ZIMONLINE cartoon 14/9/07

Against all odds

Dear Family and Friends,
Day after day Zimbabwe is on fire. Smoke rises in almost every direction, the
wind carries trails of black debris and every evening the sky is smudged with
ash. Night after night there is a great orange glow on the horizon and long
after the moon and stars are overhead the fires continue to burn unchecked and
out of control.

Out on an early morning errand this week I stopped as a Slender Mongoose ran
out into the road. We stared at each other for a minute or two and it was a
breathtaking sight. The dawn sun highlighted the depth of colour of his rich
chestnut  fur. The little mammal stood quite still on the tarmac, his
black-tipped tail lifted slighted, ready to run. Then as suddenly as it had
appeared, the mongoose was gone - running off into the only patch of unburnt
vegetation still left in the nearby grassland. This little African mammal, once
a common sight but now rarely seen, is surviving against all odds.

About two hundred metres along the road I passed two men who were carrying
sickles and had catapults hanging round their necks. They were accompanied by a
pack of hunting dogs who trotted all around them. The intention of their outing
was obvious - the sickles to cut grass used to lay lines of fires, the catapults
to kill birds, the dogs to catch mice and other small animals that flee from the
flames. In an hour or two these men will destroy huge swathes of vegetation,
remove essential habitat for birds and mammals and from the devastation will
perhaps get enough meat for one meal. Their activities go unchecked and when
they've had enough the men and their dogs head home leaving the fires to burn
themselves out, sometimes many kilometres away.

Arriving at my destination I sat across the desk from a smartly dressed woman
in her office. As I conducted my business we asked the questions all Zimbabweans
are asking each other: have you got water today? Is your electricity on this
morning? Have you managed to find bread? All the answers to all the questions
were the same from both of us: no!  We agreed that things were now 'very hard'
in Zimbabwe but to an outsider  this would undoubtedly be the understatement of
all time. We have got up to find no water in the tap to drink, to bathe or to
wash our clothes; we've got no electricity to cook food and no bread, cereal or
milk to give to our families for breakfast. Despite it all and against all odds,
Zimbabweans are still carrying on: clean, polite, hardworking, dedicated - a
credit to a country so close to the edge.

At the end of three days of sixteen hour power cuts this week I finally heard
the news that has given Zimbabwe such a lift. Against all the odds and with
nothing in their favour,  Zimbabwe beat Australia in the 20/20 cricket world
cup. Patriotism burns strong, very strong, in our hearts and gives belief that
against all odds, we will emerge from these darkest of days. Until next week,
thanks for reading, love cathy. Copyright cathy buckle. 15 September 2007.
 www.cathybuckle.com
My books: "African Tears" and "Beyond Tears" are available in  South Africa
from: books@clarkesbooks.co.za  and in the UK from:  orders@africabookcentre.com

Stakeholders begin putting out dumpsite fire

Work to put out fire at dumpsite begins

Herald Reporters 14.9.07

THE army and the City of Harare Fire Brigade yesterday began putting gravel
and compacting it at the Pomona dumpsite, which has been burning for the
past two weeks.

The compacted gravel is expected to slow down the burning and eventually
extinguish the fire that is suspected to have been started by a quarry
operator who wanted to burn grass around his quarry dump.

The quarry operator was allegedly angry with people he suspected to be
stealing diesel from his premises so he burned the grass around the
dumpsite.

Yesterday, army, city council, Circle Cement and Turnall Zimbabwe bulldozers
were being used to compact the site while Environment Africa provided the
fuel. The work to put out the fire is expected to take the next two days as
the fire had gone deeper into the trash.

This comes at a time when Zimbabwe is joining the rest of the world in
celebrating 20 years of the existence of the Montreal Protocol on substances
that deplete the ozone layer.

Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism Cde Andrew Langa yesterday said
his ministry was concerned with the situation at Pomona dumpsite when he
jointly launched the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone
Layer and the Clean-up Zimbabwe campaign 2007.

Cde Langa said his ministry is working tirelessly with other stakeholders to
extinguish the fire, which has been burning for the past two weeks and is
posing health problems to people inhaling the polluted air.

"My ministry is very much concerned about the toxic gases being emitted at
the Pomona dumpsite and we understand that many people near the site have
been affected by the air, especially asthmatic people.

"I must convey my gratitude to Environment Africa for spearheading the
initiative of mobilising resources to co-ordinate the extinguishing of the
fire at Pomona dumpsite," Cde Langa said.

The Montreal Protocol agreement on substances that deplete the ozone layer,
he said, was established to phase out ozone-depleting substances such as
methyl bromide and carbon tetrachloride used mostly in agriculture.

