Morgan Tsvangirai, the prime minister in
Zimbabwe's inclusive government, said Wednesday that what he called the
"warped" policy of "indigenization" is frightening off potential investors.
President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party is trying to insist that all
companies, both privately-owned and those listed on the stock exchange, are
at least 51 percent owned by black Zimbabweans.
Mr. Tsvangirai, who
heads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, briefed journalists in
Harare Wednesday after his recent trip to the United States.
He said
the indigenization policy causes him a headache and frightens off
investors.
"Throughout these meetings the flawed nature of
indigenization policy and our toxic politics proved to be major issues
affecting investor confidence," he said.
The indigenization policy is
meant to make up for the years of rule by Britain and later by a white
minority government when there were economic restrictions placed upon black
Zimbabweans.
While in New York, Mr. Tsvangirai briefed U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Zimbabwe’s progress, within the unity
government, towards free and fair elections.
Mr. Tsvangirai said, in
addition to the indigenization policy, investors and other leaders he met
were concerned about continued political violence and uncertainty about the
next elections in Zimbabwe.
"It is possible to rebuild this economy," he
said. "There is a lot of good will out there to do business with Zimbabwe,
as long we have political systems and predictability and as long as we come
out with investor-friendly model, that balances the interest of the
investment and the need to empower the ordinary person and not a few
well-connected elite."
Mr. Tsvangirai said he supported an indigenization
policy that uplifts the poor and contributes to building the
economy.
He said the progress of political reforms within the inclusive
government is not satisfactory, although he said there has been progress in
rebuilding the social sector and the economy.
"Our biggest handicap
is that if we don’t graduate from the current stagnation, because of discord
on government policy, we are likely to see [continued] stagnation which does
not lead to growth in jobs, growth in the economy and hence the crisis
around the liquidity," he said.
Zimbabwe’s three-year-old multi-party
political agreement calls for finalizing a new constitution and other
political reforms ahead of new elections, which many analysts say are not
possible until 2013.
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe is hurting
investor confidence and stalling recovery by promoting a law to force the
transfer of foreign-owned firms to local ownership, Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai said on Wednesday.
President Robert Mugabe, Tsvangirai's
partner in a fragile coalition set up two years ago after disputed 2008
elections, is championing the law that would require foreign firms to sell
majority share holdings to local blacks.
"The warped indigenisation
policy has eroded investor confidence and created a sceptical international
business community that has developed a wait-and-see attitude," Tsvangirai
told reporters after returning from a trip to the United States.
The
heavily criticised law is aimed mainly at mining firms and banks operating
in a resource-rich state that has become an economic basket case because of
what analysts say are years of mismanagement by Mugabe's
government.
The world's leading platinum miner, Anglo American
Platinum, number two producer Impala Platinum and Rio Tinto which operates a
diamond mine, are some of the major foreign firms operating in
Zimbabwe.
Critics see the law as a way for the government to squeeze cash
out of foreign firms operating in Zimbabwe and say the money will go to top
officials, not to ordinary people, who rank among the poorest in the
world.
Tsvangirai, who previously has clashed with Mugabe over the
ownership policy, said the economy is recovering under the power-sharing
government, but risks sliding back because of policy uncertainty.
A
major reason for the law could be to allow Mugabe's ZANU-PF party to build
up a war chest ahead of national elections that could come as early as next
year, analysts said.
"The world is ready to do business with us as
long as we stop violence and develop a clear indigenisation policy that
empowers ordinary people," he said, briefing journalists after a trip to the
United States.
He said the implementation of the law in the mining sector
has run into some legal challenges.
Tsvangirai said only free and
fair elections, conducted after broad electoral reforms called for by his
party and regional leaders, would help resolve the current impasse in
economic policy coordination.
National child and social protection mechanisms
revitalised…
HARARE, 27 September, 2011 – In a collective move to address
the unmet basic and social needs of orphans and other vulnerable children,
the Inclusive Government of Zimbabwe, the International Donor Community
comprising the Governments of Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, the
European Commission and UNICEF, today, unveiled a massive social protection
response mechanism for Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable children.
The
National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Phase II,
2011-2015, implemented with support from the Child Protection Fund,
integrates action to help families cope with risks and shocks through three
main interventions: a) cash transfers to the poorest families; b) education
assistance through the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) and c) child
protection service delivery for children survivors of abuse, violence and
exploitation. US$ 45 million of the needed US$75 million for the Child
Protection Fund for the next three years has been mobilised from donors.
There remains a gap, however, which is required to ensure full national
coverage of this prorgamme.
The National Action Plan II, led by the
Ministry of Labour and Social Services, aims to reach more than 80,000
households. Furthermore, with the support from NGOs, at least 25,000
children will benefit from access to quality child protection services.
Child headed households; grandparent headed households; households with
large numbers of dependents and those with chronically ill or persons living
with disabilities will be cushioned with social cash transfers of up to
US$25 per month, per household, to enable families to meet immediate needs
for food and health care.
“Protecting children from poverty, harm and
abuse begins with reducing their vulnerabilities; cash transfers are one of
the critical components that will contribute to the realisation of
children’s rights. This shows the inclusive Government’s strong commitment
to addressing equity and reaching the most vulnerable” said UNICEF
Representative, Dr. Peter Salama. “The National Action Plan II will ensure
that children have equitable access to a range of services, regardless of
where they live or the factors which cause their vulnerability.”
