions. They were detained on
arrival and deported.
      In December 2006 Jan Egeland, then UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian
Affairs visited victims of Operation Murambatsvina - months after the urban
cleansing operation and was presented evidence that incriminated state
security agents.
      The government attacked him. Fear of the outside world finding out the
excesses of the government or Zanu PF explains the decision behind Nowak's
deporation from Zimbabwe.
      Last year the Group of Elders, which includes former US president
Jimmy Carter, former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan and Graca Machel,
wanted to visit Zimbabwe in the wake of the post-election
      violence.
      They were stopped in their tracks before they could leave
Johannesburg. Harare was very clear it would not countenance their presence
even though the group works to "support courage where there is fear, to
foster agreement where there is conflict and to inspire hope where there is
despair".
      Ever since 2002 when Zimbabwe barred Swedish election observer Pierre
Schorri from heading an EU elections observer mission, Harare has resorted
to all kinds of trickery to avoid scrutiny.
      Nowak and the UN now appreciate the difficulties the MDC-T faces in
working with Zanu PF. What remains to be seen is whether the UN will stand
by and continue to watch Harare treat its officials with such disdain.

Sunday Opinion: Can Apples be Reaped From a Thorn Tree?

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Saturday, 31 October 2009 18:10
      FROM Latin America to Asia, from Eastern Europe to Africa,
long-entrenched dictatorships have given way to elected civilian
governments.

      The final outcomes of recent transitions cannot yet be known, but it
is now clear that nations emerging from dictatorship face formidable
challenges as they seek to establish or restore the rule of law.

      This is the case that Zimbabwe is seized with and needs to address in
order to return the country to democratic legitimacy after almost three
decades of a Stalinist-type dictatorship.

      The inception of the Inclusive Government in February 2009 after the
signing of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) heralded the birth of two
conflicting national legacies of democratization and dictatorship under the
camouflage of sovereignty and Pan-Africanism.

      The contestation between these two legacies, one led by the Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) formations and the other by Zanu PF, assumed
various forms in subsequent struggles between these two major political
parties in Zimbabwe.

      The struggles of the MDC formations and its civil society allies were
in pursuit of freedom, justice and happiness, it was a democratic struggle
premised on the rule of law. It was a freedom from both President Robert
Mugabe's dictatorship and that of his party, Zanu PF.

      The past three decades and more specifically the last 10 years have
been a struggle against this system of governance. It was like taming a wild
python, a task that is no doubt not easy but not undoable.

      The current governing arrangements in Zimbabwe, characterized by the
hybrid nature alluded to above, continue to be case in study. Many
descriptions of the process have been forwarded for the arrangements. Some
have resorted to Greek mythology and likened the governing arrangements to
the mythical entry into the city of Troy using a Trojan horse, while others
have likened the arrangements to playing with a crocodile that seems dead
but is just asleep soon to wake up and devour those deceived by it.

      The nature and character that the inclusive government is shaping up
to be is the subject of this publication (Can apples be reaped from a thorn
tree?). Whether the governing arrangements are proving to be a suitable
vehicle to allow Zimbabwe to transit to democracy or whether it is just a
pit-stop on the way back to authoritarian rule, is the answer that this
publication seeks to give through an analysis of five key issues and
developments around them over the eight month period that the Inclusive
Government has been in existence.

      Following its loss in the February 2000 Constitutional Referendum,
Zanu PF embarked on a desperate bid to recreate itself as a revolutionary
vanguard political party. This attempt at self-recreation, of necessity had
to be centred on the recreation of Mugabe as the embodiment of the regime
and the party.

      The same tactics were used again following the historic defeat of Zanu
PF and Mugabe in the March 2008 general election to the then opposition MDC.
Unlike before, the June 2008 one-man presidential election run-off was,
arguably, organised under the military with devastating human rights
violations, among them kidnappings, abductions, enforced disappearances and
extra-judicial killings.

      This effort at self-recreation was not the product of a policy
blueprint, but a knee jerk reaction to an ebbing power base following Mugabe's
defeat in the first round of the presidential elections to MDC leader Morgan
Tsvangirai.

