Harare Residents Association), was arrested for exercising his democratic
and constitutional right to march peacefully together with ZCTU and other
members of civil society in protest against the sufferings of people in
Harare and throughout the land.
We do not know his condition, nor do we know when he will be released. He
has been held at Harare Central police station along with about 50 other
civil society leaders since yesterday lunchtime, and will spend a second
night there tonight. Lawyers have been working tirelessly for their
release, and inform us that they should appear at Harare Magistrates Court
tomorrow.
We call upon all democratic residents of Harare, and indeed other cities and
towns, to support our Chairman in their thoughts and prayers and by sending
messages of solidarity to chra@ecoweb.co.zw or addressed to him at CHRA
offices at 11 Armagh Rd, Eastlea, Harare (no fax, unfortunately).
Most importantly, he will appreciate seeing FRIENDLY FACES when he and the
others appear at Harare Magistrates Court (Rotten Row) tomorrow, so if you
can possibly make time, please pass by there. Unfortunately we do not know
what time they will appear - part of the "game" is to keep everyone hanging
around for hours! - but you can call CHRA on 746019 or the CEO on 011 862
012 or Info Officer on 011 612 498 for the latest information and possible
time of appearance.
Residents, let us support our Chairman!
Trudy Stevenson MP
CHRA Management Committee member & Legal Committee Chairperson
ABC Australia
Downer opposes Mugabe attending CHOGM
Australia has warned that allowing Zimbabwe's President to attend the next
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) would damage the
organisation.
The Commonwealth leaders are planning to meet in Nigeria next month.
Zimbabwe was suspended from all Commonwealth councils after its disputed
elections last year.
But its President, Robert Mugabe, wants to attend the Nigeria meeting and is
reportedly pressing other African nations to boycott if he is not invited.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is urging Nigeria not to give
in to President Mugabe.
"They have been told, by not just Australia but by a number of countries,
that this is a very important issue and it would obviously undermine the
cohesion of the Commonwealth if President Mugabe were to attend the
meeting," he said.
Mr Downer would not speculate on whether Australia would withdraw from the
meeting if President Mugabe were invited.
BBC
|
Strikes to greet Zimbabwe budget | ||||
Trade unions have called a strike to demand the release of members arrested during protests this week. Police say more than 80 people were detained during a protest march on Tuesday over prices rises and alleged state harassment of the unions. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) puts the number of people arrested at 360.
The congress has called on workers to stay at home on Thursday and Friday in protest. "We demand the immediate release of ZCTU and other civic society leaders," ZCTU Secretary General Collen Gwiyo said in a statement. The start of the strike will coincide with the annual budget speech by Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa. Bans The BBC's Richard Hamilton says the speech comes against a background of hyperinflation and economic meltdown. Unemployment stands at 70% percent and fuel prices have increased by some 600%.
They blame the country's woes partly on the seizures of white-owned farms. Mr Mugabe says his land reforms are designed to redress an injustice of British colonial rule, and accuses opponents at home and abroad of sabotaging the economy. About 50 people arrested in Harare on Tuesday have been charged under the country's public order and security act. Some are accused of organising an unlawful demonstration and others with hindering traffic in the streets. Under tough security laws, the police must give permission for all demonstrations and protests by groups not allied to the ruling Zanu-PF party are rarely authorised. On a similar day of protest last month, police arrested some 41 trade union leaders in Harare, and more than 100 in the eastern town of Mutare. | ||||
We demand the immediate release of ZCTU and other civic society
leaders 
Business Day
Let us in, says Zimbabwe
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
HARARE - Zimbabwe's foreign minister insisted yesterday that the country was
entitled to attend next month's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
(CHOGM).
The minister, Stan Mudenge, maintained that Zimbabwe was back as a full
member of the 54-nation organisation, saying its 12-month suspension from
the Commonwealth council had lapsed on March 19 despite an announcement by
Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon on March 16 that it had been
extended for a further nine months.
Mudenge told parliament that the troika -- Australia, Nigeria and South
Africa -- which slapped the country with the year-long suspension had not
renewed it.
Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth councils after presidential
elections in March last year were declared neither free nor fair by many
international monitors.
"Zimbabwe is now back as a full member and is therefore entitled to attend
the (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) CHOGM in Abuja in December
2003," Mudenge declared.
He said Zimbabwe's suspension need not be reviewed because it was for a
specified period and when that expired, the country automatically became a
full member again.
"The suspension was finite. To continue with it required a fresh decision.
Such a fresh decision was never made," he said in a special statement to
lawmakers, just two days after Nigeria's president and this year's host of
the CHOGM, Olusegun Obasanjo, visited Zimbabwe for talks with President
Robert Mugabe on the issue.
Mudenge said McKinnon's statement on March 16 was "based on falsehood and
therefore without effect" because South Africa and Nigeria had rebutted his
claims.
"Put blatantly the secretary general lied," said Mudenge, accusing
Australian Prime Minister John Howard and McKinnon of "breathtaking
arrogance" and of being "consumed by racist emotionalism".
"There are many who regard Mr Howard as a notorious international outlaw who
was recently involved in the illegal invasion of Iraq, murdered innocent
women and children and effected unauthorised regime change.
"In fact they believe that he should be told clearly and firmly that 'regime
change' is not a Commonwealth policy or principle and that he must stand
trial at the Rome International Criminal Court for his crimes," said
Mudenge.
Obasanjo, after talks with Mugabe on Monday, said he was still "consulting"
on whether to issue an invitation to Mugabe.
Howard, McKinnon and Britain do not want to see Mugabe at the summit while
most black Commonwealth countries support Zimbabwe.
It is feared that continued disagreement over Zimbabwe could widen the rift
between African Commonwealth members, led by Nigeria and South Africa, and
the so-called "white Commonwealth".
AFP
JUSTICE FOR AGRICULTURE
COMMUNIQUÉS - November 19, 2003
Email: justice@telco.co.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Internet: www.justiceforagriculture.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. JAG Announcement
2. ZCTU Strike Updates
1. JAG Announcement:
URGENT AND IMPORTANT MEETING FOR ALL AGRICULTURAL TITLE DEED HOLDERS IN
ZIMBABWE
JAG invites all agricultural title deed holders to a meeting at Art Farm at
9:00am for 9:30am start on Friday 28 November 2003.
AGENDA:
1. Prayer
2. Commercial agriculture and its future in Zimbabwe - D Conolly
3. Compensation/restitution - reality or a pipe dream? - J Worsley-Worswick
4. Documentation of losses - getting the job done! - W Hart
5. Steps on the road of legal challenge - B Freeth
6. Questions and answers - N.B. Mr Louis Bennett and Mr Dave Drury from the
legal fraternity and Mr Graham Mullett Chairman of the Valuators Consortium
will be there to assist, together with the JAG Team, in answering your
questions.
TARGET GROUP:
· All past and present commercial farmers holding legal title to
agricultural land in Zimbabwe.
· All past and present lessees who have or have had lease agreements
pertaining to legally titled agricultural land in Zimbabwe.
· All title holders on property presently falling under Amendment No. 2 to
the Land Acquisition Act dated 25 October 2002 i.e. land that is in excess
of 2 hectares and has been under agricultural use in the past 50 years.
· Farm managers past and present related to or affected by the above.
PLAY YOUR PART IN CHISELLING OUR FUTURE OUT OF OUR LAND.
REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED.
SEE YOU THERE!
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2. ZCTU Strike Updates:
Update No. 1
Just a summary of events today - the ZCTU called for a half-day strike
today followed by peaceful demonstrations in all major centers. The workers
responded throughout the country and there were demonstrations in most
centers.
The government responded by stating that the marches would not be allowed
and a massive Police and Militia operation was mounted. All urban centers
were saturated with Police in riot gear and no marches were allowed to
develop. In Bulawayo there was a substantial response and large numbers
congregated in the city center and attempted to deliver a petition on
worker grievances to the Provincial Administrator. In Harare large numbers
came into the city for the march but were prevented from gathering by the
Police who beat people indiscriminately. In Mutare and Gweru there were
smaller demonstrations with a similar reaction.
