Obama honors Mugabe foes for defying a 'dictator'

http://af.reuters.com

Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:29am GMT

WASHINGTON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama honored a group
of women on Monday who have confronted Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
and said they had defied a dictator.

"They often don't get far before being confronted by President Mugabe's riot
police," Obama said at a ceremony for Magodonga Mahlangu and the
organization she helps lead -- WOZA, which stands for Women of Zimbabwe
Arise.

"By her example, Magodonga has shown the women of WOZA and the people of
Zimbabwe that they can undermine their oppressors' power with their own
power -- that they can sap a dictator's strength with their own," he said,
presenting the annual Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.

The United States wants Mugabe to halt political arrests and media
censorship and to honor a power-sharing agreement signed in September 2008
with his political rival, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mugabe is a pariah in the West, blamed by critics for plunging his southern
African country into poverty through his authoritarian rule and economic
mismanagement. He has led Zimbabwe since the country's independence from
Britain in 1980.

Mugabe has often blamed Western foes for ruining his country via sanctions,
which he says are in retaliation for the seizing of white-owned farms on
behalf of landless blacks. Critics say the policy is used as a tool to
intimidate political opponents and to give land to Mugabe's ZANU-PF party
loyalists.

After long negotiations, ZANU-PF formed a unity government in February with
the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, led by Tsvangirai, who is now
Zimbabwe's prime minister.

80,000 complete youth service: minister

Pass-out ... Mugabe inspects a guard of honour at a pass-out parade for youth service recruits

24/11/2009 00:00:00
	by Lebo Nkatazo

 

Controversial ... Youth service recruits pictured at a Zanu PF rally

OVER 80,000 people have gone through Zimbabwe’s controversial youth service programme, according to new figures.

Of the 80,000 recruits, 13,950 are employed by the government as “youth ward officers”, the Deputy Minister of Youth Development Thamsanqa Mahlangu [MDC-T] told parliament last week.

The youth service programme was launched in 2001 but President Robert Mugabe’s political opponents said the youths were being turned into “political zombies” and a “private army” for his Zanu PF party.

Rights groups say the youths, nicknamed ‘green bombers’ because of their distinctive green uniforms, were responsible for much of the election violence in Zimbabwe since 2001.

An audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General released recently found that the Youth Ministry illegally employed nearly 11,000 youths to work as “youth officers” in the run-up to the violence-plagued June 27 presidential election run-off.

Mahlangu revealed that the youth training service cost the government nearly US$6 million to run annually.

“In the current year, the national youth service received a total of US$80,000 which has all been used in the work of reviewing and reforming the programme as directed by cabinet,” Mahlangu said.

Following the formation of a power sharing government between Mugabe and his opposition rivals in February, the parties agreed to keep the programme but reform it into a truly national programme.

An agreement signed by the parties said: “Recognising the desirability of a national youth training programme which inculcates the values of patriotism, discipline, tolerance, non- violence, openness, democracy, equality, justice and respect;

“Determined to ensure that the National Youth Training Programme raises awareness of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, engenders a spirit of community service, skills development and a commitment to the development of Zimbabwe;

“The Parties hereby agree that:- (a) all youths regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion and political affiliation are eligible to participate in national youth training programmes; (b) the National Youth Training Programme must be run in a non- partisan manner and shall not include partisan political material advancing the cause of any political party.”

The programme remains voluntary and is open to Zimbabweans aged between 10 and 30.

 

100 children dying daily in Zim: UNICEF

http://www.zimonline.co.za/

by Clara Smith Tuesday 24 November 2009

HARARE - One hundred children are dying daily in Zimbabwe, while one in
every four is an orphan, according to shocking figures announced by a senior
UNICEF official.

Dr Peter Salama, the UNICEF representative to Zimbabwe said HIV/Aids
remained the biggest killer of children. This is despite millions of dollars
pouring into the country to fight the pandemic.

"Around one in 10 children today die before the age of five. This represents
around 100 child deaths a day - most are entirely preventable," Dr Salama
told guests to the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the
Child in Harare at the weekend.

He said Zimbabwe's situation was "tragic" because it contrasted global
patterns.

"While the rate of under five mortality has dropped all over the world, it
has gone up in Zimbabwe by more than 20 percent," Dr Salama said.

"One quarter of Zimbabwean children are orphans. Studies have shown that
orphans, especially girls, are less likely to receive health care, attend
school, or have clothes to wear and more likely to have psychological
problems and at higher risk of sexual abuse."

The Family Support Trust clinic at Harare Central Hospital this month said
30 000 children were treated for sexual abuse in the past four years, a
trend experts believe is a direct result of the country's economic meltdown
under President Robert Mugabe's government leading to widespread family
breakdown and leaving many minors vulnerable.

The economic collapse, political violence and widespread starvation in
Zimbabwe over the past decade have driven numerous people abroad - with an
estimated three million fleeing to South Africa alone - often leaving their
children in the care of extended family or friends some of whom abuse the
children.

Hundreds of thousands more children have been orphaned by HIV/Aids or other
diseases in a country where the health delivery system has completely broken
down resulting in the average life expectancy plummetting to 37 for men and
34 for women, among the lowest in the world.

A unity government between Mugabe and Prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai has
moved fast to try tot revive the public health system but its remains
hamstrung with lack of funds as rich Western donor nations insist that they
will only give direct financial assistance to Harare if Mugabe implements
more political reforms to ensure return to democracy.  - ZimOnline

Feuding delays crucial GPA talks

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 16:46
      THE feuding parties in the unity government have still not scheduled
meetings to resume negotiations to conclude the outstanding issues in their
power-sharing agreement despite pressure from South Africa to resolve their
disputes by December 5.

      As a result of the inaction by the Zimbabwean parties, South African
President Jacob Zuma has now rescheduled his visit to a  date after December
5.

      Zuma was early this month mandated to ensure that President Robert
Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur
Mutambara (pictured) fully implemented the deal that saw them form a unity
government in February.

      Zanu PF and the two MDC formations have already missed a 15-day
deadline by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to start
negotiations on the disagreements threatening to tear apart the unity
government.

      On Friday, the parties were blaming each other for the delays with
MDC-T issuing a scathing attack on MDC and Zanu PF, calling them
"mischievous and insincere" for delaying the resumption of talks.

      The talks were put on hold last week because MDC negotiators Welshman
Ncube and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga were out of the country on
government business.

      Ncube and Misihairabwi-Mushonga returned on Thursday but the
negotiators yesterday said they still had not agreed on dates for the
negotiations on a number of thorny disputes impeding the work of the unity
government.

      MDC-T secretary general Tendai Biti and Nicholas Goche of Zanu PF
yesterday said they did not know when they will meet as they were still to
consult with other negotiators.

      A source said a meeting scheduled for tomorrow had been cancelled
without any explanation.

      But despite the parties missing the Friday deadline to start the
talks, South Africa, which is monitoring progress, insisted that the
month-end deadline to conclude the dialogue must be met.

      "We are trying to follow very closely what is going on with the
understanding that come the 5th of December or so, there would have to be
some sort of significant reassessment and there is discussion currently
within the South African government on the approach that we would take and
follow this process through," the director-general of the South African
department of International Relations and Co-operation, Ayanda Ntsaluba told
a media briefing.

      Only a South African ministerial team led by Trade and Industry
Minister Rob Davies will now visit Zimbabwe on Friday this week (November
27) for the signing of the long awaited Bilateral Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreement.

      Davies will be accompanied by a business delegation and the Zimbabwean
talks would not be on the agenda.

      However, the harsh exchange of words between MDC-T and MDC indicated
widening divisions between the coalition partners who are now in danger of
missing the Sadc deadline to conclude the talks by November 30.

      "The deadline set by the Sadc troika for the resolution of the
outstanding issues has once again been missed because of the intransigence,
mischief and insincerity exhibited by the political players who are not
taking the plight of the people of Zimbabwe seriously," the MDC-T said in a
statement.

      The party also took an unprecedented attack on the MDC negotiators,
Ncube and Misihairabwi-Mushonga accusing them of choosing to "prioritise
flying to world capitals at the expense of resolving critical issues".

      The MDC hit back saying, it had suggested that the "negotiators have a
retreat to concentrate on the negotiations from Friday to Monday" but MDC-T
negotiators were not available.

      Zanu PF deputy spokesperson, Ephraim Masawi refused to comment on
MDC-T allegations referring questions to Patrick Chinamasa, the party's
chief negotiator, who was not immediately available for comment yesterday.