HIV
is a significant contributor to household poverty and thus, child
vulnerability in Zimbabwe, resulting in children lacking access to adequate
basic social services and being increasingly exposed to violence, abuse and
exploitation. There are over one million orphans in Zimbabwe and only
527,000 of these currently have access to external support. Traditional
family and community mechanisms to support orphans have been under
considerable financial strain resulting in more children facing difficulties
accessing health care, education and other basic amenities.
“This
unprecedented social protection mechanism shows how, as the Government of
Zimbabwe, we continue to devise meaningful and innovative ways to increase
support to orphans and vulnerable children,” said Vice President, Honourable
Joice Mujuru. “Through this innovation we are reinforcing and strengthening
the traditional role of families and communities in promoting and protecting
the wellbeing of children.”
The revised NAP II (2011-2015) builds on the
success and lessons of the National Action Plan (NAP I) for OVC, which was
launched in 2005 and received funding through the Programme of Support.
Under this multi donor pooled fund, US$85million was used to respond to the
needs of more than 500 000 children in the areas of education, health,
nutrition and social welfare, as well as strengthening the capacity of
government to build safety nets for children and their families.
"I
have long argued that social protection should be a priority for the
Government of Zimbabwe and that it should remain so in the coming fiscal
years" said the Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. "I am pleased
to note that we are on the road to ensuring that Zimbabwe's children,
especially the most vulnerable, will benefit from these critical
services".
Building on this success, the Department of Social Services
consulted widely with children and families to develop the NAP II with the
vision that all children in Zimbabwe live in a safe, secure and supportive
environment that is conducive for their growth and development. These
critical social protection measures to benefit vulnerable children include
making sure that cash is complemented by access to basic social services
including health and education, as well as social welfare services and
access to justice.
“Combined investment in rebuilding the social services
sector remains critical in Zimbabwe,” said Dave Fish, Head of DFID Zimbabwe,
speaking on behalf of the European Commission and the Governments of
Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. “I am particularly pleased that
as donors we are able to harmonise our resources and align behind a
Government of Zimbabwe policy, the NAP II for OVC. Through this
collaboration there is opportunity to strengthen social sectors, critical
for the full realisation of all children’s rights.”
The roll out of
cash transfers will commence end of November 2011 in the 10 poorest
districts in each of the country’s 10 provinces.
Harare - About 50 pro-Mugabe youths gathered outside Zimbabwe's
Finance Ministry Wednesday, calling for government transparency amid
controversial new plans to redistribute foreign-owned
equity.
Protesters chanted outside the offices of Tendai Biti, an ally of
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangerai and the country's finance
minister.
'Youths have come to the realisation that we will remain poor
and even poorer if we do not sign for what we are against,' said Hamilton
Pazvakavamba, the leader of the group. 'We will leave a petition for [Biti]
to read.'
Pazvakavamba said the group is angry that government plans
to redistribute foreign-owned equity will not benefit Zimbabwean
youths.
'They have started the indiginisation of foreign firms, we do not
see where we fit in,' he said.
Under Zimbabwe's new indiginisation
law, foreign companies worth more than 500,000 dollars must sell a majority
of their equity to Zimbabwean blacks by 2015. But many fear the equity will
fall into the hands of wealthy officials.
According to the United
Nations' International Labour Office, 95 per cent of youths in Zimbabwe are
unemployed in formal sectors.
In June, police dispersed pro-Mugabe
protesters who gathered outside Biti's office, calling for Western-imposed
sanctions against Mugabe to be revoked. Two weeks earlier, a bomb failed to
detonate outside Biti's residence.
Tendai Biti, Zimbabwe's finance minister, says
white farmers who were evicted from their homes and farms by President
Robert Mugabe’s supporters must be paid compensation, but says the
government can’t finance that debt.
Biti told a meeting of his supporters
in Harare earlier this month that it was ridiculous that evictions of white
farmers continued long after the so-called land reform program
ended.
Zimbabwe could still not feed itself, he said, adding that title
deeds in the form of long leases, backed by the law and fully tradeable,
should be restored to land taken from white farmers.
That land is
owned by the state and none of the so-called new farmers now on that land
have security of tenure.
The land reform program initiated by President
Mugabe was aimed at redistributing land that the president said was taken
from the people of Zimbabwe during the British colonial era.
Biti
criticized some of the new farmers, mostly supporters of President Mugabe's
ZANU-PF party, for failing to restore Zimbabwe’s once-robust agricultural
output. He said some of them did not even live on the land they were given
but operated their farms via mobile phones from town.
Biti, Secretary
General of the Movement for Democratic Change party, also said Zimbabwe
desperately needs a land audit following the chaotic land redistribution
exercise, and that evicted white farmers must be paid
compensation.
“We want to know who owns the land," he said. "How many
women have benefited from the land reform? The second thing is the issue of
compensation. We estimate that the genuine compensation to farmers is about
$3 billion, but Zimbabwe does not have the capacity of paying three billion
dollars.”
He said Zimbabwe could not pay $7 billion in foreign debt
inherited from the former ZANU-PF administration in 2009.