Arrests of persons thought to be connected in any way with the action
started yesterday and continued throughout the day today. How many people
are in detention is impossible to guess. The total leadership of the ZCTU
seems to have been arrested, as have the leaders of supporting civic
groups.
We also have several people with severe injuries - one ZCTU official in
Bulawayo was savaged by a Police dog while in police custody. He is now
under guard in Bulawayo Central Hospital. A man in Harare was run down by a
vehicle and is in a critical condition.
We have one report of live ammunition being used in Bulawayo but no reports
of subsequent injuries.
Cosatu issued a strong condemnation of the actions of the government here
today and has threatened action if Trade Union and Civic leaders are not
released without charge. The Trade Unions of all 11 SADC States issued a
strong statement yesterday condemning the Zimbabwe government failure to
observe even the most elementary principles of labor and human rights.
18th November 2003 at 19.20 hrs.
Update No. 2
18 November 2003
This afternoon shots were fired at striking workers in Bulawayo. The
following press release from MDC Harare spells out the arrests of Trade
Union and Civic leaders in Harare and Bulawayo today.
MDC condemns arbitrary arrests of ZCTU officials.
MDC wishes to condemn in strongest terms today's arbitrary arrests of ZCTU
officials, civic leaders and general members of the public by the police.
Those arrested in Harare and are being detained at Harare Central police
station include Lovemore Matombo the President of the ZCTU, Wellington
Chibhebhe the Secretary General, Lucia Matibenga the Vice President,
Lovemore Madhuku chairman of National Constitutional Assembly, John Makumbe
of The Crisis International, Brian Raftopolous a University lecturer and
thirty five others and Andrew Moyse of the Media Monitoring Project. In
Bulawayo Getrude Mtombeni was picked from her work place while David
Shambare and Reason Ngwenya were also arrested and, together with Mtombeni,
are detained at Bulawayo Central police station.
We are not perturbed by the ruthlessness and brutal force that the police
force is determined to mete out on innocent civilians whose only crime is
dare express their displeasure in the manner the Mugabe regime has reduced
our once beautiful country to a basket case. While the use of brutal force
will give the regime a false and temporary reprieve, it is certainly on its
way out.
No amount of force or intimidation will stop a revolution whose time has
come.
Update No. 3
Bulawayo
The Trade Unions made it known that they were going to strike and
demonstrate today and in preparation made it known that they would start at
about 09.00 hrs. In fact this morning at 08.00 hrs phone calls went out to
all factories informing workers that they were to work until 12.00 hrs and
then strike and march into town. Apparently the objective was to ensure the
Police were in the sun all morning with nothing to do. In fact the Police
deployed yesterday and this morning a large contingent from the Youth
Brigade arrived at the Train Station - we assume for the purpose of backing
up the riot police.
At 12.00 most factories and motor workshops closed - in our area it looked
as if about two thirds of workers then decided to go to town for the
demonstration while the remainder went home. Road blocks of armed Police
closed off the entire area of the government offices and when workers
started to arrive in numbers they were greeted with baton charges and tear
gas. The workers did not persist for long and then went home. They will be
back at work tomorrow but are threatening further action next week of a
similar nature. This was the largest street demonstration we have seen in
the city since the major ZCTU demonstrations in 1998.
No reports from the rest of the country yet.
Bulawayo, 18th November 2003
JAG OPEN LETTER FORUM
Email: justice@telco.co.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Internet: www.justiceforagriculture.com
Please send any material for publication in the Open Letter Forum to
justice@telco.co.zw with "For Open Letter Forum" in the subject line.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter 1: Justice
Dear Jag,
There are two aspects of Australian culture which might interest followers
of the Jag ethos.