      The Zimbabwe crisis described above is a confluence of several factors
such as institutional and Constitutional collapse; economic melt-down;
endemic corruption; breakdown in the rule of law; gross human rights
violations; failure of Zimbabwe liberation movements (PF Zapu and Zanu PF)
to transform themselves into national and civilian political parties and an
inherited colonial state into a democratic one as well as the failure of
liberal democracy.

      Parties to the GPA and all democratic forces in Zimbabwe need to
ensure that in order to transition from the current situation, Zimbabwe
needs to have  new institutions premised on a new people-driven democratic
Constitution, new political culture and a total demolition of the
infrastructure of violence built over the years by Zanu PF to sustain its
dictatorship.

      This calls for united efforts by all democratic forces to make sure
that apples can be reaped from this thorny and bumpy transitional period
organised under the Inclusive Government.

      The violence, lawlessness, repression and bad governance in Zimbabwe
represent a tragic degeneration for the whole Southern African region
including its food security.

      There can be no excuse for most of the Zimbabwean government's conduct
in the wake of the Inclusive Government which is supposed to return the
country to democratic legitimacy. There has to be a norm shift in state
behaviour and the new government should promote and protect fundamental
civil and political liberties if this transitional regime is to bear fruits
as is expected.

      The continued use of violence betrays Zanu PF's awareness of its
unpopularity and general lack of respect to the GPA. In this regard, civil
society organizations should work hard to ensure that Zanu PF's legacy of
impunity is put to a halt by insisting on having a combination of both
retributive and restorative transitional justice. Democratic forces in
Zimbabwe as well as the two formations of the MDC should constantly remind
Zanu PF and Mugabe that their legitimacy exist at the pleasure of those who
want the country to return to the rule of law and democratic
norm-compliance.

      Zimbabwe's Inclusive Government should show higher respect for its
citizens' rights in order to prove that it is moving along a democratic path
as opposed to the previous regime. This is so because democracy
institutionalises a way of solving disagreements over fundamental questions
through non-violent methods.

      Democracy promotes a culture of negotiation, bargaining, compromise,
concession, the tolerance of differences and even the acceptance of defeat.
And it unleashes forces that divide and segment the sources of violence.

      State repression in Zimbabwe can only stop when the Inclusive
Government realises that democratic political norms emphasize compromise in
conflict and participation and responsiveness in relations between the
governors and the governed, traits that are inconsistent with the reliance
on violence as an instrument of rule. The new order should make sure that
violence should not be the premise of rule in Zimbabwe otherwise the
transition can lead to democratic reversals leading to an even worse
dictatorship.

      It is the role of civic society and all democratic forces to make sure
the country does not transition to anarchy.

      The fear of the leaders not to get re-elected, or to even get pushed
out of office before the end of the term, shapes the way they treat their
citizens. Principles to the GPA have to understand that they are answerable
to the citizens of Zimbabwe. This can be done by civil society executing its
watchdog role especially at this point when the country needs a democratic
people-driven Constitutional reform process that is not a hostage to
political power games.

      * Extracted from a report of the same title launched by the Coalition
in SA last Thursday.

      BY CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE COALITION

Zimbabwe PM 'dishonest': Mugabe

(AFP) - 11 hours ago

HARARE - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe called the country's premier and
longtime rival Morgan Tsvangirai "dishonest," state media said Saturday,
casting doubt on whether a dispute threatening the unity government can be
resolved.

"We must no longer trust those who pretend to be in the inclusive government
and have jumped in and out of it," Mugabe was quoted as saying in the
state-run Herald newspaper.

"They can never be true and genuine partners and they have proved to be
dishonest," he said. "We, however, want to assure you that we will not allow
the situation to continue like that."

Tsvangirai, the former opposition leader, joined the unity government with
Mugabe in February in the position of prime minister in a bid to end
political violence and halt the nation's economic freefall.

