letter to editor in
Sunday's Standard...
How I envy Americans
DESPITE the
horrific terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York I have a sense
of envy of the American people. Why? Because they have a government, a police
force, an army and an air force totally committed to America, to the people of
America. America is attacked by terrorists and its government rallies round.
Americans enjoy a sense of intense, spine tingling national pride. They
have a sense of oneness as a nation. They have people of integrity in all
positions of civic authority, They have a president who consoles and pledges
help to those affected by the devastation. How I envy Americans!
A
country of all races and religions, but its people are loyal and blended
together under a wonderful sense of national pride and, most importantly,
determined that they will not be enslaved by terrorism, whether it comes from
within or without its borders.
By stark and shocking contrast Zimbabwe
has a government that indulges in mass murder, looting, and the initiation of
terrorism against its own people. Here we have a police force that can hardly be
persuaded to get off its backside to attend a common theft, let alone undertake
the duties of law enforcement for which it is paid from the high taxes forced
from the impoverished citizens of Zimbabwe.
Here we have filthy,
stinking hospitals, dangerous pot holed roads, arrogant and useless civil
servants, government sponsored racial hatred, the encouragement of brutality and
savagery against black and white citizens and the deliberate impoverishment of
all. We also seem to have a supine, spiritless population to whom anyone can do
anything.
Here we do not need a ‘bomb’ to cause the collapse of
buildings and the economy as we already have the government of the day involved
in our country’s disintegration.
Here we have a president who agrees to
the Abuja Agreement, not due to a change of heart, a sudden injection of moral
integrity or remorse, but only because he is being forced into it and still
prefers not to be bothered with such peripheries such as law and order or the
cessation of violence being perpetrated by his paid thugs.
America is
looking hard at the perpetrators of terrorism and those that assist them. Is
anyone here listening?
E M Makoni
Chinhoyi
Harare Seen As Test Case for Africa'
Business Day
(Johannesburg)
October 9, 2001
Posted to the web October 9,
2001
Zimbabwe is is being seen as a test case for Africa by powerful
nations,
particularly Britain and the US,nited States, Democratic Alliance
leader
Tony Leon said yesterday.on Monday.
In a speech prepared for
delivery to the SAouth African Institute of
International Affairs (SAIIA) in
Johannesburg, he said The "hard truth is
that the developed world has very
little financial interest in Africa".
There were plenty of low-risk,
high-return investment opportunities in
China, South America and Eastern
Europe. for the world to pass Africa by. in
the 21st Century.
While
the world's attention was diverted by the terrorist attack on the
US,nited
States, and the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM) in
Australia
was postponed, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe had taken full
advantage to
"continue his own reign of terror against his citizens".
Since the
September 6 Commonwealth task group meeting in Abuja, Nigeria,
which was
hailed as a "breakthrough", a total of 30 new farms had been
invaded by war
veterans in Zimbabwe. At least three people were killed in
political
violence, and the intimidation and arrests of opposition
campaigners in
by-elections in that country has continued, Leon said.
He said farm
workers had had their homes had been looted and razed to the
ground, and
350000 workers could lose their jobs by the end of the year.
"With this
humanitarian crisis on our borders, SAouth Africa has a moral
duty not to
turn away. But we also have compelling political and economic
reasons to care
about Zimbabwe," Leon further said.
SAouth Africa and Africa have also
been under attack since September 11.
"There has been an unprecedented,
and to some extent unwarranted, attack on
the rand while foreign capital
flows to Africa, which were never more than a
trickle, are draining
away."
Ten days after the terror attacks on the US the US its acting
assistant
secretary of state for African affairs, William Bellamy, said that
concern
in the US over events in Zimbabwe remained s high. Sapa.
The
success of President Thabo Mbeki's Millennium Africa Plan (MAP), and the
New
African Initiative (NAI) of the African Union (AU), depended on
resolving the
Zimbabwe crisis, he said. Sapa
"But another reason for supporting peace
and development in Africa has
emerged in the past month. Africa is of
strategic importance in the global
war against terrorism," Leon
said.
Mbeki and the AU should make it clear that economic growth and
political
stability were hostile conditions for radical
extremists.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair alluded to this in his
recent speech to
the Labour Party conference, when he warned that if the
world continued to
ignore the sufferings of African nations. it would breed
anger and
frustration which would threaten global stability, Leon
said.