He said Zimbabwe is faced with the impending disaster of climate change and
urged everyone to play a part in limiting and avoiding practices that may
lead people to suffer the harsh effects of climate change.

Cde Langa said upholding and maintaining high vegetation cover is vital in
mitigating the rate of global warming since vegetation acts as a carbon
sink.

He said the Clean-up Zimbabwe campaign has managed to bring together
stakeholders not only to implement clean-up activities, but also to reflect
on the country's environment care and protection.

Environment Africa managing director Mr Innocent Hodzongwe applauded the
corporate world for their timeous assistance in putting out the Pomona
dumpsite fire, saying this would help in promoting a clean environment.

The Montreal Protocol is commemorated each year on September 16 while the
clean-up campaign takes place from September 14 to 16

Skeptics Doubt Reports Of Progress In Zimbabwe Crisis Talks Brokered By Pretoria

VOA

Skeptics Doubt Reports Of Progress In Zimbabwe Crisis Talks Brokered By
Pretoria By Carole Gombakomba
Washington
14 September 2007

Reports emerged this week suggesting movement in the Zimbabwe crisis
negotiations between the ruling party and opposition with South African
mediation, but observers question whether supposed concessions by ZANU-PF
will be substantiated.

The Independent weekly newspaper of Harare reported Friday that the ruling
party in the Pretoria-based talks has agreed to amend the Public Order and
Security Act. The paper commented that the party headed by President Robert
Mugabe's"seems to be giving in to most of the demands" made by negotiators
for the opposition.

But skeptics say that with the talks so shrouded in secrecy, it remains
doubtful that the ruling party would make such significant concessions.

The ZANU-PF politburo and both MDC factions report significant progress in
talks that could reshape legislation tabled in parliament to amend the
constitution.

Next week should tell whether Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, one of the
two ruling party negotiators in Pretoria and a principal author of the
legislation, is ready to make major changes in the original draft that
passed a first reading this week.

The amendment would shorten the president's term of office from six years to
five and leave it to parliament to select a new president if the incumbent
dies, is incapacitated or resigns from office. It would add 60 seats to the
house and 18 to the senate. The amendment would also create a Zimbabwean
Human Rights Commission.

For insight into the into the parallel process of the Pretoria talks and the
movement of the constitutional amendment legislation, reporter Carole
Gombakomba turned to political commentator Chido Makunike and Chief
Parliamentary Whip Innocent Gonese of the Movement for Democratic Change
faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai.

Makunike said ZANU-PF is not likely to give ground on key issues in the
proposed constitution just for the sake of progress in the talks.

Zimbabwe Activist Group To Sue Harare For Alleged Rights Violations

VOA

By
Patience Rusere
Washington
14 September 2007

Officials of Zimbabwe's National Constitutional Assembly, an activist group,
said Friday that 64-year-old member Bronislawa Kwinjo had died as a result
of injuries sustained while allegedly being beaten and tortured by Harare
police on July 25.

Police arrested and are accused of beating 243 NCA members during a
demonstration Harare that day. NCA Director Ernest Mudzengi said Kwinjo
sustained severe fractures in her chest, which injuries eventually led to
her death.

In connection with those alleged beatings, NCA officials have told the
government that the group will file a lawsuit seeking Z$10 trillion (US$40
million) in damages.

The NCA sent the notice to Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi September 6.
The NCA said it can name the police officers who committed the alleged
assaults.

NCA Director Mudzengi told reporter Patience Rusere that the lawsuit is
intended to ratchet up pressure on the government to discourage police
brutality.

Eight-Year Struggle Has Taken Toll On Zimbabwe Opposition

South Africa Disavows Document Faulting Britain In Zimbabwe Crisis By Chris

VOA


Gande
Washington
14 September 2007

The South African government has denied that it produced a controversial
document circulated in the run-up to last month's Southern African
Development Community in Lusaka, Zambia, and which accused Britain of
fomenting the Zimbabwe crisis.

A top South African official added that Pretoria believes it knows who
produced the allegedly counterfeited South African government memo. This
week Reuters quoted a senior official in Lusaka as saying the document
circulated by Harare although news reports at the time attributed it to
South African President Thabo Mbeki.

The latest development in the saga emerged in an article Friday in the South
African Business Day newspaper which quoted South African presidential
director general Frank Chikane as accusing unknown parties of leaking the
document in the intention of damaging South Africa's position in the crisis
resolution process and depicting Mr. Mbeki as mediating in bad faith in the
crisis.