But two weeks ago he suspended cooperation with Mugabe's ZANU-PF party in
protest over the arrest of Roy Bennett, his nominee for deputy agriculture
minister who is facing terrorism charges.

A so-called Troika of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community
(SADC) arrived in Harare on Wednesday in hopes of breaking the impasse.

Mugabe said the decision by Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) to halt cooperation with the 85-year-old president's party was
hypocritical.

"ZANU-PF is not government, but in government. It is part of government like
the other two parties," Mugabe said.

"Cabinet is not a party affair. That kind of hypocrisy should be seen as it
is.

"What kind of sincerity is that? We go into government, form policies, hold
investment conferences, (but) we have a part of the government striking
against themselves."

He added that the government would continue to work despite the move by
Tsvangirai's party and would try to find a solution despite the MDC's
refusing any contacts with his ZANU-PF.

"When you have as a party or even as individuals taken the stand that we
shall work together... then the requirement is that we continue step by
step, move together," he said.

Mugabe's comments came a day after the delegation of regional mediators
announced that there was need for a full SADC summit to address problems
related to Zimbabwe's power-sharing agreement.

After meeting with the mediators on Friday, Tsvangirai said: "The Troika
does not solve anything. Its mandate is to gather information and make
recommendations."

He added: "We have to find a solution to the crisis so we can get the
inclusive government working again."

Tsvangirai suspended cooperation with Mugabe's party two weeks ago in
protest at the arrests of his supporters and intractable disputes over
appointments to key posts.

The unity government is meant to draft a new constitution that would pave
the way for fresh elections, and regional leaders are eager for the deal to
hold.

Despite the political crisis, the government has halted Zimbabwe's economic
meltdown by abandoning the local currency and easing price controls.

Mugabe takes sharp dig at Tsvangirai

Oct 31, 9:48 AM EDT

By ANGUS SHAW
Associated Press Writer

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- President Robert Mugabe took a sharp dig at his
estranged governing partner Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday,
but said they were still allies in Zimbabwe's troubled coalition.

Speaking Saturday at the state funeral of a former guerrilla leader who
fought for independence from Britain in 1980, Mugabe, speaking of
Tsvangirai's temporary withdrawal from the Cabinet, said: "Even if some
person is not mentally stable he is still your partner.

"We bound ourselves to work together even though we had disparate positions.
We will continue talking, no matter what," Mugabe told mourners at the
Heroes Acre cemetery west of the capital as Mischek Chando was buried. The
85-year-old leader wore his trademark tailored suit and dark sunglasses for
the occasion.

Mugabe said his ZANU-PF party and Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic
Change had taken "positive steps" despite having faced difficulties.

"There can be disagreement but that's ours to handle," he said. "We are glad
we are talking about it.

"On an odd day, one party decides it should not be fully in the process. It
has one leg in, and one leg out and you begin to wonder if you are with
people who know what agreement means," Mugabe added. He spoke mostly in
Shona, and in the fiery terms typical of such occasions.

Tsvangirai said it was Mugabe, in power since independence and seen as
increasingly autocratic, who has failed to live up to their power-sharing
agreement. He withdrew from Cabinet on Oct. 16, accusing Mugabe of trampling
on human rights, and said he would only return when confidence in the unity
government was restored.

On Friday, foreign ministers from Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia - members
of the Southern African Development Community that pushed Mugabe and
Tsvangirai to share power - met separately with the two to try to heal the
split in the government. After the meetings, they said they would recommend
to their heads of state that a summit be convened, a move for which
Tsvangirai has pushed. They did not say where or when.

At a meeting in Berlin on Monday, key international donors urged Zimbabwe's
factions to end the current crisis and echoed some of the concerns raised by
Tsvangirai. The donors said Zimbabwe had made progress since the unity
government was formed in February, but political and humanitarian problems
not only undermined its ability "to deliver the change which ordinary
Zimbabweans expect, but also deters much-needed foreign investment and
hampers Zimbabwe's capacity to fully re-engage with the international
community."

The Berlin meeting was attended by representatives of 17 industrialized
nations and of the European Union, the International Monetary Fund, the
World Bank, the African Development Bank and the United Nations.