Also, just ten days after the terror attacks on the United States,
US acting
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, William Bellamy,
said that
"concern in the US over events in Zimbabwe remains
high".
"If the US Congress can consider the Zimbabwe Democracy and
Economic
Recovery Bill at a time like this, and Tony Blair singles out
Zimbabwe in
his latest speech, then how can South Africa remain silent?
"Perhaps the
greatest weakness of South African foreign policy is the ANC
government's
apparent inability to separate the party's friendships and
loyalties from
South Africa's foreign interests.
"It is certainly not
in South Africa's interests to be seen as prepared to
overlook the foibles of
old comrades in the liberation struggle. Africa and
the world have moved on,
and the ANC must accept this reality," Leon said.
Sapa /jk/rod
Tuesday, 9 October, 2001, 18:58 GMT 19:58 UK
Murderers hanged in Zimbabwe
At least 60 people have been hanged since
1980
Three men have been hanged in Zimbabwe, in the first
executions the country has seen for three years says a state-run newspaper.
The Herald said the men - convicted murderers - were hanged after their
Supreme Court appeals had been rejected as well as a plea for clemency to
President Robert Mugabe.
One of the executed men shot dead three people during burglaries committed in
1995.
Another raped and then stabbed to death a 12-year-old girl.
Sentences commuted
At least 60 people have been executed in Zimbabwe since independence in 1980,
says the Associated Press news agency.
Former Chief Justice Gubbay was opposed to the death
penalty
|
Pope John Paul II, during a visit to Zimbabwe in 1988, appealed to the
government to abandon the death penalty.
Several prisoners on death row have had their sentences commuted to life
imprisonment after the Supreme Court ruled it inhumane to delay their execution.
But in 1998, two people were executed for killing a man whose organs were
sold to a businessman for ritual sacrifice.
New executioner
Soon after the 1998 hangings, the government announced it was looking for a
new executioner following the death of its long-serving hangman.
There have been no public reactions to the hangings, which the Herald says
took place last Friday.
But human rights groups and other non-governmental agencies have been
circulating petitions calling for the abolition of the death penalty for some
time now.
A draft constitution recently proposed by civil rights activists says that
judicial executions should be stopped.
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL
FARMERS' UNION
Farm Invasions and Security Report
Monday 8 October 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This report does not purport to cover all the incidents that are taking
place in the commercial farming areas. Communication problems and the fear of
reprisals prevent farmers from reporting all that happens. Farmers names, and in
some cases farm names, are omitted to minimise the risk of reprisals.
NATIONAL REPORT IN BRIEF:
Save Conservancy - poaching is at an unprecedented level
Wedza - 90
year old viciously attacked
Work stoppages continue countrywide
Bindura
- six armed and camouflaged men invade farm
Bindura - swarm of bees descend
upon invaders
Kwekwe - DDF tractors preparing land for
settlers
MASVINGO
Chiredzi Area - Situation remains very much the same
with poaching and snaring, theft, cutting of trees, building of houses and veld
fires continuing.
Mwenezi Area - Theft, poaching and snaring, cutting of trees continues
unabated.
Masvingo East and Central Area – On Chidza Farm tractors are reported to
be ploughing up lands on this property. Fomax Dairy 1 Electric motor was stolen
over the weekend. Valued at $200 000.00 Owner resides near township.
Chiredzi
Area - A brief update for Buffalo Range and Essanby - The following cattle
losses have occurred as a result of lawlessness from 1st January to 4th October
2001 inclusive: 18 head snared & 8 killed; 4 head snared & destroyed; 1
head speared; 2 head killed by vehicle (fence cutting) giving a total lost to
date - 33 head. The cattle herd is currently 400 head less than the normal
carrying capacity due to occupier related problems. Both properties have been
listed and are heavily occupied and several occupations have taken place since
March 2001. District Administrator, Clayton Sanjobo is included and his plot has
been cleared right next to the Buffalo Range Safari Camp. On Buffalo Range,
approximately 3 400 hectares cannot be grazed due to daily threats on the labour
force as well as fence cutting and gate removals. On Essanby, the same applies
to about 3 200 hectares.