Firstly, the farmers make 700 kg bales of hay which are exported to
Japanese dairy farmers. Each bale is tagged allowing it to be traced to the
district, farm and even paddock - just like the LIT dream, which used to
allow Zimbabwe to export beef in the bad old days before the Third
Chimurenga. This is TRACABILITY.
Secondly, should a person break the law the Police encourage the public to
`dob' on the offender - give information leading to investigation and
possible prosecution. This is to encourage ACCOUNTABILITY. Jag policy is
built on these principles - it seems that it has stood for Justice which
requires this Tracability and Accountability, as against Dialogue or a new,
more fashionable politically correct term being used - Lobbying. To lobby
is to try to make a difference from the outside the main arena (the lobby).
To make a stand for Justice requires men to get into the main arena - The
Supreme Court or The Hague.
These two issues could well require some thought by persons who are
complicit with groups of people who continually break the laws of the land
with gay abandon. In due course they will be traced and held accountable,
in whatever country they happen to be.
The looting, torture, rape and murder carried out over the last few years
is TRACEABLE and the offenders will be held ACCOUNTABLE. The trials of
Nazis in Germany after the war is the closest example.
Pro Justice.
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Letter 2: We need to repent
I read a letter in your column saying that it is no good praying and asking
GOD to help us in our situation as HE has just left people to get on with
their lives and doesn't get involved, that it is time WE did something
about it.
The reason that GOD has allowed this situation to come about in the first
place is that people have turned so far away from HIM. We say that the GOD
of the Bible is old fashioned and needs to change to suit our situation. We
are so civilised now we need a god that will suit our circumstances and our
modern times so we take the parts we like out of the Bible and make up a
god to suit ourselves and then wonder why he doesn't answer our prayers and
obey our every whim.
I would like to tell you a bit about my GOD. My GOD is the GOD of the
Bible. HE created the heavens and the earth and everything in it. HE
created man and when he saw that he was lonely HE created a woman from a
rib close to the man's heart to be a helper suitable for him.
HE put them in a garden with everything in it for their comfort. When they
sinned by eating the forbidden fruit HE chased them out and they had to
work for their living. When the earth got more populated and people started
being more sinful HE sent a flood that killed all but Noah and his family
and the animals in the ark which HE ordered Noah to build.
As time went on people fell deeper and deeper into sin until GOD sent some
tragedy on them. When they repented HE would heal them and restore them.
My GOD is the GOD who parted the waters of the Red sea so the Israelites
could pass through on dry land and then allowed the water to go back and
drown the Egyptians who were pursuing them.
My GOD is the GOD who closed the mouths of the lions when Daniel was thrown
to them.
My GOD is the GOD who saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery
furnace when they were thrown in. Not even the smell of smoke was found on
their clothing when they came out although the guards who threw them in
were consumed by the heat.
My GOD sent HIS own SON to earth to die for our sins on the cross.
My GOD has asked all people everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to
HIM and HE will heal them.
My GOD is very angry with us because of the way we have turned away from
HIM to our little home made gods. HE is calling EVERYONE to repent.
I challenge every Zimbabwean to throw away their useless little home-grown
gods and turn to THE ONE TRUE GOD. The GOD of the Bible and repent of our
sins and then try praying and see what a difference it makes.
My GOD even knows how many hairs are growing on my head and yours too. My
GOD is a GOD of love. HE is also a jealous GOD. HE is the same yesterday,
today and forever HE is the one stable thing in this topsy turvy world. One
day we will all go before HIM to give an account of our deeds. Are you
ready? Read Acts 2:36-39 to see what you need to do.
Yes we all need to do our part in helping the situation but we MUST pray
for guidance to do the right thing.
Thank you for your time.
Hazel Thornhill
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Letter 3: Re Open Letters Forum No. 186 dated 14 November 2003
Reference Anti-Whingeing Chairman's letter.
I find your remarks about Ben Norton offensive to say the least. Ben is a
remarkable man who has made a huge contribution to this country in very
many ways and while family circumstances have taken him to the Cape he is
with us heart and soul. He and Jenny have had to undergo much the same
harassment and heartache as the rest of us and I suggest that the Chairman
of this nebulous organisation check on his facts before flying into
cyberspace.