Mugabe's party accuses Tsvangirai of not doing enough to persuade Western
nations to lift travel and financial sanctions targeting Mugabe loyalists
and their business associates. Tsvangirai has said the burden is on ZANU-PF
to reform if it wants to end Zimbabwe's isolation.

"The countries of Europe and America want to dictate which way our politics
should go and they talk about regime change," Mugabe said Saturday. "They
want us to go down on our knees and beg. One day we should think about
fighting them in the international courts."

Banners held by ZANU-PF members at the funeral criticized Tsvangirai. "Don't
disengage. Do condemn sanctions," said one.

Tsvangirai's party has reported a recent surge in political violence,
allegations that Mugabe's party denies. And the barring on Thursday of U.N.
torture investigator Manfred Nowak raised further questions about how much
power Tsvangirai can wield in the face of fierce opposition from some in
ZANU-PF. Tsvangirai had invited Nowak, but the U.N. envoy was stopped at the
airport. Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, a ZANU-PF
leader, called Nowak's attempted visit "a provocation of the highest order."

We will solve our own problems – Mugabe

“Zimbabwe’s Blood Diamonds” – transcript

Sokwanele - Enough is Enough - Zimbabwe
PROMOTING NON-VIOLENT PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVE DEMOCRACY

“Zimbabwe’s Blood Diamonds” – transcript
Sokwanele : 31 October 2009

[This transcript is from a Special Assignment programme - “Zimbabwe’s Blood Diamonds” - which was broadcast on Tuesday 27 October at 8.30 pm on SABC3 (South Africa).]

PRESENTER:
For most people, diamonds symbolize love, happiness and wealth, but in countries like Zimbabwe, they’ve brought terror and misery. So jewellery stores like this one in Cresta want to feel confident that the diamonds they sell are approved by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. This is the international watchdog to put a stop to the deadly trade in conflict diamonds. Next week in Namibia, they will decide on what action to take against Zimbabwe. This report investigates the country’s blood diamonds.

INTRO:
In the mountains of Eastern Zimbabwe lies a vast alluvial deposit of diamonds, one of the richest in the world. The gems lie near the surface of the ground, so they can be collected by hand. Nearly half of the diamonds found here are industrials – a low-grade stone used for drilling and grinding. But, perhaps as many as 40 %, are the highly prized gemstones.

ILLEGAL DIAMOND PANNER:
Industrials are the ones we find most often, but the clear ones are higher quality. They are the ones that bring big money.

These diamonds could earn Zimbabwe as much as 200 million US dollars a month, enough to fund the country’s reconstruction. Instead, they’ve brought nothing but greed and misery.

TITLE: ZIMBABWE’S BLOOD DIAMONDS:
This is Mutare, in Manicaland, Zimbabwe. Three years ago news began to circulate that diamonds could be found in the mountains of Marange, some 100 km south of the city.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES:
This could be, could make Zimbabwe one of the top one or two or three diamond producers in the whole world. It is a finite deposit by all appearances and will be mined out in maybe 5 -15 years. In which case it is all finished, and so, if we squander the opportunity to benefit Zimbabwe and its people, then that’s it. We have only got one shot at this.

African Consolidated Resources had staked the claim to mine diamonds in this area. In 2006 the government seized the land and threw them off.

It opened the fields for a free for all and resulted in the biggest diamond rush of recent years. Tens of thousands of desperate and impoverished Zimbabweans flocked to the area, hoping for a share in its riches.

SOT FARAI MAGUWU, DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:
In 2005 when the govt embarked on Operation Murambatsvina, destroying people’s homes, people’s sources of livelihoods, and driving more than 700,000 families out of their homes and breadwinners losing their source of livelihoods. So by 2005, when this diamond rush began, unemployment level in Zimbabwe was estimated at around 85%.

President Robert Mugabe’s government also recognised the potential of this new resource, seeing the diamonds as a key to maintaining power. First the police, and then the army, were ordered to clamp down on illegal miners.