At Quagga Pan "B" poachers have been very active again - led by a
well-known criminal sought by the police, but there has been limited interest in
actually arresting the individual and his gang, who continue to harass the
staff. New invasions have been reported over the last week and approximately 100
huts have been built , therefore tree cutting has been extensive. People are
coming from Sossonye Ranch and the Maranda Communal Lands. On Bar G illegal
occupiers have approximately 160 cattle on this property. Owner has asked them
to remove them and they say they await instructions from superiors to do so.
Fire was reported on Swanscoe over the weekend and 400 ha was burnt. Kleinbegin
had an order come through from the Court for Veterinary to remove all green
zone cattle from this property. They have until the end of the week before they
are in contempt of Court. Wire theft is rampant and out of control. Police have
searched huts and found large amounts of wire. Illegal squatters claim they have
been given the wire and have letters from the Samayanga area. Quagga Pan "A" has
in the past 36 hours had the pipeline vandalised 3 times by squatters. No water
has made it to the farm. This is the owner’s only source of water. The police
appear reluctant to investigate. There is an outstanding assault charge against
squatters that the police have made no attempt to investigate even though the
suspects are known.
Fires There have been numerous fires again over the past few days. There
had been a break following the rain of 3 weeks ago and the cooler weather, but
with warmer weather and increased squatter activity we can expect an upsurge in
fires.
General There has been an increase in squatter activity - tree cutting,
building, poaching, wire theft, cattle movements, etc.
Save Conservancy Area - Situation remains the same, poaching, snares
continually removed daily. The vet took a wire snare off a rhino on Senuko and
Humani had to put down an elephant with a terrible snare wound on its
leg.
Gutu / Chatsworth Area - The Cutting of trees, clearing of lands,
harassment from illegal occupiers for owners to move cattle continues
unabated.
MASHONALAND EAST
WEDZA - In the area there have been 31 work
stoppages to date. Merryhill Farm . On Sunday 30.9.01 the owner’s 90 year old
mother was viciously attacked and knocked unconscious. It appeared that the
motive was theft. The Police reacted but no arrests have been made as yet. The
victim is making a good recovery in hospital. On Mbima Farm illegal occupiers
demanded access to the barn complex in order to live in the three houses that
are there. This was refused. Police were informed but there has been no
reaction. The store was broken into and theft took place. The police were
informed but there has been no reaction. There is continued occupation of staff
houses by illegal occupiers. Illegal cattle are on the farm. This is a small,
one only farm and meets none of the criteria laid down for acquisition. Numwa
Farm owner was given 3 days to remove all the tobacco and vacate the farm by
Isaac Mureverwi. There has been a break-in and theft of fertilizer and diesel
drained from all the tractors. The police arrived but showed little interest.
Msasa Estates is an unlisted farm. The owner was visited by Agritex to say they
were coming to peg. There has been theft of 4 irrigation taps and bends. On
Boisserain Farm 30 irrigation pipes were stolen and the owner laid an ambush and
arrested 2 people, l escaped. The police did respond. Skoonveld & Bickleigh
Farms had all the labour chased off by war vet Kujeke but they appear to have
stopped beating the labour. The owner was told to leave the farm and that the
paprika belongs to the illegal occupiers, who informed the owner that they
intended to remove the compound house roofing. On Bita Farm 4 dead cattle were
found, one had drowned and the cause of death of the other 3 is unknown. The
meat was not taken. To owner of Nelson Farm was told to have all the cattle off
the farm by the 31.9.01. This has been resolved for the time being. There are
illegal cattle on Leeds Farm and no guards are allowed. The owner had been
watering seedbeds and left one worker to finish off. The worker was stopped by
illegal occupiers from the next door farm and told not to work in the seedbeds.
Later 2 illegal occupiers from Leeds, Bobo and Maisiri, removed the pipes from
the seedbeds. The owner filmed them leaving with the pipes and they threatened
the owner that they would kill him. They later repeated their threat and said it
also applied to any ploughing that took place. After some discussion, Maisiri
downgraded his threat to a severe beating. They told the employee that the DA
had instructed them to stop any work in the seedbeds and lands. On Nurenzi Farm
Agritex are pegging. Lilifontein 6 poachers with dogs killed a warthog. Police
reacted after +- 5 hours. Another warthog was poached the following day and the
police arrived and another shot was heard as soon as they had left. At Corby a
water pump was stolen and the workshops was broken into twice. In each case the
guards had been chased away beforehand. One worker was beaten. War vets
Chigwedere and Zinyoro arrived on the farm with government valuators. The owner
was told he could not have any guards and must vacate the farm by Wed 3.10.01.