      BY OUR STAFF

Gono Gets Senior Zanu PF Position

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 16:20
      ZANU PF Manicaland province has co-opted under- fire Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Gideon Gono into its structures as secretary for
finance, in a development that might strengthen MDC-T calls for his
resignation.

      Sources said Gono, whose removal from the central bank has been
identified as an outstanding issue by the MDC-T in its power-sharing
agreement with Zanu PF, is now among the top five most senior party members
in his home province.

      The sources said Gono was co-opted into the party at a meeting held in
the province a fortnight ago.
      "The governor is now among the top five most senior  party members in
the province.

      He is now secretary for finance," said the source. "He was consulted
before co-option which means he agreed."

      Last month, a Southern African Development Community (Sadc)
ministerial team that assessed the implementation of the Global Political
Agreement (GPA) recommended that Gono be reassigned in order to solve the
thorny disputes in the unity government.

      The sources said Gono, who comes from Buhera district in Manicaland,
was not in the party structures but was being fast-tracked up the political
ladder by senior members in the province including Zanu PF

      secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa.

      "Gono was not in the structures but he is just being pushed by
 Mutasa," said another source. "They want him to have political muscle to
enable him to confront his enemies with political clout and not as an
academic and technocrat as is the case now."

      Provincial chairman Basil Nyabadza confirmed that Gono was now a
member of his executive.

      "Yes, I can confirm that he is now the secretary for finance," he
said.

      Nyabadza said the governor was already in the party structures in
Buhera district where he comes from.
      But sources insisted that Gono was never in Zanu PF structures.

      The top five were supposed to hold their first meeting in Mutare
yesterday but it was deferred after some members said they had other
commitments.

      "We did not meet today as planned. It (meeting) was deferred to next
week because of other commitments," Nyabadza said.

      Mutasa could not be reached for comment last week.

      Other members of the provincial leadership are provincial chairman
Nyabadza, vice- chairperson Dorothy Mabika, secretary for administration
Ellen Gwaradzimba and a Mr Simanga who is the political commissar.

      Sources in Zanu PF said the fact that Gono had joined the party was a
clear indication that he will soon leave his post as central bank chief to
save the shaky inclusive government from collapse.

      However, his new political career has not brought him any immediate
joy.

      Last week, Zanu PF MPs gave the nod to an RBZ amendment Bill that will
take away most of his powers.
      Sources said Gono felt betrayed by some of his colleagues in Zanu PF
after they joined forces with the MDC factions to push the Bill through
Parliament.

      They said the governor was rarely in the office on Thursday and Friday
because he was feeling "very low".
      Gono's advisor Munyaradzi Kereke demanded questions in writing on
Friday but he had not responded by the time of going to press.

      Critics blame the spectacular collapse of Zimbabwe's economy on Gono
for his policies, which were seen as an attempt to rescue Zanu PF's waning
support.

      Mugabe has vowed that Gono will not be forced to leave his post.

      BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE

Passport Backlog Dogs RG's Office

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 16:15
      THE Registrar-General's Office says it still has a backlog of 78 355
passport applications despite the introduction of steep fees in foreign
currency early this year.

      Long queues are still the order of the day at passport offices
throughout the country as desperate Zimbabweans battle to get the much
sought after travel document.

      In August, the government pegged the passport fees at US$140 down from
US$170 for a standard passport.

      An urgent passport processed within two working days now costs US$250.

      An express and a diplomatic passport processed in one day costs US$315
while an emergency travel document costs US$35.

      Some Zimbabweans have been waiting since 2006 to get passports after
the RG's office at one time suspended the issuing of the travel document
because it could not import production material.

      But speaking at a press conference last week, passport production
manager at the RG's office Monica Chigumba said a lot had been done to clear
the backlog since the department was computerised last December.

      "There is a reduction of 221 645 applications from the previous
backlog of 300 000 accumulated in 2006," Chigumba said.

      She said about 1.7 million passports had been printed since December
last year.

      Passports became highly sought after at the height of Zimbabwe's
economic meltdown as people resorted to cross-border trade in order to make
ends meet.

      The department has also failed to meet demand for birth certificates
and other identity documents.
      But Deputy Registrar-General Dianah Sarah Dawkins said most of the
people who were failing to get documents were former refuges and foreigners.

      "The biggest challenge we face is the issue of foreigners and former
refugees who did not formally repatriate themselves to their home countries,
who are mostly on the farms and border areas who are desirous to obtain
Zimbabwean birth certificates as a short cut to acquiring Zimbabwean
citizenship," Dawkins said.

      "We went to Epworth and out of about 100 people, who came for
registration, we only managed to register five, the rest did not qualify."

      Dawkins said the office had registered about 93% of the country's
population. "To demonstrate the department's continuous added effort on
vital civil registration the department has registered 13 080 054 which is
93.4 % of the current population of 14 million," she said.

      However, the General Agriculture Plantation Workers' Union of
Zimbabwe, a body which represents farm workers, disputed the figures
claiming that more than 90% of the children in the farms did not have birth
certificates.

      GAPWUZ information officer Tapiwa Zivira said this was because their
parents, mostly from Malawi and Mozambique did not have proper documents.

      He also said the centres are too far from the farms and the parents
cannot afford bus fares to regional centres.

      "Our research has indicated that over 90 % do not have birth
certificates because their parents do not have registration certificates
themselves so it is impossible for them to go and get birth certificates for
their children," he said.

      "In some cases, the children lost both parents to HIV/Aids."

      BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE

MDC Official Wins Bail, but Still in Custody

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 16:12
      MDC-T transport manager Pascal Gwezere who is accused of stealing
weapons from Pomona Army Barracks was granted US$500 bail on Friday but will
remain in custody after the state invoked Section 121 of the Criminal
Procedure and Evidence Act.

      Justice Charles Hungwe had said the evidence produced by the state was
insufficient to refuse Gwezere bail.

      Gwezere is facing charges of teaming up with a woman only identified
as Gertrude and stealing 21 firearms from Pomona Army Barracks in Harare
last month.

      In his ruling, Justice Hungwe said the state had failed to link
Gwezere to the theft of the arms as it intends to call witnesses who will
reveal that they approached Gwezere with the intention of selling the guns
to him.

      "The state has failed to give a substantive reason to show that the
accused person is most likely going to abscond.
      "In fact, the submissions made by the investigating officer
(Superintendent Charles Ngwirishi), show that the applicant (Gwezere) is
unlikely to abscond," Justice Hungwe said.

      However, after the judgment the state led by Tawanda Zvekare invoked
Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.

      Section 121 of the law stays execution of a court judgment for a
period of seven days pending a written appeal against the ruling.

      Meanwhile sources in the military last week said all the arms and
ammunition that were stolen from Pomona Army Barracks a few weeks ago were
recovered and five soldiers have been arrested in connection with the
recovered weapons.

      At least 21 AK 47 rifles and a shotgun were stolen from the Armoury at
under unclear circumstances.
      The sources said one of those arrested was a captain in the army while
the other four deserted several years ago. Five other suspects are said to
be on the run.

      "All the arms were recovered following the arrest of five soldiers,"
said one of the sources.

      "One was still serving while the other four had already deserted the
army."

      The source identified those arrested as Captain Baureni Mafuta,
Chenjerai Gwirizha, Masisiti Maruta, Stanley Marunge and Emmanuel Mashiri,
who is said to have escaped after arrest.

      Questions sent to Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) spokesperson Colonel
Overson Mugwizi had not been responded to by the time of going to print.

      Efforts to get a comment from police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka
yesterday were also fruitless.

      There were reports that 12 soldiers arrested soon after the alleged
theft were severely tortured.

      The deputy officer commanding 1 Engineers Support Regiment at Pomona
Army Barracks Major Maxwell Samudzi who was also linked to the disappearance
of the guns allegedly committed suicide while in detention.

      MDC-T says the alleged theft of the guns from a secure armoury were an
excuse to launch a clampdown on the party.

      Armed police raided an MDC-T house in Chisipite soon after the guns
disappeared.

      BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE AND SANDRA MANDIZVIDZA

Civil Service Payroll Scandal Exposed

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 16:07
      A PILOT audit into the civil service payroll and skills complement has
uncovered that thousands of government workers continue to draw salaries
months after leaving employment.

      The preliminary investigation that ended on Friday paves way for an
exhaustive audit that begins on Thursday and will end on December 18.

      It will involve a physical count of all government workers excluding
soldiers and other security personnel following speculation the civil
service payroll is full of ghost workers believed to be part of a Zanu PF
militia.
      The cash-strapped government has blamed the anomaly, which might have
seen it paying millions of US dollars to ghost workers, on the absence of a
central human resources database.