IAN SMILLIE, CHAIR DIAMOND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE:
I think the whole situation is extremely fragile. I think that the diamonds have the potential to do a lot more damage than they have yet done, because they are worth a lot of money, they are very divisive and if this going to be a free for all, and with diamonds at the centre, then they have a huge potential for disruption.

In October last year, the launch of Operation Hakudzokwe, which means, “You’ll never return,” was announced on state television.

CHRIS MUSHOWE, ZANU (PF) GOVERNOR MANICALAND, ZIMBABWE:
“ We must clean Mutare of this menace first and foremost.”

Few watching anticipated the brutality that was to unfold.

VICTIM:
We heard “the soldiers are coming.” “Soldiers have arrived.” They surrounded the people. Then the helicopters came. They started firing. In front of me were so many people. 6 people were killed.

VICTIM:
The helicopters were throwing teargas. The policemen were shooting people. So we were running, and that’s when they caught us.

VICTIM:
Bullets came from the sky. He was shot here. He fell and rolled. His tongue came out and his eyes came out.

ZBC REPORTER:
“Barely some minutes after the helicopters in Operation Restore Order illegal panners could be seen fleeing.

Tear gas was used to flush out the panners, who were then sprayed with bullets from the air. On the ground, soldiers pursued, firing with assault rifles.

FARAI MAGUWU, DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:
This was hybrid unit which involved the notorious Kwekwe based 5th Brigade, which committed the known Gukurahundi atrocities of the 1980s

In the area, were commanders Air Marshall Perence Shiri and army General Constantine Chiwenga. Under Perence Shiri, 20 000 people were killed by the 5th Brigade in the Matabeleland genocide.

VICTIM:
We saw soldiers. They thought everyone running away had diamonds.
They would shoot you. This boy was surrounded by soldiers and tried to escape. He was shot here.

VICTIM:
Some had their hands and feet tied together. They were tied to a tree.
They would set dogs to bite them.

VICTIM:
Two girls were stabbed trying to runaway. Two were stabbed and they died on the spot.

Those who were caught were taken to army bases and tortured. The soldiers beat people for days, and women were gang-raped.

VICTIM:
They took off our trousers, leaving us with shorts and no shirt. Some took razor wire to use for beating.

VICTIM:
They stamped on us with their boots. They hit us with the back of their guns. I had a miscarriage because of the beating.

VICTIM:
They beat us underneath our feet. We couldn’t move because of the wounds. We had to crawl on our hands.

VICTIM:
I thought they wanted to beat me but they said, “Today you will be our wife.” I realised I was going to be raped.

VICTIM:
They exchanged. We slept with one and then a second. I thought it would
avoid getting beaten. But it changed nothing. After sleeping with those soldiers we went back and another new group came.

People were mauled by police dogs.

SOT: VICTIM:
I had both my arms stretched out, being bitten. One man would say, “Catch hands” and then the other one said, “Catch hands.” When the dog tore me, he pulled the chain and then again, “Catch hands.”

Many of the injured avoided hospitals, frightened that they could be arrested again. But, of those that did seek treatment, these hospital records show the true extent of the horror. People had dog bites all over their body, others were shot in the back as they fled, people were assaulted or cut down with buckshot.

No one knows the true extent of the massacre at Chiadzwa.

SOT FARAI MAGUWU, DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:
The government gave an order to kill people. We estimate that more than 400 people were murdered by the State in Chiadzwa. These people could have been arrested and charged and found guilty, they could have been sentenced, but rather the government chose to kill those people.

Countless others died of their injuries at home.

VICTIM:
It was very difficult to go to hospital because if you dared, the soldiers would follow and capture you. So many people died at home.

VICTIM:
People ended up dying. Some were torn apart by dogs, which ripped apart their flesh. That is what we saw in Chiadzwa.

VICTIM:
It was stinking in the mortuary. It was full of panners who were rotting.

In this cemetery on the outskirts of Mutare is a mass grave where 70 bodies from Chiadzwa were buried. The government of Zimbabwe denies that any human rights abuses occurred.