He
suggested that compensation for white farmers could become part of
Zimbabwe’s sovereign debt and be settled at some time in the future when
Zimbabwe achieved international recognition as a highly indebted
state.
He also told supporters that settling the land question was
essential to fix the economy.
“This economy will not grow at
double-digits growth rates if we don’t fix three things: if we don’t fix
our politics, our politics is ugly: If we don’t fix the debt question, and
we don’t fix the land question,” said Biti.
A land audit is one of the
outstanding issues of the multi-party political agreement which bought the
current inclusive government to power 31 months ago.
Biti said that
the redistribution of land ended in 2005 and that it was ridiculous that the
200 or so remaining white farmers were still being evicted from their
land.
After about 4,000 white farmers who produced about 40 percent of
foreign earnings were forced off their land, Zimbabwe's economy collapsed
and the country endured record-breaking inflation that helped make the local
currency worthless.
Things did not turn around until the the
inclusive government adopted the U.S. dollar and the South African rand.
Education Minister Senator David Coltart has told SW Radio
Africa that the controversial system of teacher’s incentives was a
‘necessary evil’ needed to stabilize the education sector. Coltart says when
he took over in 2009, teachers were paid a pittance and there was total
chaos in the sector.
Under the scheme parents pay a levy to the School
Development Association (SDA) which in turn uses some of the money to pay
teachers a supplementary income on top of their normal salaries.
The
scheme has been criticised for only benefiting some 15 percent of teachers,
mainly in the urban centres, while the other 85 percent predominantly in the
rural areas, did not benefit from the incentives.
Coltart disputed the
figure of 15 percent saying there was no empirical survey or evidence to
back this but conceded the majority of teachers were not benefiting and the
system was not sustainable in the long term. The Ministry and the teachers
unions have this week agreed to keep the incentives in place until an all
stakeholders workshop is held next month to try to find a lasting
solution.
What has made the problem even more complex, according to the
minister, is that there is no consensus between the teachers unions on the
issue. The Progressive Teachers’ Union feel the incentives have caused
confusion and divided teachers. The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association and the
Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe want teachers in rural areas to be given rural
allowances.
Coltart meanwhile told SW Radio Africa that the proposal for
teachers to get a ‘rural allowance’ was a ‘good short term measure’ but that
ultimately, adequate salaries for teachers would be the ideal solution.
Unfortunately the government is ‘someway off’ being able to pay salaries
that can be considered adequate, he said.
A senior member of the MDC-T on Wednesday blamed ZANU PF
for holding up the deployment of a regional team that will bolster the
operations of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee
(JOMIC).
The MDC-T deputy spokesperson and MP for Bulawayo East, Tabitha
Khumalo, told SW Radio Africa’s Hidden Story program that the delay to
deploy the team has turned out to be their ‘greatest worry and
challenge.’
Speaking in the British capital, London, Khumalo accused
ZANU PF of delaying tactics by refusing to comply with the team’s terms of
reference, when no objections were raised during an extraordinary summit in
South Africa. But she said JOMIC will remain a ‘pipe dream’ if it continues
to work with no legal or statutory powers to implement its
resolutions.
Khumalo described the interparty body as a ‘toothless
bulldog’ that can only listen to complaints but can take no action as it has
no powers to do anything.
A regional SADC summit held in Johannesburg
in June recommended that a three member team be urgently deployed in
Zimbabwe to help JOMIC effectively monitor the implementation of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA). The SADC team will be drawn from Zambia,
Mozambique and South Africa.
It followed concerns that JOMIC was failing
to deal with violations of the GPA, mainly by ZANU PF activists who continue
to engage in state sponsored political violence.
South African
President Jacob Zuma presented the terms of reference to SADC leaders and
the parties in the GPA, and there were hopes the deployment would have
followed soon after the summit. However ZANU PF has objected, rather late,
that they do not agree with some of the wording contained in the terms of
reference, according to Khumalo.
‘ZANU PF told us they are going over the
document again and will need permission from their politburo to engage the
SADC team. So we are still waiting,’ the MP said.
She emphasized that
the ‘sooner the SADC team joined JOMIC, the better because we are all
failing Zimbabweans.’
It is believed their deployment would help to put
pressure on Robert Mugabe’s party to finally comply with the power sharing
agreement.
‘Look, we (JOMIC) are all thinking inside the box, this team
is made up of people who are neutral, who have nothing to do with Zimbabwe
and who have no interest in the country. At least they can come in, start
thinking outside the box, which will enable them to see where things are
going wrong, so that when they go back to SADC they’re reporting on an
informed position with facts and figures,’ she said.
Harare, September 28,
2011—Government will carry out a wide scale compliance audit across all
sector of the economy as it emerged that at least 700 companies have failed
to submit proposals on how they will cede 51% shareholding to locals in line
with the empowerment legislation.
Wilson Gwatiringa, National
Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board (NIEEB) chief executive
officer told journalists Tuesday the wide scale compliance audit will
involve an indigenisation assessment rating of companies to determine the
extent to which companies have complied with the law.
This comes as
it emerged that companies that did not submit proposal will see their
licences cancelled or asked to pay heavy fines.
“The investigations will
be done in conjunction with an Indigenisation Compliance directorate set up
by the ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment and the
Zimbabwe Republic Police to investigate, audit and where necessary recommend
appropriate measures to enforce compliance with the indigenisation and
empowerment legislation,” he said.