      "In that process we also discovered the payroll had some weaknesses
because it has been updated through manual transactions which are generated
across the country," Public Service Minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro told a
Press conference last week.

      "Because of this, it was not automatic that if someone was disciplined
today there is a salary deduction or that if someone is fired from the civil
service today that information was automatically captured.

      "You would find that if someone was fired today they would continue
getting their salaries for months."
      Thousands of civil servants deserted their jobs due to frustration at
the height of the country's economic meltdown.

      Teachers who returned following the formation of the unity government
in February have still not received their salaries due to chaos in the
government's human resources department.

      The audit was one of the unity government's top priorities but it has
been held back by a number of logistical problems and even resistance from
some quarters in government.

      Mukonoweshuro said: "Before we started on this exercise there was no
central source of data for all civil servants, information was scattered all
over and it took us a long time to transform that paper culture into soft
copy."

      He said the pilot audit showed that there were 300 000 civil servants.

      Civil servants will be required to bring their letters of appointment,
latest pay slips, academic qualifications, police clearance and national
identity documents to their pay stations.

      "All civil servants will be required to report to their pay stations.
We are not going to do a paper or file audit, we want to see physically the
civil servants," Mukonoweshuro said.

      "If on file there is John James then John James must come to the pay
station on that given day with all the required information. This is going
to be a body count."

      The audit will chew about US$4 million  provided by the Multi-Donor
Trust Fund, which is being administered by the World Bank.

      Mukonoweshuro said although the exercise was expensive it was
necessary to "address any irregularities, if any".

      BY BERTHA SHOKO

GPA Crisis Blocking British aid: envoy

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 16:03
      GWANDA - Concerns over slow implementation of the power-sharing deal
that led to the formation of the unity government is preventing Britain from
pouring more aid into the country, the UK Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mark
Canning said last week.

      "We will be spending around US$100 million in Zimbabwe this year for
large scale projects in health, to support primary education and investing
in water sanitation systems to make it difficult for cholera to return," he
said in an interview on Tuesday.

      "We are pleased by the economic development of Zimbabwe but we still
have concerns for the need of the political provisions of the GPA to be
fulfilled.

      "If the will is there and the GPA is implemented in full to move
Zimbabwe forward. . .you will find Britain an active and committed partner."

      Canning was speaking in Gwanda, Matabeleland South, where he
commissioned a library whose construction was funded by the British Embassy.

      The library, built at a cost of US$40 000, was constructed in honour
of the late liberation war hero, Edward Ndlovu.

      The Canadian and Swedish embassies assisted with furniture to quicken
the opening of the library. "This is a considerable effort (US$100m) by the
British government. We want this country to get back to where it belongs.

      "We believe the new inclusive government presents a real opportunity
to move this country forward," Canning said.

      Zimbabwe is desperate for investment to revive an economy that has
been shattered by ill-planned policies, among them, the 2000 agrarian reform
that President Robert Mugabe has defended as necessary to correct historical
injustices over land ownership.

      Canning said ongoing land invasions had scared off British companies
that are keen to invest in Zimbabwe.

      BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

Bungling Zimsec Brews Another Shocker

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 16:03
      COSTLY blunders by management at the Zimbabwe School Examinations
Council (Zimsec) have raised fresh doubts that results for the "O" Level and
"A" Level examinations starting on Friday will be released on time.

      Zimsec insiders now fear a worse scenario than last year which saw "O"
Level results eventually released in June this year.

      Public examinations were originally scheduled for last month but after
numerous postponements, Zimsec finally managed to reschedule the
examinations to run from November 27 to December 18 - a delay of more than
one month.

      This brought some relief to parents and students, who were starting to
think there would be no examinations this year.

      But the relief could be short-lived.

      Sources said the postponement could have an adverse impact on the
marking process, which under normal circumstances should  end on December
18, in time for the results to be released at the beginning of the year.

      "With the current arrangement, it would be impossible for scripts to
be marked on time," said the source.
      "Marking is usually done at tertiary institutions during the holidays,
but since most of them will be opening on January 11 next year, there won't
be much time for marking before that.

      "This might mean waiting until the next school holidays, or
alternatively, taking the very expensive route of hiring venues for
 marking."

      It has also emerged that the controversial examinations body could
lose thousands of dollars after a South African company bungled the printing
of examination papers.

      Zimsec is said to have successfully convinced the government to allow
them to have examination papers printed in South Africa.

      But some of the papers were mixed and had to be reprinted locally.

      Senator David Coltart, the Minister of Education, confirmed the SA
deal, saying it was the best they could get as it was much cheaper and more
efficient compared to printing locally.

      "We obviously wanted to get the best value for money, and the SA
company put in a tender which was way below others, and we were satisfied by
their good track record.

      "For example, one local company had given us a quote of US$1.3
million, which was way over what we were charged," Coltart said.

      Contrary to this position, sources said the move has proven more
costly for Zimsec.

      In addition to accommodation and subsistence allowances for managers
who travelled to Durban to discuss the deal, the company failed to deliver
on time.

      And some of the jobs were botched.
      In some cases, questions for different subjects were printed on the
same sheet.

      "The reasons given for the outsourcing actually do not have any
substance because at the moment, a lot of printing machines at Fidelity are
lying idle.

      "Those ones could have been used, as has been the case in previous
years," said the source.

      Top Zimsec officials dodged questions when confronted about the new
developments.

      Zimsec deputy director Esau Nhandara, who was part of the team that
travelled to SA, requested that questions be faxed to him, through the
Zimsec public relations office.

      Nhandara and Zimsec spokesperson Ezekiel Pasipamire promised to
respond to the questions once faxed. But hours after he confirmed receipt of
the fax, Pasipamire was singing a different tune.

      "You can write whatever you want and sell your paper," Pasipamire
said. "You can call the Minister (of Education, David Coltart) if you want.
Go ahead and write whatever you want. I have no comment."
      Further attempts to raise him on his mobile were also fruitless.

      Zimsec director Happy Ndanga was also not forthcoming.

      "I am in a meeting, a scheduled meeting for the whole day. You do not
take priority over my meeting," Ndanga said.

      Coltart said he was not aware of the alleged mix-up, insisting the SA
deal was the best they could get, both in terms of cost and quality.

      The lid may however soon come off the current cover-up at Zimsec,
following a recent audit of the institution, which was carried out by
officials from the Auditor and Comptroller General, and a private firm.
      It is understood the audit report exposes the "corporate governance
crisis" at Zimsec, which has resulted in some dubious appointments.

      BY VUSUMUZI SIFILE

Elderly Priest Brutally Assaulted by Soldiers

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 16:03
      BANKET - When Father Wolfgang Thamm SJ went to Darwendale on November
15 to fetch a sick parishioner admitted at a clinic, he thought it was
business as usual.

      For a Roman Catholic Church priest who has worked in Zimbabwe some 51
years - one third of those years in Banket, this was part of the routine.

      Every Sunday after service Thamm visits parishioners at home and at
hospital.

      But on arrival at Darwendale Clinic where he wanted to fetch Anton
Muzarabani who suffers severe attacks of asthma, he least anticipated what
he was about to endure.

      His experience has invoked fears of a resurgence of last year's terror
in the farming town as the potentially divisive consultations for a new
constitution get into full swing.

      Everything seemed to be on track until the 76-year-old Jesuit passed
through the entrance to the army barracks, located along the way to the
clinic.

      "On arrival near the gate at 6pm on what I regard as a public road, I
was stopped by some soldier, who I did not see at first because he was some
distance away (approximately 20 metres).

      "The soldier did not give a stop sign very clearly, but a sister I was
travelling with somehow noticed him and I stopped a few metres after the
entrance and then reversed," Thamm said.

      And then the trouble began. Three more soldiers suddenly appeared on
the scene, armed with rifles.

      "One of them took off my glasses and hit me on the right eye with a
fist," he said.

      "They dragged me out of the car and pushed me into a large puddle and
ordered me to sit in the water. "For a moment I hesitated, but one of them
hit me hard and I fell into the dirty pool."

      BY VUSUMUZI SIFILE

Zanu PF, MDC-T Clear the Way for Gono's Exit

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 15:55
      THE partial immunity from prosecution granted to the Central Bank
Governor Gideon Gono through amendments to the Reserve Bank Reform Bill "is
a safe exit strategy" for a man under immense pressure to throw in the
towel, political analysts said last week.

      Parliament passed the Bill after it was amended to include a clause
that gives partial immunity to Gono or any employee of the bank "for
anything done in good faith and without negligence under the powers
conferred by this Act".