OBERT MPOFU – MINISTER OF MINES:
Really without evidence, it is difficult to confirm something that cannot be supported by any facts. If there is one person, or any people, with that kind of evidence, why don’t they bring it forward so that it can be investigated? We have nothing to hide.

The international watchdog on “conflict diamonds” – called the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme – visited Zimbabwe and found gross irregularities. They recommended that Zimbabwe be suspended until they comply with minimum standards.

IAN SMILLIE, CHAIR DIAMOND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE:
To get that team to go Zimbabwe was like getting blood from a stone, and the debate about what should be in the report, what the findings should say, what should be done the recommendations should be, whether Zimbabwe should be suspended or expelled, or given gifts of technical assistance, the debates have gone on and on. It has been messy and it has been slow.

Ian Smillie was one of the founding members of the Kimberley Process. Earlier this year, he resigned because he’d lost faith in the body’s ability to act on human rights.

IAN SMILLIE, CHAIR DIAMOND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE:
I think that the industry as a whole and the countries that depend on diamonds for their economic future, for their economic development, suffer when the KP pretends to be effective and is actually ineffective.

This is the Machipanda border post between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Smuggling here is rife and diamonds are brought across by the bucket load. It’s estimated that Zimbabwe is losing nearly 50 million US dollars a week to illegal trade in gold and diamonds.

FARAI MAGUWU, DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:
We have traced the smuggling even up to Mozambique where soldiers, and the panners, ordinary people, are crossing the border to sell these diamonds. There is no control of the diamond trade from Chiadzwa.

Vila de Manica is only 18 km from the border. Travelling into the town, evidence of diamond money is all too apparent. This suburb of new houses has sprung up in the last two years to house the dealers. It’s built on the proceeds of Chiadzwa’s diamonds.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES:
It appears that these diamonds end up everywhere and, remember once a diamond is polished, you cannot tell where it comes from and so, unfortunately, we are losing a national asset out the back door

When the Zimbabwean government clamped down on illegal buyers, they simply set up shop here. Dealers’ houses are easy to find. They have armed guards and tight security. Outside on the street are groups of Zimbabwean youths employed to tout for business.

Armed with a hidden camera, we went to find out how it all works. Outside the house are two men armed with AK47s and, as we arrive, two women leave pocketing their cash.

This diamond dealer is connected to a businessman in Zimbabwe

DEALER:
Depending on your stone. There’s 3 categories of stone. Your industrial, middle and gem. Industrials are about US $ 10.00 – US $ 12.00 per gram. You’re selling per gram. Your gem depends on the buyer, on what your buyer’s offering.

His business is thriving.

DEALER:
There’ s always going to be, there has always been, people dealing in Chiadzwa. There will always be. Even with the mines there, it’s not going to stop. It will never stop.

Many of the dealers here are seasoned smugglers. They’ve trailed blood diamonds around the world.

DEALER:
You are talking like you have experience. How long have you been in the business?
Thirty-five years.
Where did you start?
In Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone, West Africa. So when did you move to Mozambique then?
4 – 5 months ago, just to see.
How do you compare Zimbabwe diamonds to Sierra Leone diamonds?
Completely different. The best in the whole world are Sierra Leone diamonds.

They may not be the best in the world, but the diamonds we were shown by a dealer are still worth a lot of money. This one is valued at 25 000 US dollars. The smaller one is more cloudy but could still could fetch 4000 US dollars.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES:
At the moment, the illegal smugglers, the middlemen, the foreigners, the overseas people, the foreigners from every nation, and every nation that has to anything do with diamonds has a finger in this pie.

This is the mosque after Friday prayers. Here it’s possible to get an idea of the extent of the illegal diamond trade in Vila de Manica. The dealers come mainly from Lebanon and West Africa, including the DRC, Angola, Guinea and Sierra Leone. These countries have such weak internal controls, that as many as half of the diamonds they export can’t be accounted for.

Dealers leave in cars with Zimbabwean number plates. It’s an open door for laundering blood diamonds.