British-based analyst Bekithemba Mhlanga told reporter Chris Gande of VOA's
Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the evidence pointing to Harare suggests how far
the ruling party is now prepared to go to maintain its position amidst
shifting political winds.

South Africa's Mbeki Seeks NGO Buy-In On Zimbabwe Crisis Compromise

VOA

By
Blessing Zulu
Washington
14 September 2007

Under mounting pressure to produce tangible results in his mediation of the
festering Zimbabwe political and economic crisis, South African President
Thabo Mbeki has again reached out to civil society leaders, who were to meet
with him Sunday.

The Southern African Development Community appointed Mr. Mbeki mediator in
the crisis at an extraordinary summit in late March following an upsurge of
political violence in Zimbabwe in which an opposition activist was shot to
death.

Sources in Pretoria said that Mr. Mbeki is anxious to secure an endorsement
from the civic leaders of his efforts to date. He was to brief them on
progress, in particular on a reported compromise on the constitutional
amendment the government has tabled in parliament that would make major
changes in the electoral dispensation.

Other prominent items on the crisis resolution agenda include conditions for
elections set for March 2008 and revocation or amendment of repressive laws
like the Public Order and Security Act, often wielded against political
dissenters, and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act,
used to silence independent media.

Some non-governmental organizations have expressed the concern that the
talks are too secretive, and for that reason are reluctant to give them a
stamp of approval.

Some ZANU-PF and opposition insiders say the talks are progressing smoothly
and note in evidence that negotiators are now meeting in Harare instead of
Pretoria.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Coordinator Jacob Mafume told reporter Blessing
Zulu of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that although there has been some
consultation with Pretoria, the NGO's are likely to stay on the sidelines
for the time being.

Transport operators defy price freeze to hike fares

Zim Online



Saturday 15 September 2007

By Lizwe Sebatha

BULAWAYO - Transport operators in Zimbabwe's second biggest city of Bulawayo
have hiked fares by 100 percent, defying a government ban on price and fare
increases imposed last June.

A single trip from the working class suburbs of Bulawayo to the city centre
now costs Z$100 000, up from last week's Z$50 000 a trip.

This means that an average worker in Bulawayo now needs Z$4.5 million a
month for transport alone, way above what ordinary workers are earning in
Zimbabwe.

Francis Malunga, the chairman of the Bulawayo Transport Owners Association
(BUTOWA) and Strike Ndlovu of the Bulawayo United Transport Association
(BUPTA) said they had no option but to hike fares to stay in business.

"The police might threaten to arrest us but we are trying to break-even
though we will not make any profit with the Z$100 000 which is still too
little as fuel and spare part prices continue rising," said Malunga.

The transport operators said they had no choice but to hike fares after the
price of fuel on the parallel market, where it is only available, went up
from Z$300 000 to between Z$350 000 to Z$400 000 a litre.

The Zimbabwean police on Friday immediately threatened to crack down on
transport operators who are defying the price freeze imposed by President
Robert Mugabe's government last June.

The government froze all price increments last June and ordered shops to
roll back prices to mid-June levels after a spate of increases that saw
prices trebling in less than two weeks.

The Harare authorities accused business leaders of working with the
government's Western enemies to hike prices so as to foment rebellion
against the government, a charge business denies.

The police, who have since last June been enforcing the price freeze,
yesterday warned transport operators in Bulawayo to stick to the Z$20 000
gazetted fare or face arrest.

"We will arrest those charging Z$100 000 as the fare increases are illegal.
They should charge Z$20 000 gazzetted by the government," said police
spokesperson Mandlenkosi Moyo.

Zimbabwe's transport sector has not been spared from an acute economic
crisis rocking the country that has manifested itself in the world's highest
inflation rate of over 7 600 percent.

The southern African country has grappled with a severe shortage of fuel
over the past seven years because the country does not have foreign currency
to import the commodity. - ZimOnline

Zimbabwe police break up Harare demo

Zim Online



Saturday 15 September 2007

By Prince Nyathi

HARARE - Zimbabwean police yesterday broke up a peaceful march by
little-known Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHRZim) and arrested 11
members of the organisation who were demonstrating against a worsening
economic crisis.

Riot police brutally assaulted the ROHRZim members in central Harare after
disrupting their march meant to protest deteriorating economic conditions,
food shortages and state repression.

The eleven, who were part of a group of activists, were severely assaulted
before they were bundled into a waiting police truck and taken to Harare
Central Police Station.

Other demonstrators managed to escape after the heavily armed police broke
up the march.