      Earlier in the week, Zanu PF MPs had threatened to block the Bill
because they felt it was "targeted at an individual rather than an office".

      But the analysts said by agreeing to a clause that gives immunity to
Gono, Zanu PF had, in a way, endorsed calls for the central bank chief to
make way for fresh ideas.

      They said Zanu PF can no longer bear with the pressure from both MDC
and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) on the resolution of
the outstanding issues to the power-sharing agreement with the MDC factions.

      The MDC-T has been pushing for the removal of Gono from the RBZ
accusing him of destroying the economy through quasi-fiscal policies and
recklessly funding Zanu PF programmes.

      A Sadc ministerial team that assessed the implementation of
power-sharing agreement between Zanu PF and the two MDC formations
recommended that Gono should be reassigned to save the shaky coalition from
collapse.

      University of Zimbabwe political scientist Eldred Masunungure said the
immunity granted to Gono was to pave way for "a soft landing" for the
troubled RBZ chief.

      Masunungure said the fact that the immunity came through an amendment
gives credence to speculation that Gono might soon be reassigned.

      "This is meant to pave a way for soft landing and a trouble-free exit
from the central bank," Masunungure said.

      "It's a golden handshake for him and he will soon be reassigned to a
politically invisible job where he will start a new life without being
haunted by prospects of being prosecuted."

      Another UZ science lecturer, John Makumbe agreed but described the
immunity as a "costly" golden handshake.

      Makumbe blasted the MDC formations for making such a "concession"
saying it was an insult to Zimbabweans who suffered at the hands of Gono's
poor quasi-fiscal policies.

      "It's dangerous to give immunity to a person who destroyed our economy
propping up Zanu PF," Makumbe said.

      "I am furious about it. The MDC has no authority to grant anyone
immunity."

      After granting immunity to Gono, said Makumbe, it will be a
contradiction to prosecute all those fingered in a recent audit by the
Comptroller and Auditor-General Mildred Chiri.

      In her report for the first quarter of 2009 financial year tabled in
Parliament recently, she said members of President Robert Mugabe's previous
administration took advantage of a vacuum in government to loot state
property.

      The report revealed that state assets such as cars, laptops,
computers, fax machines, cell phones and spares for vehicles were stolen by
ministers, deputies and other senior government officials.

      "Chiri has done a brilliant audit. What is Biti going to do to the
ministers who looted vehicles and laptops when he is giving the chief
culprit immunity?" Makumbe asked.

      But Finance Minister Tendai Biti who at one time called Gono "the
country's number one enemy  said the Bill did not provide immunity for cases
of theft, fraud or a breach of the law.

      "The new provision in the Bill simply says those officials who acted
in good faith and without negligence will not be liable to prosecution.

      "It does not say anywhere that where there has been theft, fraud or
where there has been a breach of the law, the people should not be
prosecuted," Biti said.

      The Bill, which faces further scrutiny in the Zanu PF-dominated
Senate, will reduce the powers of the governor and restrict the bank to core
business of dealing with interest rates, currency management and regulating
banks.

      The governor's core function would be to chair a planned monetary
policy committee.

      However, the central bank governor would continue to chair the RBZ
board.

      Biti proposed cutting to two deputy governors from the four catered
for under the current law.

      Critics blame Gono for policies that crippled the economy, stoking
inflation by printing money and taking over functions of the national
treasury, including buying farming inputs and extending financial support to
government departments.

      Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Mugabe are locked in a dispute on
how to share power, with the MDC-T leader accusing the veteran ruler of
refusing to appoint a new central bank governor and attorney general as part
of their political pact signed last year.

      Mugabe has vowed that Gono will not be sacked.

      BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE

'No seed, no fertilizer, nothing, ' cry farmers

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 15:47
      CHIKOMBA - Any serious farmer gets worried when rains are delayed,
even by a short while.
      It is only natural that they start worrying about whether or not their
seed will germinate when they finally manage to plant.

      But it is not so for most small-holder farmers in Chikomba,
Mashonaland East.

      With no seed at their disposal, the farmers could have been stranded
had the rains arrived earlier.
      "It is actually good that this year the rains have delayed a bit,
otherwise we would have been caught unprepared - no seed, no fertiliser,
nothing.

      "It would have been so painful to just watch helplessly when the
fields dry up before you plant," said James Chikandiwa, a 67-year-old farmer
in Sadza.

      Unlike in the past when they could easily purchase seed from the Grain
Marketing Board (GMB) and local dealers, the situation has changed for the
worse.

      The GMB is usually without supplies, shattering the hopes of hundreds
of small-scale farmers like Chikandiwa.

      In most cases farmers have relied mostly on open pollinated seed
maize, but this has been difficult over the last few years as farmers have
struggled to get good harvests.

      As the farming season drew closer, the farmers got more and more
worried that this year they would not be able to plant on time because of
lack of seed.

      Their situation got so desperate that they sent a delegation to Harare
to take their begging bowl to non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

      Their search took them to Oxfam GB, and they were not disappointed.

      The organisation agreed to assist 14 000 farmers in the area with seed
maize and top dressing fetiliser.
      "Our intervention here was in response to a request by people who
persistently came to my office," said Peter Mutoredzanwa, the country
director for Oxfam GB at a ceremony to hand over the seed and fertiliser to
farmers at Sadza Growth Point on Wednesday.

      Beneficiaries comprised mostly female-headed households, those with
high dependency ratios and households affected by loss of harvest as well as
families affected by HIV/Aids.

      "This was not really our first intervention in this area. We had an
earlier programme where we provided the poor farmers with vegetable seed.

      "But things did not work so well, as most of them took the seed and
sold it at bars. I do not think the seed and fertiliser we are distributing
today will be sold."

      All the farmers participating in the programme receive fertiliser
through direct distribution.

      However, in case of seed, only 4 500 get it through direct
distribution, while the rest get vouchers which they use to purchase seed
from selected shops in the area.

      Speaking at the same ceremony, Mashonaland East Governor Aeneas
Chigwedere acknowledged that farming preparations were in a shambles.

      "Every year people starve because of poor planning," said Chigwedere,
who spoke in Shona.
      He said the farmers' hopes of government assistance with inputs could
be far-fetched because the state coffers were in a bad state.

      "Last year our economy had collapsed completely, the government does
not have many inputs to assist farmers. Let us use what we have.

      "Even extension workers are no longer doing their job properly.

      "There is chaos, especially uko kwatakagarisa vanhu patsva (at the
resettlements), where people just farm without even digging contours."

      Although the seed has been dispatched to distribution points, the
farmers' nightmares are not over yet.
      Greedy traditional leaders are said to be allocating themselves huge
chunks of the donations.

      "The problem is that in some cases village heads and other
well-connected individuals register more than five people in one household.

      "And because of their influence, it is easy for them to get the
allocation before everyone else," said another farmer, Maxwell Nzuma (59).

      Despite recent pronouncements by President Robert Mugabe at the UN
Food and Agriculture summit in Rome, Italy denouncing agricultural subsidies
by mostly Western donors, the government's failure to put in place proper
systems for farmers to access inputs has left them with no option but turn
to donors.

      There are currently two major inputs support schemes in the country -
the European Union's Global Food Security Scheme, which is administered by
the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and another programme funded by the
World Bank and the UK Department for International Development (DfID).

      The government has also come up with its own schemes, but farmers have
struggled to access money from banks because most of them lack relevant
collateral security.

      BY VUSUMUZI SIFILE

HIV support groups bank on sport to change attitudes

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 15:22
      COMMUNITY support groups affiliated to the Zimbabwe National Network
of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) have formed an organisation that seeks to
use sport to fight stigma.

      The new organisation - Positive Initiative Trust (PIT) - also wants to
offer people living with HIV psycho-social support.

      PIT director, Trust Sebastian Chinhaire said they chose to use sport
to spread messages about positive living because of its huge following.

      "Sport is an innovative and engaging platform to discuss challenges of
living with HIV as well as tackling stigma attached to being HIV-positive,"
Chinhaire said.

      "Football is used as an entry point for a vibrant, peer-led
reproductive health and HIV and Aids programme in which trained peer
educators provide the much needed information, social support and advice to
vulnerable groups in their communities."

      Chinhaire, a well known HIV and Aids activist and ZNNP+ chairman for
Harare, said PIT was initiated by women living with HIV who have a vision to
scale up prevention and reduce stigma that is largely caused by lack of
knowledge about HIV and Aids.

      "These women from different support groups are united by a shared
vision to reduce the HIV-related stigma and discrimination," he said.