IAN SMILLIE, CHAIR DIAMOND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE:
All these countries where control are quite weak, particularly in the Congo and Angola where controls are abysmally weak, and the KP hasn’t done anything about it, and the KP hasn’t done anything about it. All this needs to be tightened up.

Yet, despite the Zimbabwean government’s heavy-handed attempts to secure the diamond fields, illegal trade continues flourish. Diamond deals are happening everywhere. Lebanese and West Africans have set up at the local swimming pool.

This woman has just arrived from Zimbabwe and is pointed in the right direction to sell her stones. Soon afterwards we see her going in to the dealers.

Round the corner another deal is underway.

OBERT MPOFU – MINISTER OF MINES:
We have declared that place a Protected Area and we have investors in the area right now who have come up with security that is unprecedented, security that will ensure that nothing gets out of Chiadzwa.

A number of people we spoke to admitted that they got their diamonds from politicians, CIO officials and army syndicates. Money is seeping away into the bank accounts of smugglers and syndicates.

This is the road to Chiadzwa. Despite the risk to their lives, hundreds of illegal miners still head to the diamond fields. They can continue panning as long as they are involved with the military. The diamond fields are supposed to be secured and guarded by soldiers, but the fence is full of holes so people sneak through.

FARAI MAGUWU, DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:
Nearly every soldier that is in Chiadzwa at the moment is involved in panning in one-way or the other. They have also formed syndicates with those panners, civilian panners, so that those panners will get the escort of the military and they continue panning with the protection of the soldiers

Close to the diamond fields, panners are sorting through the stones they have collected. The soldiers guarding the fields allow them access at night, but at a cost. A buyer is interested in this stone, but whatever is paid, little will go to the panner.

FARAI MAGUWU, DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:
We classify it as forced labour because after they pan and they find that there are some diamonds, the soldiers will take about ¾ of the proceeds and these young people will be forced to share ¼ and I don’t think that they are benefiting anything out of it significantly. It is the soldiers who are benefiting.

After the army riots in 2008, President Robert Mugabe has a vested interest in maintaining their loyalty through profits from illegal diamond sales.

OBERT MPOFU – MINISTER OF MINES:
Govt has been protecting that place for the passed 3-4 years and reduced the influx of panners which had invaded the area and so if one cannot appreciate that then he is actually advocating for a disaster.

With no moves to demilitarise the area, human rights abuses continue. This is the body of a panner. Only last month, he was beaten to death by soldiers.

IAN SMILLIE, CHAIR DIAMOND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE:
I think that the human rights situation is probably the worst aspect of what is going on there, but there is smuggling, there is lack of control, there is no due process. In terms of the diamond leases and ownership and that kind of thing, the rule of law just doesn’t seem to exist. There are all kinds of reasons for the KP to take a serious view of this if it wants to protect the reputation of the industry that it was set up to protect.

These are the diamond fields of near Chiadzwa. 1n 2006, mining firm African Consolidated Resources, or ACR, was forcibly evicted from here. Last month they won a High Court ruling restoring their right to mine the area. But it’s been ignored, and foreign firms are muscling in.

This illegal mining operation is run by the Zimbabwe Mineral Development Corporation, and they’ve signed deals with other investors.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES:
The rights that exist under which these foreign entities believe they are operating are joint ventures with the ZMDC, which has now been ruled to be illegally on our claims. So the joint ventures signed with the ZMDC really have no legal force and effect.

A South African security company that’s worked on the notorious diamond mines of Sierra Leone, DRC and Angola has taken over this resort near the Chiadzwa. They’re barring all entry.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES:
The foreign private security agents that have been working on the fields right now have strictly prevented any of our people getting in and we have not even been able to see the apparent management of this apparent operations going on our claims, to evict them.

The Zimbabwe Mineral Development Corporation has signed a shady joint venture with a Mauritian offshore company, Grandwell Holdings. They’re operating here under the name Mbada Diamonds. Behind it all is a South African company, Reclamation, who’s understood to have spearheaded the deal.