At Wedza Club there have been several thefts in the past couple of weeks. The
Nursery school was broken into and some of the stolen goods were found at the
house of the war vet on Sheffield. He has been arrested by the police. Fels Farm
had the plastic covering over the roses slashed. 25 rifle shots were heard
around the houses. Rapako Farm owner and his son met with the full Lands
Committee at the DA's office in Wedza . The main speaker was war vet Chigwedere.
The owner once again asked to be allowed to bring in a few of the workers to
finish off the tobacco grading and to work in the rose greenhouses and on the
cattle. The request for about 60 workers was turned down as Mr Chigwedere
explained that the workers could not be trusted not to fight with the new
settlers on the farm. He stated that the owner would have to use the new
settlers to move the tobacco to another area where it can be handled without the
use of the labourers. The owner pointed out that there were still very few
settlers on the farm. When asked about the 2.5 hectares of roses which are now
dying, Mr Chigwedere stated that he felt the owner had made enough money out of
them by now and that the owner would therefore no longer require them. But again
the owner could negotiate with the settlers to help with the flowers. The owner
was told to make sure the cattle were either moved off the farm or herded so
they did not interfere with the new settlers’ crops. Mr Chigwdere said that the
game animals were now the property of the settlers and they would deal with any
game animals which ate their crops. The DA stated that he had information from
the workers that the workers had carted all their possessions into the communal
land so that they could come back to fight the settlers without fear of damaging
their furniture. The owner stated that this was not true and that it was the war
vets who made them move all their possessions into the barn area where they
lived for a week before, once again, being forced by the war vets to load all
their possessions onto tractor and trailers and into lorries to get them off the
farm. Both the DA and Chigwedere stated that if the farm was delisted the owner
would be able to get the labour back and return to work. There have been
numerous cases of snaring of game and cattle and one case of a cow being
slashed.
Macheke-Virginia - Whilst the owner of Nyagadzi was off the farm,
war veterans blocked the entrance to the owner’s home and barns with trees and
told the labour that the owner was not allowed back on the farm, and that the
workers could only work within the barns fence. The Lands Committee visited the
farm and resolved the situation. On Glensomerset war veterans have prevented the
collection of bricks. Chirunji had a total work stoppage and a delegation
singing and dancing at the gate for about two and a half hours. This was
reported to Cst Madenge and was later resolved by the Lands Committee. The
police visited the scene afterwards and reported a slaughtered calf. Leyland
Farm has had Agritex pegging on it. DDF have been assessing Twist Farm to see if
it is suitable for A2 resettlement. Chigori have reported the theft of gum poles
and wire. DDF have continued to build huts and to plough. The police have been
following up on these reports, as well as noticing obvious signs of poaching
amongst settlers which is also being followed up. The owner and labour have been
threatened with death on Mignon. There have also been reports of grass theft
from the yard. The situation on Flint is still unresolved and the labourers are
living in the barns. Government Evaluators have been reported assessing the
property on Paradise farm.
MASHONALAND WEST
On Elveden Farm Security Officer Mpofu had a meeting with the labour
regarding Zanu PF cards and the invasions. The labour informed Mpofu that the
farm is not a listed farm, but Mpofu said that it is. He accused the farmer of
pulling out the pegs but said the farmer must continue to plant. Finally he
asked the farmer for petrol, which the farmer did not have, then Mpofu wanted
$500 which was also refused. On Squatodzi Farm work has resumed without
problems. The DA was phoned and he instructed the settlers that they must let
farmer get on with all operations and he would visit the farm to check on the
situation. The work was stopped by the chairman of the settlers. St Johns
Estate has a work stoppage again as has St Andrews. Preston Farm has been
listed and pegged and has a number of very militant settlers who have made huge
demands and refuse to allow farm work to continue. Farmer continues to try and
resolve the stalemate.