“Some of the serious consequences
of non compliance include cancellation or suspension of operating licences
as well as payment of hefty fines.”
Under the Indigenisation and Economic
Empowerment Act, foreign companies operating Zimbabwe were given five years
to allow locals to acquire a minimum of 51% shareholding.
Companies
have to submit indigenisation proposals. The ministry of Youth Development,
Indigenisation and Empowerment has given mining companies up to September 30
to submit proposals.
From being harassed by police and hired thugs,
Anglican congregants are facing a new threat from an unlikely source.
Parishioners from St Johns Chikwaka were shocked to find the local chief
ordering them to pay allegiance to expelled renegade bishop, Nolbert
Kunonga, last week. 28.09.1107:46am by Andrew Harare
In clear
violation of the right to religious freedom, the chief told church members,
who had waited over four hours in scorching heat, that he would only allow
them to worship in his area if they agreed to be under Kunonga. Sporting a
pair of blue jeans and a golf shirt, the young chief told the Anglicans he
would not allow them to worship under the tree currently used as a venue
after Kunonga forcibly took over the church building two weeks
ago.
But the congregants stood firm. “Chief, we are not going back
there. Our doctrines are different. What has changed that you now want us to
go back? You are the one who gave us this place in the first place, saying
‘don’t worry you don’t need to be in a church to worship’,” said one
member.
The chief, Kimpton Chigaramasimbe, had last Sunday told the local
priest, Reverend Richard Mombeshora, that he was no longer eligible to lead
the congregation. At a Dare on September 16 the chief “convicted” the priest
of defecting from Kunonga’s church and aligning himself with church leaders
of the CPCA.
“If you do not adhere to what I am saying I will not be
able to protect you from harm as I did before. The issue will be out of my
hands,” he said, in a covert admission that “harm” awaited those that
refused to join Kunonga.
“I am not allowing you to continue under this
tree and I cannot give you any other place.”
Throughout the country,
trees have become the common place of worship for CPCA parishioners who are
being barred from church buildings by affiliates of the ex-communicated
Kunonga, assisted by the police. The majority has chosen to pray under trees
rather than join a man it says is prone to using violence.
Overzealous Zanu (PF) supporters in the
restive Mutoko East district have banned the Seventh Day Adventist church
from Nyamakosi School because some of the church members are members of the
MDC-T. 28.09.1108:48am by Fungi Kwaramba
Mutoko East district
chair Peter Kudanyana is a member of the church that does not have a church
building of its own in the area and was hiring the school to hold its
services.
“Zanu (PF) supporters have banned the church from being held at
the school because of the fact that our members are part of the
congregation. We find it shocking because the church does not have anything
to do with politics,” said Tapera Tsigo, the Mashonaland East Youth
secretary for information.
Since the unilateral announcement by President
Robert Mugabe that the country would go to the polls next year, villagers
say cases of intimidation have increased. The Zanu (PF) shadowy militia
vigilante group Chipangano has also been exported to Mashonaland East where
Zanu (PF) continues to have a stronghold.
A teacher, only identified
as Rwodzi, along with Albert Nyakapinda and Charles Katsande are accused by
the villagers of starting the purge against MDC-T supporters that also
extends to social places and grocery stores.
“We were threatened not to
buy in shops that are owned by MDC members. People are now scared to enter
into some shops because they fear being targeted when violence starts
again,” said Esrom Makota.
Traditional leaders have been threatening to
evict people who support the MDC-T after a visit by the Director of Air
Force Intelligence, Wing Commander Bramwell Katsvairo, along with Zanu (PF)
leaders last month.
Katsvairo, who orchestrated the reign of terror in
Mutoko that resulted in scores of deaths but no prosecutions, told villagers
that the district could return to the days of violence again if the MDC was
left unchecked.
HARARE and its satellite
towns should brace for continued water shortages as water demand outstrips
supply, particularly during the hot season when water usage is
high. Harare is currently processing only 650 megalitres of water per day
against a demand of 1200 megalitres every day. During this peak period
from September, October to November, Harare and its steatite towns -
Chitungwiza, Epworth, Ruwa and Norton with a combined population of 4
million people - require almost 1 400 mega litres per day. Harare Water
director Engineer Christopher Zvobgo said water problems would persist for
the foreseeable future
"Water is not enough, during this peak period
season from September, October to November as people use more water than
usual because its summer. During this peak period Harare requires up to 1400
mega litres everyday," he said. Eng Zvobgo said the situation was compounded
by loss of treated water through leakages and theft. "The first challenge
we have is that of demand which has out stripped supply by double. We also
have other challenges including physical loss such as pipe bursts caused by
aging infrastructure, commercial losses, which is illegal connections such
as by-passing of metres and even complete removal of water metres," Eng
Zvobgo said.
He said this month alone they conducted a survey under their
programme to install new water metres to get accurate readings and
discovered that over 76 premises had no water metres and were using the
precious coomodity free of charge.
Eng Zvobgo said they have also
embarked on an awareness campaign to educate people to use water
responsibly. "Currently, we are spending US$2 million every month on
chemicals alone," Eng Zvobgo said. He said Harare's reticulation system
was over 5 000 kilometers and required over US$16 million per month to
refurbish about 16km of the system per year. He noted that the completion of
Kunzvi and Musami dams projects would ease the water shortages. Kunzvi and
Musami dams were supposed to have been commissioned in 2002 and 2007
respectively.