      "They want to become role models of positive living and share their
challenges with neighbouring districts and the whole country.

      "They want to show their communities that there is life after testing
HIV-positive and that people should not be afraid to get tested until it is
too late."

      On Saturday PIT will be officially launched at a sports gala for
people living with HIV at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Harare.

      Various sporting activities have been lined up for the event where the
British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mark Canning will be the guest of honour.

      The sporting activities will include a soccer final for women living
with Aids league. Eight teams took part in the soccer league.

      Many people living with HIV are embracing the idea of using sport as a
means to change people's perceptions about HIV and Aids.

      Recently a team from Epworth, ARV Swallows made history by clinching
the first ever HIV-positive Women's Soccer League championship.

      The Epworth women guided by veteran soccer administrator, Chris Sambo
say they have managed to change people's negative perception about PLWAs.

      BY OUR STAFF

Ex-banker Turns to the pulpit

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 15:20
      FORMER banker Julius Makoni is to be consecrated as Bishop of
Manicaland today by the Dean of the Province of Central Africa, Right
Reverend Albert Chama, in the presence of other bishops from the province
and the wider Anglican Communion.

      The consecration service takes place at the Mutare Showgrounds. Bishop
Chama, who is Bishop of Northern Zambia and Acting Archbishop of Central
Africa, will consecrate Dr Makoni as the fourth Bishop of Manicaland,
following which he will be enthroned in the Cathedral in Mutare.

      Among the bishops expected to attend the consecration and enthronement
is the Bishop of Woolwich, Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, from the Diocese of
Southwark, in the United Kingdom, who will represent and read a message from
the Archbishop of Canterbury.

      Dr Makoni was ordained deacon in Southwark last year. He served his
curacy in the London Diocese at St Mary the Virgin, Hampton Court and was
ordained priest.

      Dr Makoni was born at Holy Family School in Honde Valley. He attended
St Augustine's Penhalonga and St Ignatius College in Chishawasha, before
going to the United Kingdom, where he finished his schooling at Radley
School.

      On leaving school he went to university in London, Cranfield and
Cambridge. He holds  Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business
Administration and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, as well as a Master of
Philosophy degree in Theology.

      He has worked as a banker in London, Washington DC, New York and
Harare, where he was the founding chief executive of NMB Bank.

      Dr Makoni comes from a major Anglican family in the diocese. His
father, Rev Canon Alban Makoni, served as a priest and Vicar-General in the
diocese for many years. His uncle, Mark Makoni, is also a  priest.

      He will face major challenges. His predecessor, Bishop Elson Jakazi,
who withdrew from the Province of Central Africa, has remained in control of
the assets of the diocese. The Province of Central Africa has sought a court
order for their return to the Province. The matter is still before the
courts.

      Meanwhile thousands of women from across Harare and surrounding towns
will be gathering from Friday to Monday next week for the Shekinah Covenant
Woman Conference.

      The women conference is the brainchild of Pastor Petunia Chiriseri of
His Presence Ministries International and Pastor Chichi of Bismark of New
Life Covenant Church.

      Running under the theme Born to manifest God's Glory the conference is
expected to be one of the largest and most influential gatherings of women
in the country.

      BY A CORRESPONDENT

Global Fund Gives NAC Grace Period

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 15:11
      THE Global Fund to fight Tuberculosis, Aids and Malaria (GFTAM) has
extended the country's Round 5 grant with additional funding of about
US$37.9 million after the country failed to meet its targets.

      Zimbabwe's Round 5 grant was approved in 2006 but implementation of
programmes targeted for funding only started the following year in August.

      The extension means that programmes that were meant to end in July
will now be concluded in January.
      GFTAM's gesture was in response to an application by the National Aids
Council (NAC) earlier this year for Zimbabwe to be given another chance to
meet the targets.

      NAC argued that most programmes had been scuttled by the economic and
political crisis in the country, sources said last week.

      In its proposals for funding under Round 5, the Country Co-ordinating
Mechanism (CCM) to the Global Fund, which draws up proposals for funding,
had requested money to scale up access to antiretroviral drugs in at least
22 districts.

      The CCM had also requested funds to increase HIV prevention campaigns
and workplace targeted awareness and literacy campaigns.

      NAC said Zimbabwe had failed to achieve agreed targets in Round 5
owing to the hyper-inflationary environment that made budgeting for
programmes impossible.

      Funds converted into local currency were eroded before they reached
intended beneficiaries, NAC reportedly argued in its application.

      "The reason why the Global Fund agreed to extend the grant was because
they were impressed with the few achievements that Zimbabwe had made under
the circumstances," a source said.

      "This facility to appeal for an extension of a grant life is a
provision available at the Global Fund for situations such as these where
countries may fail to reach targets because of situations beyond their
control."
      Global fund CCM co-ordinator Rangarirai Chiteure confirmed the latest
developments.
      He said at least US$20.4 million from the allocation would go towards
HIV and Aids programmes while the rest would be used for anti-malaria and TB
interventions.

      Chiteure said the country had until January to use the money, which is
now being administered by the United National Development Programme (UNDP).

      UNDP took over the role of principal recipient of all Global Fund
grants from NAC early this year.
      The NAC director said most of the money meant for HIV and Aids
programmes will be used to buy ARVs to ensure that more people access
treatment.

      Zimbabwe has received funding three times since the Global Fund was
set up in 2002 after nine rounds.

      BY BERTHA SHOKO

Equipment Boost for Hwange Colliery

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 16:42
      HWANGE - Coal producer, Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) will
this week receive the first consignment of haulage excavating equipment
worth US$5 million from a South African company to augment its ageing mining
fleet.

      The consignment which comprises of six 40-tonne haulage trucks and two
85-tonne excavators is set to be at the colliery mine by Friday.

      Company spokesman, Burzil Dube said the trucks and excavators would be
used as support equipment for the dragline which has been down for some time
as it was undergoing major repair work.

      "The six dump trucks and two excavators would be principally used at
the opencast mine as ancillary equipment for the dragline in the movement of
overburden material so that coal can be mined," he said.

      The dragline, which is one of the colliery's major machinery has been
down since October last year and this had resulted in constant load-shedding
by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) due to low availability
of coal to fire its thermal station in Hwange.

      The machinery was only brought back to life a month ago and it remains
to be seen if there is going to be an improvement in the supply of coal.

      Zimbabwe has always been plunged into constant power blackouts
whenever the cash strapped HCCL failed to deliver adequate coal to the
adjacent power station.

      At the height of economic crisis last year, a sizeable number of local
companies resorted to importing expensive coal from neighbouring countries
after HCCL cut back on production due to a myriad of

      problems. The country needs an average of 400 000 tonnes of coal a
month to keep the industries going.

      Analysts say most industries will owe their survival to the successful
implementation of the power-sharing agreement between the two MDC formations
and Zanu PF.

      BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Comment: Blaming Others for own Disastrous Policies

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 15:47
      THE common thread in Zimbabwe's agriculture since 2000 has
consistently been poor planning. Any other explanations merely demonstrate
the country's aversion of the truth.

      It is convenient to blame external factors. The international
community has put up a fund to assist small-holder farmers with seed packs
and fertilizer because of the repeated failure by countries such as Zimbabwe
to plan and support their farmers. The rest of the world wants to promote
self-sufficiency because humanitarian aid, which saw nearly half the country's
population dependent on food aid, is unsustainable and counter-productive.

      The European Union has put together a one billion euros fund to assist
developing countries around the world that are facing growing food security
problems. The fund is being channelled through organisations such as the
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which is receiving 200 million
euros of this fund for projects that aim to boost agricultural production in
25 countries including Zimbabwe.

      At a time when neighbours Malawi and Zambia have become grain
exporters Zimbabwe need not be a basket case. What is certain, however, is
that food insecurity in Zimbabwe can be attributed to the government's
ruinous policies.

      Pope Benedict XVI in a speech to last week's FAO summit condemned
opulence and waste in a world where the numbers of hungry people have
multiplied despite international efforts to combat chronic hunger. Zimbabwe's
delegation to the Rome meeting ironically numbered more than 60 people -
hardly prudent for a country facing serious challenges.

      The food crisis in Zimbabwe can be traced to a policy based on quick
sands: beneficiaries of the A2 model claimed to have interest in working the
land. They also asserted that they had the resources - that is financial and
human to manage the newly acquired farms. Lessons from the past nine years
demonstrate that the level of misrepresentation by the A2 beneficiaries was
unparalleled and explains why the country has failed to scale up its
agricultural productivity.

      But the A2 beneficiaries also did not have the time to supervise
operations on their farms.