MASHONALAND WEST (NORTH)
Chinhoyi – The is a work stoppage on Mtunzi and Njiri Farms. At an
organised meeting with the settlers, it was decided that the farmer would try
and get the D.A. and Governor to come out to the farm to resolve several issues,
one being the fact the fact that tobacco had been planted on land that had been
pegged and the settlers wanted to pull out the tobacco in order to plant their
maize. The Governor had informed the farmer to go ahead and plant the tobacco
crop. This was not believed by the settlers who wanted clarification on the
issue. They insisted that the farmer stop a labour gang that was re-filling
tobacco and that there was to be no further work in the land until this issue
was resolved. Also the tractor that was triffing for the late crop was
stopped. On Manyamba Farm the irrigated tobacco land is now the settlers’
housing complex, After harvesting wheat, they were planning to disc and ridge
for tobacco. On the 2nd, the tractor and roam was stopped and on 3rd, the roam
worked for about 45 minutes before it was stopped. At Longmead Farm a tractor
that was out ridging was stopped and sent home. In the afternoon the settlers
went to the seedbeds and stopped the workers from irrigating the seedlings.
They threatened to assault any workers who tried to switch the irrigation back
on. The settlers also threatened to collect all the cattle and herd them into
the yard. At Chisaki Farm the ridger worked until 4.30 when the settlers
suddenly woke up to the fact that it was working in the lands, and stopped it.
On Temperly Farm in the absence of the farmer the labourers spent the whole day
planting tobacco, but t the end of the day the foreman was presented with a list
of demands to be met if they were to continue planting. This amounts to
extortion in the form of preparing half of the farm for them to use, which is
totally unacceptable to the farmer as it results in another work stoppage. At
Long Valley the farmer sent a gang to take down one section of fencing so that
he could use it to put around a settler's house that is in the middle of a
paddock that he wants his cattle to graze. The workers were stopped from doing
so by the Police details based on that farm who advised the farmer that he would
be compensated for the fence and not to remove it. The Police detail also
advised the farmer to contact Chief Inspector Mudziwapasi, M.I.C. Rural, for
clarification. The C.I. was unavailable. On Talfourd Farm there was a work
stoppage and the tractor and ridger were sent off the land.
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Bindura - A group of six armed and camouflaged men arrived on Condwelani
Farm and forced the security guard to open the gates to the owner's house. The
owner, whose wife was away at the time, locked himself and his two children in a
cupboard and managed to call for help. When help arrived, accusations were
made against the owner saying that he had been responsible for the burning down
of two houses belonging to the illegal settlers. Threats were made against the
owner with the invaders claiming that they had to "Deal with him". Whilst this
was going on, a swarm of bees descended upon the invaders and they all had to
run for their lives. No one else was hurt. Negotiations are still in progress
as the owner has stated that he is innocent of any of the accusations. On
Saturday, two of the owner's workers were forcefully evicted from their homes
and had to flee the area.
Glendale - The owner of Harmony Farm returned from leave to find that his
farm had been pegged.
Centenary - The illegal settlers and labourers on Ashmere Farm attempted to
extort finances from the owner of the farm in the form of gratuities. The owner
was called to Centenary for negotiations and when he reported the matter to the
Police they refused to give him a report number.
Mazoe/Concession - The work stoppages on Taveydale and Normindale Farms
have come to an end and the farms are fully operational again. On Warmingdale
Farm a Policewoman has illegally occupied the manager's cottage and demanded
that the electricity and water be connected at the owner's expense.
Mvurwi - Officials from Agritex arrived on Braid Julie Farm and told the
illegal settlers to peg land for permanent dwellings and once these had been
built, to remove the shacks they had been living in.
Midlands
Kwekwe - generally there is lots of movement and DDF tractors
are preparing land for settlers. Poaching and snaring are ongoing and rife. On
one farm, occupiers held meetings at which everyone living on the farm was told
to obtain party cards at a cost of $82.00 each. On another farm, $250 000.00
worth of irrigation equipment was stolen, including 39 sprinklers, taps,
aluminium bends and end caps. All of them had been marked and police have said
they will investigate. This is the fourth farm in the area to have irrigation
equipment stolen.
Manicaland
Mutare - On Dairy Farm the settlers set fire to grazing and a
cow was burnt to death in the process. On Saturday DDF arrived and drilled a
borehole, the owner contacted the Governor who asked him to take a copy of the
Abuja agreement to Mutasa and resolve the situation.