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Eng Zvobgo said
Harare has since devised a water-rationing programme that proritises high
density suburbs in a move to ensure that everyone receives water. "We
cannot give everyone water. We have to ensure that all the high-density
areas have water on a daily basis unless there is a pipe burst or major
repairs to be done," he said. He said critical institutions such as
hospitals, the central business district, and industry would have
uninterrupted water supply on a daily basis. Other areas that will have
uninterrupted water supplies on a daily basis include Mbare, Graniteside
industrial area, Willowvale industrial area, Mabvuku, Tafara, Athlone, Amby,
parts of Greendale, Mandara,
Chikurubi Prisons, Chikurubi Support Unit,
Zimre park and Western suburbs. Other suburbs would receive water for between
two and four days of the week. Below is the timetable when water is
available: Waterfalls, Hatfield, Chadcombe, Msasa Park and Epworth: Sunday,
Monday Tuesday and Wednesday
Highlands, Ballantyne Park, Borrowdale
West, Borrowdale, Pomona, Vainona, Colne Valley, Helensvale and Greystone
Park: Friday, Saturday and Sunday Philadelphia, Borrowdale Brooke, Hogerty
Hill and Hatclifffe: Thursday and Friday
Mabelreign, Marlborough,
Sentosa, Ashdown Park, Mt Pleasant Heights, Bloomingdale, Bluff Hill,
Westgate, Adylinn and Good Hope: Saturday, Sunday, Monday and
Tuesday. Kambanji, Glen Lorne, Greendale, Chisipite and Chishawasha Hills:
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. However residents in those areas are saying
that the timetables are not being met with some areas like Mabelreign having
gone for more than two weeks without water.
The council here that is owed up to $7 million by
defaulting ratepayers says that it will not bend to pressure from residents
to stop water cuts ahead of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s visit this
week. 28.09.1108:35am by Fungi Kwaramba
Marondera is an
agriculturally-sustained town that is suffering the ill effects of the land
reform programme. Most of its 75 000 residents are unemployed and have no
way of paying their rates bills.
Farai Nyandoro, the town mayor, said
that his council would not pursue populist policies detrimental to the
council’s operations.
“We do not want to please the Prime Minister who is
coming on Saturday. We are not a populist organisation and we have our role
that is to follow the council law. At the moment we are enforcing the budget
that was approved by the residents by cutting water supplies,” he
said.
According to Marondera town officials, some residents have not paid
for services since the introduction of the US dollar in 2009. This has, in
turn, compromised the town’s ability to pay for services such as
electricity.
Nompumelelo Moyo,
Bulawayo, September 28, 2011- The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ)
employees have downed tools over unpaid salaries.
NRZ employees are
yet to be receive their August salaries and allowances backdated to
2009.
Speaking to Radio VOP , the NRZ’s Public Relations Manager, Fanuel
Masikati confirmed that their workers have gone on strike over salary and
allowances.
"It is true that our employees are engaging on job action
over salaries and allowances and we are kindly urging them to come back to
work," said Masikati.
NRZ has been paying its employees staggered
salaries and since August, workers have not yet recieved their pay including
transport and overtime allowances backdated to 2009.
The Railways
Artisan Workers Union Secretary General, Sithokozile Siwela told Radio VOP
that they are currently having meetings with Ministry of labout in order to
reconcile the NRZ and employees after the failure of NRZ management to act
on a 14 day notice on job action that was filed in August by the four NRZ
Union bodies.
"We were summoned by the Ministry of Labour to their
offices on Monday,a day before the strike and we are going back there again
becuase nothing has been resolved, so far," said Siwela.
NRZ employs
close to 9 000 workers and currently it is operating below capacity and
workers are working under power working conditions that put their health and
safety at risk.
A group of war veterans have demanded monthly
gratuities from the government in recognition of their service in the war of
liberation. 27.09.1104:24pm by Chief Reporter
Members of the
Liberation War Collaborators Association met in Mutoko on Saturday and said
they were eagerly awaiting the outcome of submissions they made to the
Constitution Select Committee for an act of Parliament that ensures they
receive gratuities like others who participated in the liberation
struggle.
ZILIWACA spokesman, Shine Chakanyuka, also said they were eager
to participate in the government's indigenisation programme.
"We
encourage war collaborators to form syndicates and clusters so that they
benefit from the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme in
sectors such as mining," Chakanyuka said.
He said the vetting process
was commencing soon, and hoped the new constitution would recognise the role
the war collaborators played in the liberation war.
Chakanyuka said
ZILIWACA members were dying as paupers and yet they played a key role in the
liberation of the country.
President Robert Mugabe, fearing agitated
citizens calling for regime change, is refusing to licence the BlackBerry
service in Zimbabwe. 28.09.1109:29am by Staff
Reporter
Zimbabwean citizens are tech-savvy and emboldened, a fact
that has raised fears okaying the Blackberry service could result Egypt and
Tunisia-style uprisings. The Canadian mobile phones have flooded the
country, but it looks as though the BlackBerry internet service will never
see the light of day.