      Since 1980 small-holder and small-scale farmers have demonstrated
their ability to produce more than their immediate requirements. But since
2000 this sector has been starved of inputs as they were channelled to the
A2 farmers, who however were driven by a quest for easier and quick returns
through selling the subsidised inputs. Fewer small-holder and small-scale
farmers report being paid for their produce by the Grain Marketing Board or
being able to access farm inputs from the same.

      These are the causes of falling agricultural production and explain
Zimbabwe's transition from a food surplus producer to a basket case.

      The reason much of the acquired land lies fallow has to do more with
the incompetence and greed of the government's "brave new farmers" than
external factors. Farming requires commitment, skills and resources. Where
there is a skills deficit the solution is to engage expertise in the form of
agricultural graduates and former farm workers who have knowledge of running
farm operations.

      The international community's support to the estimated 700 000
small-holder and small-scale farmers is based on the realisation that these
growers are excluded from the government schemes that have the A2 farmers as
their focus. The support is also informed by the knowledge that given
timeous onset of the rainy season and availability of inputs the
small-holder and small-scale families have historically been able to
demonstrate capacity to produce surplus to their immediate requirements and
contribute towards food self-sufficiency.

Reflections with Magaisa: Politics of Central Bank Reform in Zimbabwe

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 15:47
      I have been following developments around the proposed reforms of the
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, the country's central bank.

      Having spent a few years at a financial regulator, the subject of the
central bank is one that interests me greatly. It is a subject that often
occupies me a lot in my day job at the university.

      Media reports today (19th November 2009) suggest that the Reserve Bank
of Zimbabwe Bill, i.e. the proposed law to reform the central bank was
passed by the House of Assembly (HA) yesterday.

      This was, according to the reports, after a last minute deal between
the main political parties that form the GNU, i.e. Zanu PF and the MDC.
Apparently, the Bill had been "watered down"although it is not at present
quite clear how much 'water' was added to dilute the effect of the original
Bill.

      Whilst the passage of the Bill by the HA is a significant step, it is
by no means the end of the legislative process. In the life cycle of a Bill,
it now has to go to the Senate after which it will have to be signed into
law by the President, a consequence of the executive powers that he holds
under the constitution.

      Masimba acho akawanda (The President has very wide powers) But given
that the Bill is a product of Cabinet deliberations, of which President
Mugabe is the chair, one would imagine that he will not have problems with
it.

      But why has there has been inter-party tension over the Bill, as
reported in the media, given that it is essentially a product of Cabinet
discussions and consensus meaning that both Zanu PF and the two MDCs have
agreed on it at the highest levels? Could it be that this is an indication
of Parliament (in this case the HA) showing its independence from the
Executive (cabinet) and therefore flexing its muscle to scrutinise every
bill before it is passed into law? If that is so, then there is much to be
commended because that is exactly what citizens expect Parliament to do.

      Yet somehow, I do not think it is some new found independence on the
part of Parliament that is behind this challenge. Instead, the Bill has
become a factor in the negotiation of that old and notorious "outstanding
factor", i.e. the matter of Governor Gono's position at the summit of the
RBZ.

      It is a plain fact that the position of the RBZ Governor has been one
of the most contentious issues between the MDC and Zanu PF since the signing
of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in September 2008. The MDC does not
like Gono. But Zanu PF likes him. The MDC's efforts to relieve Gono of his
position have been in vain. The gentleman continues to enjoy the pleasures
of his station courtesy of Zanu PF's religious backing.

      The Bill represents the MDC's attempt to gain some foothold in its
tussle with Zanu PF over this "outstanding issue". Now that the MDC seems to
have had its way in respect of the Bill, albeit having to accept some
"watering down", what effect does this have on the "outstanding issue" of
Governor Gono's position?

      To my mind, the MDC have accepted that "our Governor" will not be
going anywhere yet. He is there to stay, a semi-permanent fixture at that
grand building along Samora Machel Street. ZANU PF is saying, "Look guys,
tabvuma wani kuti mudzore masimba ake" (we have accepted your Bill which
reduces Gono's powers) "Chamuchada chii?" (What else do you want?). ZANU PF
were never going to accept the humiliation of being seen to be climbing down
which would be the case if they were to agree to Gono's exit at this stage.
So this seems to me to be the best that the MDC have accepted they can get
as far as this "outstanding issue" is concerned. With the Governor's office
now firmly under the control of the Minister of Finance, room for Gono to
dabble in quasi-fiscal activities will now be severely circumscribed.

      The only possibility would be that if the Governor is a man who truly
believes in and values his professional integrity and personal dignity,
there is no point of him staying in a position where as Governor he has
become little more than a titular head of the central bank.

      Having enjoyed the pleasures of exercising so much power in the last
six years, all of which he justified on the basis of the law, the reduction
in his powers represents a real smack in the face. Munhu ane nyadzi anotuta
twake oenda (Anyone who has pride and dignity will not stay longer). But
plainly, that is like thinking the desert will suddenly transform into a
tropical rainforest. The man is likely to stay on.

      It is likely that when Comrade Zuma comes to town, Zanu PF's position
will be that the RBZ Governorship is no longer an "outstanding issue".
Comrade Zuma is then likely to turn to the MDC and say, "Boys, why don't you
accept and move on to other things? Inga vabvuma wani?" (They have accepted
to limit his powers, haven't they?). And that will be the end of the matter
as an "outstanding issue". But it is unlikely to be the end of the tensions
around the central bank.

      All this, of course, is very regrettable because it detracts from an
otherwise noble mission to regularise relations between the central bank as
the monetary authority and the ministry of finance (treasury) as the fiscal
authority. I cannot possibly see how a country in which the fiscal and
monetary authorities that are at loggerheads can succeed in its mission to
reconstruct the economy. A government with parties struggling for power, and
therefore fighting over the key sources of power cannot possibly find
long-lasting solutions because at every turn they are keen to outdo each
other as opposed to formulating national solutions.

      To my mind, the politicisation of the matter has compromised the
central equation that should define matters at the country's central bank.
It is regrettable because it adversely affects the critical equation that is
necessary in the work of the central bank and its relations with those who
appoint it. This equation consists of two aspects: independence and
accountability of the central bank.

      The independence aspect is essential for the professional and
efficient execution of the bank's mandate. Ideally, the power to perform the
central bank's functions rests with the people. But they do not have the
expertise to do it so they elect representatives (politicians) to
Parliament. But the representatives do not necessarily have the expertise so
they appoint an authority to do it on their behalf and consequently, on
behalf of the people. That authority, which is set up under a law made by
Parliament, is the central bank.

      For the job to be done properly, the politicians ideally acknowledge
that they need to confer independence to the central bank. This allows the
experts to do the job efficiently outside party political interests, which
are often limited, partisan and populist.

      If politicians chose to do it themselves or if they interfered too
much, the risk is that there would be too many populist policies that would
not properly deal with the task at hand. That is why the independence of the
RBZ must be maintained at all costs.

      Some people have argued, wrongly in my view that the RBZ engaged in
quasi-fiscal activities and behaved recklessly because it was too
independent. This misses the point. It is precisely the lack of independence
that caused the RBZ to dabble in quasi-fiscal activities - it became
difficult to separate the RBZ from the government or indeed, to distinguish
the RBZ from other political structures of the then ruling party. The
authors of the RBZ policies saw themselves as performing heroic exploits
oblivious of the fact that they had become political agents. It became
difficult to distinguish the expert central banker from the politician and
the populist policies that followed proved in the end to be disastrous.

      If anything therefore, the current reforms of the central bank must
have tried to enhance the independence of the RBZ so that never again should
it be beholden to or pander to the whims of politicians or political
interests. Sadly, the Bill seems to try to tackle the waywardness of the
central bank by placing under yet more control of politicians.

      The other part of the equation is of course 'accountability'.
Independence does not mean being unaccountable. You have to be accountable
to those who appoint you, in this case, Parliament and the people. The
trouble is that for the past six years it has seemed as if the Governor was
only accountable to one authority, the office of the President.

      The RBZ went beyond the remit set by the law because authors of its
work thought they were performing a national service. Parliament itself did
not do a good job of making the RBZ accountable and they let their electors
down. Any reforms should have ensured that Parliament strengthens the tools
it has to hold the RBZ accountable.

      As things stand, the equation between independence and accountability
is unlikely to balance. Haisi kubalancer. In the past six years, the central
bank has been too dependent on the government of the day - pursuing populist
policies and causing hyperinflationary effects. It has not been properly
accountable for its actions because Parliament has been weak.