Nyanga - The situation at Claremont is ongoing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Speaker arranged bank robber's release -
DNews
- Prison officers suspended -
IRIN
- Zimbabwe a test case -
News24
- Farm seized in Zanu PF faction struggle -
DNews
- Food shortages begin to bite -
IRIN
- September Report - Amani
Trust
From The Daily News, 8 October
Mnangagwa ordered armed robber’s release
Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Speaker of
Parliament, facilitated the release of a hard core criminal when he was the
Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, an inquiry by the High
Court has established. The discovery was made by Justice David Bartlett in July
after he convicted George Tanyanyiwa Chikanga of armed robbery involving more
than $200 000. Chikanga robbed First Bank Corporation’s Birmingham branch in
Harare on 16 September 2000. Before passing sentence, Bartlett established that
Chikanga had in 1990 been convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison on
various counts of armed robbery. But he only served nine years of the sentence
after Mnangagwa’s intervention.
The court heard Chikanga had been released
earlier because he suffered from hypertension. Bartlett then ordered that
Chikanga be examined by a medical doctor to establish his condition and the
circumstances leading to his release in March last year. When the case resumed
last Thursday, a medical report presented before Bartlett showed that Chikanga
did not suffer from hypertension as claimed upon his release. Chikanga was then
asked to tell the court how he had managed to come out of jail before completing
his prison term. His lawyer, Tichaona Garabga, told the court that it was his
client’s mother, Febby Chikanga, who petitioned Mnangagwa to have her son
released. Mnangagwa became the Speaker of Parliament last July after he was
defeated by the MDC’s Blessing Chebundo in last year’s parliamentary election in
Kwekwe.
Febby Chikanga was then called to explain
the circumstances leading to the release of her son. She said after her son was
sentenced to 35 years in jail in 1990, she wrote six petitions to the Ministry
of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs pleading to have him released on the
grounds that he was only 17-years-old when he committed the offence. She also
said her son was the family’s sole breadwinner. She said Irene Zindi, the former
MP for Hatfield where she resides, then advised her to meet Mnangagwa and
present her case to him. Zindi lost her constituency to Tapiwa Mashakada, the
MDC’s shadow minister of finance, in last year’s parliamentary
election.
Chikanga told the court that after the
meeting with Mnangagwa, following her last petition in February last year,
Augustine Chikumira, the late permanent secretary in the ministry, then wrote a
letter to the prison officials directing them to release her son. She secured
his release in March last year. She said if the court wished, it could call
Mnangagwa to give evidence on the matter. In a letter written to Bartlett and
read in court, David Mangota, the new permanent secretary in the ministry,
thanked the judge for unearthing the scandal.
Meanwhile, in the latest case, the State
alleges that on 16 September 2000, Chikanga armed with a pistol assaulted First
Bank employees, Rungamai Bhebhe, Pavelot Mukucha, Virginia Ndowora, Pharastein
Chinokora, Roggers Shonhiwa, and Joseph Magaya, before he stole $221 000 from
the bank. The court heard that a search by the police at Chikanga’s house in
Hillside, recovered $632 000 and some foreign currency. Bartlett is yet to
deliver sentence on the matter.
From IRIN (UN), 8 October
Prison Service suspends 16 alleged opposition
supporters
Sixteen prison officers were allegedly
suspended indefinitely from the Zimbabwe Prison Service on allegations that they
were active members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the
'Daily news' reported on Monday. The report said the officers were stationed at
the Chikurubi prison headquarters complex, comprising of the maximum security
prison facility and training depot in Harare. The newspaper quoted a letter
dated 27 September and sent to each of the suspended officers as saying: "The
above named member is to be placed on interdiction from duty on half pay with
effect from 27 September 2001 in terms of Section 6 (1) of the Prisons (Staff)
(Appointment and Discharge) Regulations, 1984 for allegations of being an active
member of the opposition political party MDC." Some of the suspended officers
were quoted as saying that they had been visited by Police Internal Security
Intelligence (PISI) officers. They said they were living "in constant fear for
their lives". They denied being active members of the MDC, insisting they did
not belong to any political party, the report said.
From News24(SA), 8
October
Zim test case for USA,
UK
Cape Town - Zimbabwe is being seen as a test case for Africa by
powerful nations, particularly Britain and the United States, Democratic
Alliance leader Tony Leon said on Monday. In a speech prepared for delivery to
the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in Johannesburg, he
said the "hard truth is that the developed world has very little financial
interest in Africa". There were plenty of low-risk, high-return investment
opportunities in China, South America and Eastern Europe, for the world to pass
Africa by in the 21st Century.