Any diamonds they trade will be obtained illegally. Reclamation director, David Kassell refused to comment.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES:
They are operating there and are preventing our access, and defying and ignoring and in contempt of a High Court ruling, and these are foreign entities who are in contempt of a High Court ruling, in Zimbabwe, a sovereign state, and these are South African entities, or at least South African sponsored and masterminded entities, and I think it quite serious.

They’re understood to be turning this hanger at Harare airport into a diamond- polishing centre. It’ll mean they bypass the Kimberley Process, which is only concerned with rough diamonds.

Minutes of a meeting between Mbada and their partners reveal the building will be converted to secure against mortar attack. Their diamonds can be sold regardless of international control.

ANDREW CRANSWICK, CEO AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES:
The foreign partners will rape it for the foreign interests as opposed to the national interests and that is the tragedy and that has to be stopped.

Zimbabwe has exposed weaknesses in the Kimberley Process. What they decide in Namibia next week will test their commitment to rid the world of conflict diamonds. Amidst growing evidence of corruption, the Zimbabwean government seems unconcerned.

OBERT MPOFU – MINISTER OF MINES:
We are not going to stop because they have not supported us. If you go to Chiadzwa now, you will see a totally different Chiadzwa from the one that was there a few weeks ago. We are on the ground, we will surprise a lot of people. We are not going to stop anything that I can assure you.

Images in this post, taken by Robin Hammond, accompanied an article written by Dan McDougall in The Daily Mail (UK) titled The return of the bloody diamonds: Miners at gunpoint in Zimbabwe

We have a fundamental right to freedom of expression!

The Wheels fell off

Dear Family and Friends,

A little before midday on the second last day of October it rained
for the first time in six months in my home town. The rain was
neither heavy nor prolonged but just enough to wet the dust and cut
through the searing heat which had reduced most of us to melting
pools. The delicious smell of African rain in the air and the first
sighting of a Burchells Coucal in the garden bought a moment of
sanity into what is fast becoming a crazy and frightening time in
Zimbabwe.

Just when we had dared to hope that perhaps we could stagger on in
this lopsided unity government until we got a new constitution and a
new election, the wheels fell of completely. Most ordinary people
only realized that something was going on when suddenly there were
police roadblocks everywhere. Gone was the usual bored interrogation
of motorists by painfully young police details, watched by even
younger uniformed chaps standing nearby in the bush with AK 47's.
Suddenly this was a serious business: open the trunk of the car, open
your suitcase, what's in the bag, what's behind your seat? They
wouldn't say what they were looking for but it turned out to be arms
and ammunition which had apparently disappeared from Pomona Army
Barracks in Harare.

Then we heard the frightening news of the armed abduction of an MDC
employee from Mufakose and the attempted armed abduction in the
centre of Harare of the MDC's security administrator, Edith Mashayire
which was foiled after she repeatedly screamed for help. MDC spokesman
Nelson Chamisa then told us exactly what we feared. he said:

"What we are beginning to see is the genesis of a political storm of
persecution, abductions, and even murder."

Then came the own goal everyone's been waiting for Zanu PF to score,
and they did, in classic style. After ten months of posing as new
improved, reformed leaders, everything fell apart at Harare airport.
Manfred Nowak, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, was denied entry into
Zimbabwe. Despite having been invited, and then un-invited by the
government, and then re-invited by no less than the Prime Minister of
the country, Mr Nowak wasn't allowed out of the airport and was later
sent back to South Africa.

Suddenly after months of silence, Zimbabwe was back in the world
news. "Totally unacceptable, unprecedented, a major diplomatic
incident," said Mr Nowak. And so, here we are, back in this grim
place where it's Zimbabwe against the world. It was like being back
in time this week when a BBC reporter speaking about a recent
interview in Zimbabwe used phrases including: "increasingly tense...
safe house .... in hiding ...make sure we're not being followed..."

The rain storms haven't started but the political and human rights
ones sure have. Until next week, thanks for reading, love cathy.

Copyright cathy buckle 31st October 2009.

www.cathybuckle.com

Here’s to happy life years