      The pursuit of accountability should not undermine independence just
as independence should not compromise accountability. There must be a
balance. In all this we have to remember that neither Biti nor Gono are
permanent fixtures in Zimbabwe's political and financial architecture. One
day, they will depart but the institutions will and should outlive them.

      Alex Magaisa is based at, Kent Law School, the University of Kent and
can be contacted at wamagaisa@yahoo.co.uk

      BY ALEX MAGAISA

Sundayview: Democracy is not only about holding free, fair elections

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 15:44
      DEMOCRACY in Zimbabwe is somehow almost always equated to elections.
Yet elections have been one of the most compromised of processes in this
country.

      The electorate used to hope that solutions will come through
elections, but the June 2008 elections proved traumatic. The electorate
today is frightened of a repetition of June 2008, when people were herded to
the polls under the watchful eye of people who had proved their ability to
use violence, rape and killings against their political opponents. While
elections remain important, they are only a small part of what we term
"democracy".

      Elections are not the only way in which democracy can be tested. For
two decades Zimbabwe enjoyed the democratic right to primary education for
almost all children, literacy for almost all adults and primary health care
for almost all children.  These forms of democracy have been lost over the
last decade.

      If we are to return to democratic rule, quality education for all
irrespective of race, ethnicity, and economic status, rural or urban
location must be guaranteed.

      At present this is not true at all. Large numbers of children are
dropping out from primary school, and only half the age group actually reach
secondary education. Examination results at Grade 7 and at "O" Levels
demonstrate a definitive loss of quality. Zimbabweans must demand their
basic democratic right to quality education.

      The democratic right to education must now be expanded to Form II or
Grade IX for all, as has been the case in most Sadc countries.  Zimbabwe
used to lead in education in Sadc, but today it is proving to be a laggard.

      Tertiary education institutions in Zimbabwe have also been decimated.
Earlier this year, many university lecturers were being paid only US$20 a
month. This has improved to a couple of hundred US dollars.

      Nevertheless the damage has been done, with the flight of lecturers
out of the country.  Some institutions have relied on providing education to
our neighbours, whilemany Zimbabwean students are too poor to afford
tertiary education. Equipment, particularly computers, are in short supply
and most are out of date.

      The same is true for health. Primary health care for all, including
the democratisation of a clean water supply, is fundamental.  We have seen
over the past few years an erosion of this form of democracy.

      Most people no longer enjoy the democratic right to clean water,
something they had begun to take for granted after independence. This
important democratic right has been lost, and must be fought for and
regained.

      Vaccination and the prevention of communicable diseases are democratic
rights which have also been eroded. Many children are no longer being
immunized.

      Pregnant women and young children are no longer able to access free
medical assistance. Even people with communicable diseases such as Sexually
Transmittable Diseases, including the dreaded HIV and Aids, often cannot get
medical assistance.  If they do enjoy some assistance, this may be due to
charity, rather than as a democratic right.

      Perhaps the most neglected democratic right in Zimbabwe that was
neglected both before and after Independence has been the right to work.

      The Rhodesians respected the right to work for whites: there were no
unemployed whites before independence. In fact, the beautiful jacaranda and
flamboyant trees which are a feature of Zimbabwean towns and cities are the
result of a public works programme of the Rhodesians, where unemployed
whites were paid 10 pence to plant a tree, at that time a respectable amount
of money. There were no such programmes for blacks in the Rhodesian days.

      After Independence, particularly in the 1980s, there were a lot of
public works programmes, sometimes called "Food for Work", particularly
during drought periods, but of late these programmes have diminished.

      Zimbabwe could well benefit from 10 000 village dams, and these could
be built through a combination of public works, university technical inputs,
and state machinery. This used to be the case through District Development
Fund (DDF), another important institution that has been weakened. If DDF and
other such institutions were strengthened, Zimbabwe could benefit from both
improved infrastructure, and
      employment of large numbers, a double benefit.

      One result of the refusal to respect the basic democratic right to
work has been the exodus of some 3 million Zimbabweans to other countries.

      A small percentage of these have done remarkably well, but a larger
percentage has gone to other countries to suffer humiliation, beggary, and
even xenophobia.

      It is essential for Zimbabwe to begin to recognise the basic
democratic right to work.  Without work people are degraded.  Without work
for all Zimbabwe cannot progress.  Without work for all we cannot have
political and social stability.  It is time for Zimbabweans to insist on
this democratic right.  Note I have emphasised the right to work, rather
than the right to employment.

      A related democratic right is the right to food.  And this should not
be through the importation of food from outside.  Zimbabweans can grow their
own food, provided they have seeds and fertilizer.  This year, for a change,
donors have provided a lot of seeds and fertilizer for the destitute, and
have also helped to spread the zero tillage technology.

      The democratic right to food should be closely linked to the right to
work.  Those who want to work should be given the wherewithal to do so, in
particular through food production.

      The debate on democracy has been narrowed down in Zimbabwe.  It has
also been strongly influenced by donor interests, and has been dominated by
the non-governmental organisations (NGO) community.  That is good, to some
extent.

      But it is essential that all Zimbabweans and all Zimbabwean
institutions, including state institutions, security force institutions,
church and religious institutions, also participate in the struggle for
democracy.   Outside institutions, including those donors and NGOs who have
come to assist us, need to expand and practicalise their definitions of
democracy.

      Government should be judged by their ability to provide these
democratic rights.  Government's ability to provide these democratic rights
should be enhanced rather than undermined.   It is recognized that
Government has failed to provide these democratic rights, for various
reasons.

      Assistance being given to the Inclusive Government should focus on
these basic democratic rights.  Until and unless these rights are respected,
it cannot be said that Zimbabwe is democratic, however many elections we
have.  Real support from international and bilateral partners should focus
on these democratic rights.

      Local communities can and should be enabled to provide such forms of
democracy for themselves, provided they are given both technical and
financial support.

      Local government institutions such as rural district and urban
councils are well able to handle these forms of democratisation, and they
deserve such assistance.  The donor community has asserted that their
sanctions are only against certain individuals and not against Zimbabwe and
Zimbabweans as a whole.  By providing support to community structures
through local government they will be able to amply prove their commitment
and sincerity.

      BY FAY CHUNG

Sundayopinion: Reconciliation, a Tonic for healing

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

     
      Monday, 23 November 2009 15:36
      WHEN the inclusive government established the Organ on National
Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, there was a sigh of relief among
many victims of violence who had been deeply wounded, traumatised and
de-humanised.

      The painful episodes have kept on recurring since the colonial era;
during the war of liberation; the dissident and Gukurahundi atrocities,
right up to the violent 2008 elections. There is still unresolved anger,
hatred, fear, worry and stress arising from different episodes of our
history.

      The Organ was mandated to restore confidence, build peace and foster
lasting reconciliation between perpetrators of violence and their victims.
Within the fractured society, the Organ can measure its success if the fear
and animosity are overcome. From top-level structures down to the
grassroots, a process of healing is not only necessary, but imperative in
order to remove confrontation and replace it with co-operation.

      Of necessity the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing else but the Truth
must be told openly by those who committed macabre acts. As much as possible
these testimonies should be done in the presence of the victims of their
beloved ones.

      Perpetrators must acknowledge the wrongs they committed and ask for
forgiveness, while the victims re-live their traumatic experiences by
pouring out their emotions, sharing grief with fellow victims and then
forgiving their tormentors. Slowly, the parties can accept each other in
order for peace and harmony to take root.

      If Zimbabwe is serious about healing wounds and reconciling the
nation, there is no alternative except to bring the opposing forces to
engage each other in an encounter facilitated by civil society, faith
communities, and the government and supported by the international
community. There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that government alone
can do it.

      This project will cost colossal amounts and the government is not yet
able to mobilise such resources. So this process will definitely fail if the
government is not assisted. It will also fail if the government takes
national healing and reconciliation as peripheral issues. This process
should be National Priority Number One.

      Reconciliation, both as a locus and focus, is all about building
symbiotic relationships between antagonists. It is therefore imperative to
come up with innovative mechanisms that can create time and space to enable
the parties to integrate and embrace their painful past and then move on to
a shared future.

      By setting up the Organ, the inclusive government realised there was a
serious problem, which was preventing national integration and
peace-building, and the country was on a course of self-destruction caused
by unresolved hatred and desire for revenge. Acknowledgement of the
existence of this problem is in itself a positive step

      The next step is for the inclusive government to accept that it cannot
deal with this problem alone because of scarce resources and lack of
capacity.