While I am at it I think too many people are baring their souls on this
medium to be healthy. Sometimes I think it is better to keep your own
counsel especially when all our circumstances are different. Should we not
stop judging each other?
Something about motes and beams perhaps
Jim Sinclair
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Letter 4: Farming in Australia - liquid platinum - maybe?
Dear All,
My brother farms in Australia where I spent a good part of my life growing
up.
Maybe his despair and hardship, as a one man operation of 10 000 acres and
700 head, might give an insight to the suffering of others.
They have not had sufficient rain to provide runoff into dams and streams
since January 2002 when his fences were washed away in a terrible flood.
Drought records have been broken over the past two years and many farmers
are virtually destitute. Communities are sending out food parcels to
families who cannot afford basic groceries.
Liquid platinum is a reference to rain.
Regards,
Simon Spooner
Cotton seed is arriving this am.
I have teed up a tanker to deliver 70-90,000 L of water but have put it off
to Monday as this weekend shows the best chance for good rain for several
weeks. Fingers crossed.
The cruelty of drought. I spent a good chunk of the last 2 days pulling out
a bogged cow, feeding her etc only to have her roll down the slope, into
the slush and drown. One of the stud Limos is down so I am about to build a
shelter over her as they forecast 39c today.
See yuh
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-
All letters published on the open Letter Forum are the views and opinions
of the submitters, and do not represent the official viewpoint of Justice
for Agriculture.
From The Mail & Guardian (SA), 18 November
Bad boy Banana won't be buried in Heroes' Acre
Harare - In an unprecedented move, President Robert Mugabe's government has
refused burial at Heroes' Acre to former president Canaan Sodindo Banana,
who died last week in London after a long illness, an official spokesperson
said on Tuesday. Since Banana's death at age 67, state media have devoted
extensive coverage to the repatriation of his body in expectation he would
receive a state funeral. At the time of his death, Mugabe paid tribute to
Banana, describing him as "a rare gift to the nation." However, when
Mugabe's elite policy making body, the 30 member politburo, met on Monday it
refused to grant Banana hero status. It was the first time this has happened
since Mugabe instituted the system at 1980 independence, when Banana became
figurehead president for seven years.
Politburo secretary for information and publicity Nathan Shamuyarira told
state radio on Tuesday this was because Banana set a "bad example to youth"
with his 1998 conviction for homosexual offenses against junior State House
staff. "They (the politburo) could not accord Banana hero status as a matter
of principle," said Shamuyarira. "Canaan Banana will be given a
state-assisted funeral in his home area befitting a former head of state."
He said full military honors would be according Banana at a ceremony at his
birthplace, Esigodini, outside the western provincial capital of Bulawayo.
The date for this has yet to be announced. Black bordered editions of the
official daily, The Herald, and precedence given news of pending funeral
arrangements led diplomats here to believe honours accorded Banana were
meant to set a pattern for Mugabe himself, now 79 and dogged by reports of
ill health.
Exposure of Banana's crimes against young men gravely embarrassed the regime
in 1997, coming within months of Mugabe's denunciation of homosexuals and
exhortation to Zimbabweans to arrest any they saw. The High Court heard
evidence Mugabe's politburo were party to a 17-year cover up of Banana's
activities. He was eventually sentenced to 10 years imprisonment but served
only six months in a newly constructed "open prison" which allowed him
shopping trips to Harare. Until the politburo refusal of honours, official
reports stressed Banana's encouragement of talks that led to the December
1987 unity pact between Mugabe's ruling Zanu PF party and another party led
by the late vice-president Joshua Nkomo. In addition to burial at the
National Shrine outside Harare amid pomp and political speeches, those
accorded hero status are exempted from estate duties on their business
empires. Their families are assured free medical attention, education and
pensions regularly adjusted to keep pace with 455% runaway hyperinflation.
Some 90 people have received the coveted honour.