Government sources say the Joint Operations
Command, a group of top security generals, has sternly warned against it,
although Twitter and Facebook are allowed.
ICT minister Nelson
Chamisa reportedly approved the service, but has been stonewalled by
Mugabe.
"It’s securophobia mutating into technophobia," minister Chamisa
told The Zimbabwean. He declined to comment further, saying the matter was
still before Cabinet.
There has also been a crackdown on journalists
and Zanu (PF) opponents in a bid to forestall anti-Mugabe
protests.
The regime has stamped out any attempt at mass pro-democracy
protests, and a university professor and other social activists accused of
plotting to organise Egypt-style protests have been viciously tortured,
jailed and released on bail.
The CIO is believed to be watching all
networks connected to the world's IP routing system - meaning data access
routes into or out of Zimbabwe are under strict surveillance through the
Interception of Communications Unit, whose administration has been taken
away from Chamisa and given to Zanu (PF) Transport minister Nicholas
Goche.
"There is severe censorship going on. It’s like modest Internet
manipulation. Essentially the government has realized it cannot stay one
digital step ahead of its population, and has simply thrown the off-switch
on the lackberry service. The infrastructure is there," said one systems
analyst in Harare.
Even the SMS service across the nation is
monitored, and it also appears that mobile phone services are being tapped.
Zimbabwe-Health - Major public
hospitals are facing an acute shortage of dialysis machines with major
referal centres excluding renal patients living with HIV and Aids from
treatment. Also excluded are those suffering from Hepatitis B.
Harare
Central and Parirenyatwa hospitals have 20 machines and the measure was
effected to avoid cross-contamination by HIV and Hepatitis B.
Every four
to five hour diaysis session costs at least US$200.
The process involves
removing waste and excess water from blood, primarily used to provide an
artificial replacement for lost kidney function in people with renal
failure.
Dialysis is regarded as a "holding measure" until a kidney
transplant can be performed, or sometimes as the only supportive measure in
those for whom a transplant would be inappropriate.
On average, a
patient uses a dialysis machine two to three times a week, which translates
to between US$400 and US$600, which is beyond the reach of many
patients.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals chief executive officer Thomas
Zigora said the hospital's 14 dialysis machines were overloaded and could
not have a special reserve for those infected by HIV.
"We are not
offering that service here. It's only available at private hospitals. Here
at Parirenyatwa we only have 14 dialysis machines which cater for people who
are infected," Mr Zigora said.
He said the 14 machines were being used by
more than 100 patients.
Mr Zigora said apart from the shortages of
dialysis machines, the hospital had a serious shortage of nursing staff in
the renal unit.
"We don't have nurses in the renal unit which needs
specialised training," he said, indicating that there were plans to start
training renal nurses next year.
Harare Central Hospital consultant
Dr Claud Pasi said the hospital was not offering testament for those
infected by HIV and Aids as well as those with hepatitis B.
"We are
not at the moment offering this facility but if Government avails resources
we can then reserve some machines," Dr Pasi said.
He said although
stringent controls were taken with the machines, it was an unacceptable
medical risk to allow patients with highly infectious diseases to use the
same machines with those who are don't have infectious
diseases.
"However, we use strict infection control measures in dialysis
units to avoid cross contamination," Dr Pasi reiterated.
Most people
with hepatitis B and infected with HIV and Aids have accused hospitals of
sidelining them.
"We don't have money and we cannot afford to pay US$400
every week. We want Government to assist us and provide some machines
dedicated to us," said a patient with Hepatitis B.
Another patient
living with HIV said: "You only realise what we are talking about once you
are infected with the virus, but for now you can ignore us and think that
maybe we are crazy people. We are people after all," said a haemodialysis
patient.
Parirenyatwa and Harare Central hospitals have a catchment area
of over 2,5 million people and each attends to at least 100 000 patients a
year.
The
Mines Ministry is yet to account for an estimated US$300 million worth of
diamonds from the Chiadzwa diamond fields, which were confiscated by the
police and allegedly handed over to the government ministry.
The
diamonds had been used as evidence in the case against Newman Chiadzwa, who
was arrested for possession of the 8kg stockpile. He was convicted and
sentenced to a five year jail term in 2010 for ‘illegal possession’ of the
stones.
He was released from jail earlier this year after High
Court Judge Andrew Mutema nullified both his conviction and sentence. This
came after state lawyers from the Attorney General’s Office failed to appear
in court in connection with a review of the case.
Chiadzwa now wants
the High Court to order the release of his diamonds. Magistrates involved in
the case have said that the diamonds were handed over to the Mines Ministry.
But Chiadzwa’s lawyers said this week that there is no sign of the
stones
The fate of millions of dollars worth of diamonds and revenues
from sales remains a contentious issue in the country’s diamond trade.
Earlier this year, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said that over US$100
million earned from diamond exports had not been accounted for. Biti has
since called for a proper investigation and an audit, but he has faced
resistance from other members of the coalition government.
In the
interim, there is still no clarity on the legality of Zimbabwe’s diamond
trade, after exports were banned in 2009 over human rights abuses. The
international trade watchdog the Kimberley Process, is said to still be
deadlocked over whether to allow full exports to resume. But there has been
no final decision made.