      The legislative arm of the government should complement efforts by the
Executive by coming up with enabling legislation that levels the playing
field. Parliament should pass legislation that provides amnesty to
perpetrators who come forward to testify. Telling the whole truth and asking
for forgiveness.

      What if the perpetrators refuse to come forward and give testimony?
That is precisely when both the legislative and judiciary flex their
muscles. Parliament passes the amnesty law and the judiciary interprets that
law and imposes custodial sentence on the perpetrator for refusing to
comply. For the society in general, punishing a criminal has this cathartic
healing effect.

      Relatives of the victims may exercise their constitutional right to
seek justice and proceed by way of summons. This is a complicated matter
hence the need to set up a Trust that will deploy people with counselling
skills to persuade the victims to forgive the perpetrator who has shown
genuine remorse during the testimony. There is not much the government can
do to force the victim to forgive the perpetrator. This is where issues of
restorative justice, restitution and reparations come in.

      As this process progresses, the issue of reparations should not be
down-played because this is a highly emotional and delicate matter that must
be handled with high-level skill, determination and perseverance. It is as
good as national survival because we will continue to bequeath violence and
hatred to our children and their off-spring. Somehow, the hatred must end
with this current generation.

      The international community, local corporate world should be brought
on board and implored to make financial resources available, not only to pay
reparations to the victims, but also for the extensive research that must be
done to identify both victims and perpetrators before hearings are conducted
nationwide.
      Business should not shy away from this process because they are net
losers in the end.

      Unless and until this process of national healing, reconciliation and
integration reaches its logical conclusion, business should remain engaged.
A whole business empire, which took many years of hard work to build, can be
reduced to ashes in one day, when violence flares up. In the long run, it is
important for business to invest in peace.

      Due to the stand-off between our public accounting entities and the
international community, aid agencies are sceptical about releasing
resources into the public purse. This can be overcome by establishment of
the aforementioned Trust.

      The Trust can decentralize some of its functions to the provinces,
particularly the research component. It can also open an institute to
provide courses in peace studies and reconciliation for the sake of
posterity.
      Churches, such as the Catholics have already embarked on workshops and
retreats where the message of healing and reconciliation is being shared.
Such efforts are commendable but this is a huge project that requires
concerted efforts to avoid duplication and fragmented approaches. The
government and all relevant stakeholders must plan and work together to
produce the desired results.

      Lasting peace is the fruit of justice - that moral virtue and legal
guarantee, which ensures full respect for rights and responsibilities,
equitable distribution of benefits and burdens. It should also be accepted
that human justice is always fragile and imperfect, subjective as it is, to
limitations and egoism of individuals and groups, it must be complemented by
forgiveness, which heals and rebuilds troubled human relations from their
foundations.

      Forgiveness is in no way opposed to justice, as if to forgive means to
overlook the need to correct the wrong that was committed. It is rather the
fullness of justice, leading to that tranquility of order, which is much
more than fragile cessation of hostilities involving the deepest healing of
wounds that fester in human hearts. Justice and forgiveness are both
essential for healing of memories.
      Reconciliation is the tonic of healing.

      BY DENNIS RWAFA

Diary of a traveller: I imagine you are safer in Zimbabwe than Jo'burg

Beauty ... Rounded rocks on the Matopos Hills near Bulawayo

23/11/2009 00:00:00
	by Scott Ramsay

 

Walking with lions at Gweru's Antelope Park

This is the final instalment in Scott Ramsay's Zimbabwe diaries. Our travel correspondent spent two weeks in Zimbabwe with 10 other foreign journalists at the invitation of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (Read DAY ONE, DAY TWO, DAY THREE and DAY FOUR of his diaries):

 

Thursday, October 22

We spent most of the next day driving to Bulawayo, the second largest town in Zimbabwe.

We also encountered the start of seven or eight road blocks that we were unlucky enough to pass through in the subsequent days. Every time we were pulled over, we were asked to open our bags. When we asked the police what they were looking for, they said they were looking for “any potential issues.”

What was frustrating and annoying was that they never really checked our bags properly. We would open the top part of our cases, but they wouldn’t look any deeper. We all agreed that if they were going to stop people, then the police should do their jobs properly and inspect our bags comprehensively. Most of the time it seemed pointless.

As a tourist, be prepared for lots of roadblocks. It doesn’t make driving in Zimbabwe very fun.

Bulawayo is a pretty town. It has a more laid back atmosphere than Harare. We stayed at the Bulawayo Club, an old colonial haunt frequented by generations of English expats. It’s under new management, and is busy being refurbished. The potential for success is obvious. It’s a grand old building, and should become a landmark in Zimbabwe.

Wilderness of granite ... A tour truck at the Amalinda Lodge near the Matopos

Friday, October 23

Friday was spent driving to Gweru, and we stayed at Antelope Park, a private game reserve, with impressive attractions. It hosts a lion breeding project, with 79 lions being bred for reintroduction into those wildlife areas that require them.

According to the project guides, there are only 30,000 left in Africa, a pitiful number considering there used to be hundreds of thousands in the 1970s.

The real highlight was walking with the lion cubs early in the morning. We got to see them up close, and the opportunity to do so was special. I imagine there are comparatively few people in the world that have seen a lion in the wild, and even fewer that have walked with them.

Antelope Park also has a number of tame elephants who were orphaned, and now are “teenagers”. They are trained to put on a display for visitors (with one of their back legs chained – not a pleasant sight), but most of the time they are able to wander free near the lodge, leading an easy life, something that would have been impossible had they not been rescued as orphans.

The accommodation at Antelope Park is both varied and excellent. I stayed in a river bungalow, looking out over the river. Buffet meals are taken in a communal area.

Tidy ... A roadside advert outside Amakhosi Theatre in Bulawayo

Saturday, October 25

Our last day was spent driving back to Harare. In the evening, we were invited to the Minister of Tourism’s house for dinner, along with his family. Walter Mzembi is a Zanu PF member, and was appointed as Tourism Minister in February of this year.
We had a braai with him and some other guests. I got chatting to him while he turned the wors and steak on the braai. When he realised I was South African, he handed the tongs to me and he put me in charge of the braai (Mazvita Mr Mzembi!).

I pressed him on what Zimbabwe was doing to attract tourists. Again and again he spoke of the importance of conservation of wildlife areas. For the rest, he was quite happy to talk about my home town of Cape Town in South Africa and my previous holiday in Zimbabwe.

Our travelling party of about 10 foreign journalists each had a chance to air our opinions about Zimbabwe with him, and he seemed open to both the positive and negative.

On our plane trip back to London on the Sunday, I made the following notes of my final impressions of my ten days in Zimbabwe.

• Zimbabwe is an amazing country. The people are among the friendliest I have encountered during twenty years of travelling around Southern Africa, since I was a teenager. The wildlife and landscape are among the best in the region.

• Zimbabwe is poor, but it is rich in potential. The country needs help. But to attract foreign travel dollars, the ZTA is going to have to convince international tourists that it is safe to travel (it seemed like it to me); it is easy to travel in (no roadblocks please!); the political situation is stable (it isn’t); what people read in the foreign press is genuinely not true (unlikely) and prices are reasonable (most things aren’t good value for money). All in all, the ZTA has a hugely difficult task.

• The “situation” in Zimbabwe is improving – according to the locals I chatted to. For sure, my trip was definitely not a comprehensive look at the whole country; in fact, it was all too brief – and we visited too few places – to make a sound judgement.

But most of the local people I met all said things were better this year than in the last few years. They had more hope now than previously, even if there were still hardly any jobs available. I guess the locals are the ultimate judge of the state of the nation.

• Based on my trip, I would recommend tourists travel to Victoria Falls, Hwange and Matopos. There is no need to visit Harare, except to fly in and move on elsewhere.

• Learn some Shona or Ndebele. I did, and it made my trip twice as rewarding. When you make an effort to greet people in the morning (Mangwanani!), ask them how they’re doing (Makadini?), and wish them good night (Morara Zvakanaka), and say thank you (Mazvita) their eyes light up, their smiles grow even bigger and they shake your hand for longer. (I want to say thank you to Munyira at the hotel door of the Meikles Hotel for teaching me most my Shona).

• Visit the country to form your own opinions of Zimbabwe. My impressions are that it should be safe to go and visit. For some of our trip I travelled with an Italian travel agent, a lady of about 60 years old. She has been conducting travel tours to Zimbabwe every year for the last 40 years. And she has never been involved in a dangerous situation.

I imagine it’s more dangerous to visit Johannesburg than it is Zimbabwe.

(You can e-mail Scott at: scottnramsay@googlemail.com)


Tidy ... A Barclays Bank in Bulawayo