While the world's attention was diverted by the terrorist
attack on the United States, and the Commonwealth heads of government meeting
(CHOGM) in Australia was postponed, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe had taken
full advantage to "continue his own reign of terror against his citizens". Since
the September 6 Commonwealth task group meeting in Abuja, Nigeria - hailed as a
"breakthrough" - a total of 30 new farms had been invaded in Zimbabwe, at least
three people killed in political violence, and the intimidation and arrests of
opposition campaigners in by-elections in that country continued. Farm-workers'
homes had been looted and razed to the ground, and 350 000 farm-workers could
lose their jobs by the end of the year.
"With this humanitarian crisis on our borders, South Africa has
a moral duty not to turn away. But we also have compelling political and
economic reasons to care about Zimbabwe," Leon said. South Africa and Africa had
also been under attack since September 11. "There has been an unprecedented -
and to some extent unwarranted - attack on the rand. Foreign capital flows to
Africa, which were never more than a trickle, are draining away." The success of
President Thabo Mbeki's Millennium Africa Plan (MAP), and the New African
Initiative (NAI) of the African Union (AU), depended on resolving the Zimbabwe
crisis.
"But another reason for supporting peace and development in
Africa has emerged in the past month. Africa is of strategic importance in the
global war against terrorism," Leon said. Mbeki and the AU should make it clear
that economic growth and political stability were hostile conditions for radical
extremists. British Prime Minister Tony Blair alluded to this in his recent
speech to the Labour Party conference, when he warned that if the world
continued to ignore the sufferings of African nations. it would breed anger and
frustration which would threaten global stability, Leon said.
Also, just ten days after the terror attacks on the United
States, US acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, William
Bellamy, said that "concern in the US over events in Zimbabwe remains high". "If
the US Congress can consider the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Bill
at a time like this, and Tony Blair singles out Zimbabwe in his latest speech,
then how can South Africa remain silent? Perhaps the greatest weakness of South
African foreign policy is the ANC government's apparent inability to separate
the party's friendships and loyalties from South Africa's foreign interests. It
is certainly not in South Africa's interests to be seen as prepared to overlook
the foibles of old comrades in the liberation struggle. Africa and the world
have moved on, and the ANC must accept this reality," Leon said.
From The Daily News, 8
October
Former MP flees
invaders
Masvingo - Albert Chamwadoro, the former MP for Chivi North has
fled his Allanvale Farm near Mashava after he was threatened by scores of farm
invaders. Chamwadoro said: "The invaders have blocked the entrance to the
farmhouse and have threatened to kill me. I have since left the farm for
security reasons. All the farm employees have been chased away. I have tried my
level best to have them evicted but Masvingo Provincial Governor Josaya Hungwe
wants them to stay. He also wants to acquire the farm for resettlement." The
farm invaders are allegedly taking instructions from Hungwe who is the chairman
of the provincial land committee.
Although the government has said all black-owned farms would be
spared from acquisition, Hungwe said the farm should still be acquired for
resettlement. The governor’s determination to acquire the farm is being viewed
as a ploy to frustrate and embarrass members of the Zanu PF faction led by
Eddison Zvobgo. Chamwadoro belongs to the Zvobgo camp in the faction-torn
province where Hungwe leads a group of Zanu PF supporters allegedly aligned to
Vice-President Simon Muzenda. Zvobgo is a former Minister without Portfolio who
fell out of favour with President Mugabe after he was dropped from the ruling
party’s supreme organ, the politburo.
Chemwadoro bought the 235 hectare piece of land from the
Mashaba-Shabanie Mines last year. Hungwe, however, said the certificate of no
present interest had been cancelled by the provincial land committee. He said
the sale transaction that took place between the former MP and the Mines had
been reversed. "All those people who are on Chamwadoro’s farm should remain and
if the need to put more people arises we will do so," Hungwe
said.
From IRIN (UN), 9 October
Food shortages begin to bite
The view from one of Zimbabwe's beleaguered
commercial farmer's houses is a constant reminder of what he has lost. From the
front window he can clearly see what was once a rolling field of lush green
wheat. It has been reduced to a bed of dry stalks after pro-government militants
drove cattle through the field. "That crop was worth millions. But at least they
did not physically harm me," the farmer said, pleading with IRIN not to
publicise his case. He doesn't want to provoke more action from the militants
still occupying the southern part of his mixed-production farm in Beatrice
district, 60 km south of Harare.