Police in Harare have indicated they have banned all ‘processions’
in and around Harare, after the MDC-T Youth Assembly informed them of their
intention to hold a peace march next month.
Promise Mkwananzi,
secretary-general of the Youth Assembly, told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday
that it’s not yet clear why police denied them permission for the
march.
‘We phoned the police yesterday (Tuesday) and they informed us
they will not allow the march to go ahead as they have banned all
processions which are not organised by government ministries or
departments,’ Mkwananzi said.
This position was communicated to the MDC-T
verbally on the phone by a senior police officer at Harare central police
station. Mkwananzi explained that once they receive a letter to that effect
they will challenge the unconstitutional position of the
police.
‘Once the letter arrives, we will write them back asking when
such a law was gazetted. We will certainly go to court because it is quite
clear the police acted outside their jurisdiction,’ the former student
leader said.
He continued: ‘It’s a clear example of selective application
of the law and unbridled suppression of people’s constitutional rights to
march. This also violates our freedom of expression and freedom of
association.’
The MDC-T said it is unfortunate that police have decide to
ban such a march when Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe are
urging the youths in Zimbabwe to desist from violent activities.
‘As
youths from the MDC-T, we fully support these calls for peace in Zimbabwe
but the police have chosen to block us for showing our solidarity with the
leaders,’ said Mkwananzi.
While police try to ban the MDC, they have
allowed ZANU PF youths to hold their protest rallies and marches, which have
on several occasions turned bloody and violent as they looted and assaulted
innocent bystanders.
The
leaders of pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), arrested a week
ago during a peaceful demonstration, are still being held behind
bars.
Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu have been remanded in custody
at the notorious Mlondolozi Prison on charges of ‘kidnapping’ and ‘theft’.
WOZA has called the allegations “malicious” and “spurious”, and has also
raised concerns about the wellbeing of the two women.
Last week
12 WOZA members were arrested during a march in Bulawayo, which had been
organised to commemorate the International Day of Peace. Riot police were
dispatched to break up the march, beating several people in the process. 10
of the WOZA women appeared in court last Thursday on ‘criminal nuisance’
charges, but the prosecutor refused to bring a case against them and they
were released.
Williams and Mahlangu however were charged separately and
have been remanded in custody until next month.
Lizwe Jamela from
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday
that the State has filed its opposing papers and they are expecting a
hearing date on Friday.
By Tererai Karimakwenda 28 September, 2011
Newsday
Government has reportedly spent more public funds on luxury
vehicles for legislators, despite public outcry over an estimated $20
million that had already been spent on cars for cabinet ministers.
A
report in the Daily News on Sunday revealed that government recently bought
300 Ford Luxury Rangers for members of parliament, costing the public $4.5
million.
Blessing Vava, from the Committee of the Peoples Charter
(CPC), told SW Radio Africa that the luxury vehicles had already been
purchased and were awaiting distribution. He said some beneficiaries had
already sold at least one of their vehicles, expecting a new replacement
from government.
“This means MPs will now own three cars each, including
the ones they were given by the Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono, last
year. Do they need a luxury car, an off road car and another jeep,” Vava
explained.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s office last week said
that legislators need the off road vehicles for “outreach duties”. However
Vava questioned the need for more than one vehicle for each MP, saying it
was “unjustified”.
He accused legislators of “colluding” with cabinet,
instead of overseeing the actions of ministers. “It is unfortunate that they
have abandoned the people who elected them,” Vava said, adding: “We are now
seeing a misplacement of priorities, with a focus on luxury at the expense
of the poor majority of Zimbabweans. We elected MPs to rectify many things
that are wrong with our economy, education, health and civil servants are
struggling to survive, they are forgetting all these things,” said the
frustrated activist.
The CPC has approached government with
petitions, demanding that the vehicles be returned and the money be
channeled into many other areas that would help those who are marginalized.
But there has been no response.
ANC takes Zimbabwe’s Zanu (PF) to task after
its youth demonstrated in solidarity with ANC Youth League president Julius
Malema during his disciplinary hearing last month SAM
MKOKELI Published: 2011/09/28 07:01:12 AM
THE African National
Congress (ANC) has taken Zimbabwe’s Zanu (PF) to task after its youth
demonstrated in solidarity with ANC Youth League president Julius Malema
during his disciplinary hearing last month.
During the protest the
Zimbabwean youth group handed a petition to staff at the South African high
commission in Harare complaining about the "persecution" of Mr Malema, who
faces five charges for allegedly sowing division and bringing the ANC into
disrepute.
ANC secretary- general Gwede Mantashe said yesterday that he
told Zanu (PF) leaders during a routine meeting in Zimbabwe on Monday that
the ANC "took offence" at the demonstration as it amounted to "interfering
with ANC processes".
Zimbabwe’s Herald newspaper also reported
yesterday that Mr Mantashe blamed Zanu (PF) for influencing Mr Malema’s
thinking. After his visit to Zimbabwe last year, Mr Malema called for land
grabs in SA with no compensation.
However, Mr Mantashe dismissed the
report as Zanu (PF) propaganda. "Zanu (PF) put a spin on it," he
said.
Mr Mantashe said this was just a "party-to-party" meeting — a
regular interaction the ANC engaged in with Zanu (PF) and other political
parties in the southern African region.