ROHRZim national coordinator Tichanzii Gandanga yesterday vowed to press on
with protests until there was positive response from the government and
insisted that President Robert Mugabe's strong-arm tactics only served to
galvanise opposition against his administration.

"We are saying to the President, address the economic crisis because people
need food on the table but he is sending the police to beat us up," said
Gandanga.

ROHRZim is a new human rights organisation formed five months ago and it
trains and educates people about their socio-political and economic rights.

Human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama is representing the activists and was
by last night battling to access his clients.

Muchadehama could not be reached for comment on the arrest of his clients.

Gandanga accused Mugabe of gross human rights abuse as well as being
architect of the current economic meltdown, which has seen at least four out
of every five Zimbabweans being unemployed.

Early this month, RORHZim members were among opposition supporters barred
from attending the memorial service for the late Movement for Democratic
Change national chairman Isaac Matongo in Masvingo. - ZimOnline

Zimbabwe Parliament to Debate Amendment on President's Successor

Zimbabwe: Luxury Imports Restricted

15 September 2007
The Herald (Harare)

Published by the government of Zimbabwe


Posted to the web 15 September 2007
Harare
CLOTHING and household appliances have been added to the list of imported products whose customs duty has to be paid in foreign currency.
The move is part of the Government's strategy to protect the domestic industry, reduce hard currency expenditure and encourage investment in productive activities.

Finance Minister Cde Samuel Mumbengegwi yesterday amended the Customs and Excise Act (Designation of Luxury Items) Notice 2007 (Number 1) to cast its net wider by adding more items to be classified as luxury goods.
The regulations took effect from September 7.
Almost all the added items have a double duty made up of a percentage of the actual value, usually 60 percent for clothing, plus a fixed US dollar charge, often US$10 a kilogramme for clothing, for example.
In April, the Government introduced regulations requiring importers of certain luxuries -- including vehicles -- to pay import duty in foreign currency.
In yesterday's Statutory Instrument, the minister added a list of goods to be classified as luxury items now requiring payment of duty in hard currency.
The importation of such goods will attract a general rate of duty of between 40 percent and 60 percent depending on the tariff code.
Those that are liable to duty of 60 percent will also incur a US$10 per kg charge while others, like refrigerators, would attract between US$45 and US$50 each.
Goods that will liable to 40 percent duty include tile floor coverings of man-made textiles, carpets, and tufted floor coverings of nylon or other polyamides.
Goods that will attract 60 percent duty include men's or boys' coats (be they cotton, knitted, of man-made fibre or crocheted), footwear, ovens, cookers, cooking plates, and pocket-sized cassette radio players.
Others are colour monitors and projectors not incorporating television reception apparatus, and women's and girls' coats, either of man-made fibre, cotton, knitted or crocheted.
Suits for either men or women, blazers and dresses are also included under items that will attract duty at the rate of 60 percent plus US$10 per kg.
Jerseys, pullovers, babies' garments, clothing accessories, gloves, shawls, tracksuits, and overcoats are some of the items that have been classified as luxury goods liable to 60 percent duty.
Also items like dressing gowns, underpants, and girls' nighties now attract duty in foreign currency.
In presenting the Supplementary Budget in Parliament last week, Cde Mumbengegwi said the Government had so far collected US$9,6 million in duty on imported vehicles since the introduction of the new regulations under which duty would be paid in hard currency.
Of the amount, US$8,7 million was collected in US dollars while other payments were made in South African rands, British pounds, Botswana pula and the euro.
Furthermore, the performance of local vehicle assemblers has improved significantly since April.

For instance, Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries recorded improved capacity utilisation. It is now assembling about 261 vehicles per month up from 86 before the promulgation of the regulations.
Quest Motors, which assembled 41 units between January and March this year, had increased production to 181 units between April and June.
Previously, importers paid duty in local currency, making it relatively cheap to import.

Australian Win Knocks Zimbabwe Out Of Twenty20 Cricket World Cup

Zimbabwe: 'President to Be Invited to EU-AU Summit'

15 September 2007
The Herald (Harare)
Published by the government of Zimbabwe


Posted to the web 15 September 2007
Bulawayo
THE African Union says President Mugabe will "definitely" be invited to the forthcoming European Union-African Union Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, on December 8 and 9.
Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Akwasi Osei Adjei said failure to invite Zimbabwe to the summit would be unfair.