At Manyati village not far from Beatrice,
41-year-old widow and mother-of-four Mary Makombo despairs. "The five bags of
maize we harvested will take us to around March next year, after that I do not
know what we shall eat," she says. Zimbabwe, in the throes of its worst economic
and political crisis since independence, faces critical food shortages because
of disruptions in agriculture, and a severe lack of foreign aid and hard
currency. Illegal farm seizures and chaotic fast-track land reform, as well as a
delay in the start of the rainy season last year, shortages of fuel, farming
inputs and a mid-season dry spell, all combined to cause a drop in agricultural
production, said University of Zimbabwe (UZ) crop science lecturer Pangirai
Tongoona.
Agricultural analysts say the failure of
the state-run Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to pay communal farmers, who normally
produce 60 percent of Zimbabwe's maize, has been a major contributing factor to
the looming food crisis. Observers agree that preventing starvation next year in
Zimbabwe will require external help. But with an election on the horizon, the
government has been reluctant to acknowledge the extent of the problem. Finance
Minister Simba Makoni told parliament recently that 100,000 mts of maize and
60,000 mts of wheat would have to be imported to make up for shortfalls in
domestic production. According to a United Nations' Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) estimate in June, Zimbabwe will need to import a total of
about 570,0000 mts of maize and wheat to avert starvation and replenish its
reserves.
The Zimbabwe Grain Producers' Association
(ZPGA), bringing together mainly white large-scale commercial grain producers,
said according to its research the country last season produced 1.8 million mts
against a total annual requirement of 2.6 million mts of maize. The country
needed to import a minimum of 350,000 mts of maize, ZPGA said. "Without these
additional imports Zimbabwe will run dry of maize from 1 April, 2002 until the
new crop is harvested," ZPGA administrator Vanessa Mckay said. University of Zimbabwe (UZ) political scientist Elphious
Mukonoweshuro told IRIN that the government was deliberately downplaying the
food shortages for fear that Zimbabweans would hold it's fast-track land policy
responsible. "For the government to accept figures scientifically produced by
local and international food experts that put the food deficit much higher would
be accepting a liability," Mukonoweshuro said.
Although the government continues to
publicly downplay the possibility of a major food crisis, action on the ground
suggests that Mugabe's administration is taking the threat seriously. Last month
the government banned all exports of basic foods, including the staple maize
meal. In June, in a move to increase control over maize and wheat, Mugabe made
it illegal to buy or sell the two crops - except through the GMB. Last month it
hiked producer prices for maize and wheat in an attempt to stimulate production
next year. Meanwhile, in regions with low rainfall,
like the Masvingo and Matabeleland provinces, there are already visible signs of
food shortages with most families requiring food supplements because they did
not harvest enough to feed themselves. But with little external aid forthcoming
and dwindling amounts of foreign currency to import food, their plight seems set
to worsen.
From The Amani Trust, 8
September
Human Rights Statistical
Summary - July to September 2001
TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY
VIOLATIONS: 27, 633
Deaths: (gunshot, burns, beatings): 30
Assaults (blunt/ sharp, burns 2,928
Property offences: (destruction, theft)
1,165
Death/disappearance threats: 753
Rape 6
Rape threat 12
Assault threats 5,138
False accusations 796
Forced displacement: 20,853
Detention/kidnapping: 586
Unlawful dismissal 210
Barricading 218
No of farming/wilderness areas affected by
deliberate land burning 33
POLITICAL AFFILIATION OF VICTIMS
(1 July – 30 September 2001)
Unknown 61,7 %
MDC 33,0%
Zanu PF 5,3 %
POLITICAL AFFILIATION OF PERPETRATORS
(1 July – 30 September 2001)
Zanu PF (war veterans, youths etc) 73,3
%
STATE AGENCIES
Army/air force: 4,4 %
Police 16,0 %
CIO: 0,6 %
MDC: 2,5 %
unknown: 3,2 %
There has been a dramatic increase in reported violence in the
last three months, mainly linked to continued violence on commercial farms,
which have affected tens of thousands of families, but also linked to elections
around the country, notably in Chikombe and (to a lesser degree) Bulawayo. The
patterns of affiliation of perpetrators and victims remain similar to previous
months.