Mr Osei Adjei, whose country is chairing the AU, said in Lisbon on Wednesday that Britain must seek to end its bilateral dispute with Zimbabwe through diplomatic means.
He said all African heads of state would attend the summit amid attempts by Britain to influence Portugal not to invite Cde Mugabe.
"It would not be fair not to invite a member of the African Union," said Mr Osei Adjei.
"I believe we are coming with all the members of the African Union, the heads of state of the African Union. So, definitely the invitation will be issued (to President Mugabe)."
Britain and its allies have mounted a propaganda war against Zimbabwe since the launch of the land reform programme in 2000, and routinely accuses the Government of human rights abuses, bad governance, and other unfounded allegations.
Two years after the launch of the land reforms, the EU imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe at the behest of Britain. The sanctions regime also involves a visa ban on President Mugabe, ministers, senior Government officials and other individuals.
The EU-AU Summit has been postponed on seven occasions since 2000 because of the dispute over Zimbabwe's attendance.
Mr Osei Adjei's remarks come exactly five days after British Foreign Secretary Mr David Miliband said his Prime Minister, Mr Gordon Brown, may boycott the summit if President Mugabe attends.
Since Portugal assumed the EU's rotating presidency in July, it has maintained that it wants the summit to succeed and that all African leaders would be invited.
On the other hand, Britain and some EU officials have suggested that Zimbabwe be represented at a lower level, like by a Foreign Affairs Minister, and not at the highest level.
Mr Osei Adjei urged Britain to resolve its differences with Zimbabwe diplomatically.
He said: "I have seen somewhere that the British Prime Minister is saying that if the President of Zimbabwe comes he may not come. And I am saying to them: Why don't you use the diplomatic means to resolve whatever problems there are? We don't want a situation whereby certain issues drag the important issues that we are going to discuss."
On Tuesday, Commonwealth Secretary General Mr Don McKinnon urged the EU to invite Zimbabwe to attend the conference, saying failure to do so could result in another postponement of the summit.
He acknowledged that Africa regards President Mugabe as a hero and his exclusion from the Portugal meeting would result in another African boycott.
"It's useful to have him there for the dialogue to go on," said Mr McKinnon.
"Africa's relationship with the EU is very important. If the dialogue gets cancelled because Africa refused to get on with the request (to veto him), it would be a bigger problem . . . The EU makes it very difficult for Africans . . . (President) Mugabe is still very much a hero (in Africa)."
However, Presidential spokesman and Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde George Charamba said Mr McKinnon had no business urging the EU to invite Zimbabwe when his leadership style of the Commonwealth precipitated Harare's withdrawal from the club of former British colonies in 2003.
The AU took the collective decision to have Zimbabwe invited during a summit in Ethiopia last year, and reiterated that position in Accra, Ghana this year.

African countries that have individually backed Zimbabwe's full participation at the Portugal summit include South Africa and Mozambique.
The Minister of Information and Publicity, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, on Thursday said the Government welcomed the AU's reiteration of its solidarity with Zimbabwe.
"It is not debatable that Zimbabwe will attend or not. When the West start making noise about that, we are not worried because the AU is united. We are sick and tired of external forces instigating African states to go against us. The summit is for the AU and EU and President Mugabe will attend as our Head of State."

Zimbabwe police break up Harare demo

Saturday 15 September 2007

ZIMONLINE


POLICE have in the past beaten up demonstrators in Harare demanding an end to economic hardships
 

By Prince Nyathi
HARARE – Zimbabwean police yesterday broke up a peaceful march by little-known Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHRZim) and arrested 11 members of the organisation who were demonstrating against a worsening economic crisis.
Riot police brutally assaulted the ROHRZim members in central Harare after disrupting their march meant to protest deteriorating economic conditions, food shortages and state repression.
The eleven, who were part of a group of activists, were severely assaulted before they were bundled into a waiting police truck and taken to Harare Central Police Station.
Other demonstrators managed to escape after the heavily armed police broke up the march.
ROHRZim national coordinator Tichanzii Gandanga yesterday vowed to press on with protests until there was positive response from the government and insisted that President Robert Mugabe’s strong-arm tactics only served to galvanise opposition against his administration.
“We are saying to the President, address the economic crisis because people need food on the table but he is sending the police to beat us up,” said Gandanga.
ROHRZim is a new human rights organisation formed five months ago and it trains and educates people about their socio-political and economic rights.
Human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama is representing the activists and was by last night battling to access his clients.
Muchadehama could not be reached for comment on the arrest of his clients.
Gandanga accused Mugabe of gross human rights abuse as well as being architect of the current economic meltdown, which has seen at least four out of every five Zimbabweans being unemployed.
Early this month, RORHZim members were among opposition supporters barred from attending the memorial service for the late Movement for Democratic Change national chairman Isaac Matongo in Masvingo. - ZimOnline

Transport operators defy price freeze to hike fares