The paper also reported that
Mr Mantashe said the ANC would not "advocate for empowerment programmes,
which hurt the economy", in relation to the youth league-led push for SA’s
mines to be nationalised.
"Nationalisation is a nice policy to talk
about, but we don’t want that which scares away investors," he reportedly
said.
Mr Mantashe yesterday said the party would be influenced by the
result of its research into the desirability of state intervention in the
mining industry.
Researchers were gathering information in Botswana,
one of a dozen countries visited by the task team. The research is expected
to be presented to the ANC in November. It will be discussed at t he party’s
policy conference, scheduled for May, and a final decision will be taken at
the elective conference in December.
Zimbabwe's first international energy and power conference
opened in the capital on Tuesday with the government inviting foreign
investors to explore the enormous opportunities that could be mutually
beneficial to both investors and the country.
Zimbabwe's power demand
outstrips supply, with the country's total installed capacity at about
1,960MW. However, only about 1,200MW of that is dependable, so the shortfall
is great.
But there's light at the end of the tunnel and enough space for
the private sector to play its part in the energy and power sector in
Zimbabwe, say industry experts.
Phanuel Muverengwi, deputy director
in the ministry of energy and power development, says the country now has an
open energy policy.
Before 2003, the fuel energy sector was a closed
market with the National Oil Company (Noczim) being the sole importer of
fuel into the country. At that stage the six international oil companies
with a local presence - BP, Shell, Caltex, Chevron, Mobil and Total - only
served as distributors. "Now the situation is different," said
Muverengwi.
Most of the fuel came via the Beira (Mozambique) to Msasa
(Harare) pipeline with those six companies being distributors, while local
players were found as retailers.
With the political and economic
environment now stable and looking up, Muverengwi says "most of the
consumption is now floating and corking between 75 million and 100 million
litres a month, mostly diesel and petrol, with the balance given to Jet
A1".
"Because of the expected boom in the mining sector, especially in
the midlands, there are unique opportunities for investors in the storage,
distribution and customer convenience sectors," he said.
Patrick
Chivaura, business development director at the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply
Authority also spoke at the conference. "The government is addressing the
challenges that threaten to plunge the country into darkness and grind
industry to a halt," he said.
Like most countries in the Southern
Africa region, the country is facing an energy and power crisis and
electricity load shedding and unscheduled power outages are becoming more
frequent and taking longer to restore.
"But the power crisis in Zimbabwe
cannot be solved by the authority alone," he said, urging other players -
both local and foreign - to join in and exploit the opportunities
available.
Chivaura enjoined the private sector to emulate the Brazilian
experience, where the private sector has a large stake in energy
provision.
He pointed out that the government was fully aware that power
players, as business, also needed a return on their investments.
"We
are open to discussing a favourable tariff model. So, come and let's
engage," he told the conference, which was well attended by regional power
heavyweights as well as industry experts from China and India.
Zanu (PF) youths have been accused of taking over
the ownership of car parks in the high density suburbs of Kuwadzana, Warren
Park and Westlea, among others, under the disguise of indigenisation and
empowerment. 27.09.1104:23pm by Michelle Chifamba
In Westlea
suburb, the invasion is said to have been orchestrated by the losing Zanu
(PF) councillor known as Regina. She has allegedly appointed her son to run
the car park and the families who were previously responsible for its upkeep
are unemployed and struggling financially.
“They (Zanu (PF) youths) just
came over night and declared that they were the new
owners without
giving us any form of compensation,” a former car park owner said. “If one
is Zanu (PF), it means that he is more Zimbabwean than the rest of us, and
can do whatever he deems necessary. Empowerment should benefit all
Zimbabweans not a group of elitists who are on self-enriching
projects.”
In Kuwadzana, the youths reportedly demanded ‘protection
fees’ in the months running up to the take over. One youth leader who
claimed to be at the helm of the car park management said their behaviour
was line with government empowerment.
“We are taking over because as
youths we need to be empowered and this is one way of empowering ourselves.
We will not budge,” said the youth.
The youths have erected the Zanu (PF)
flag at a car park in Warren Park to show their allegiance to the party. Car
owners have accused the youths of collecting car park fees but not guarding
their cars.
Harare’s Zanu (PF) youth Chairman, Jimmy Kunaka, professed
ignorance about the car park invasions, but said the so-called
indigenization and empowerment activities were non-reversible.
A leading international economic think tank has
warned that infighting within Zanu (PF) would see the country slide back
into an economic malaise if the party does not address the issue
properly. 28.09.1108:52am by Chris Ncube
In a report titled
Zimbabwe Business Forecast: Third Quarter, Business Monitor International
described the succession battle in the former ruling party as
fierce.
“The political situation in Zimbabwe is very fluid and difficult
to predict. If there are positive developments politically, our forecasts
for economic growth would be rendered too low. On the other hand, if things
unravel due to a vicious battle to succeed President Mugabe at the helm of
Zanu (PF), the economy could easily slide back into recession,” the company
said.
Two camps, one headed by Vice President Joice Mujuru and another by
Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, are involved in a struggle to wrest
power from Mugabe, who has led the country for the past 31 years and is
largely blamed for Zimbabwe’s economic and political problems.
BMI
blamed the Zimbabwean government of scarring away potential investors. The
tense political atmosphere ahead of the next general election was also
impacting negatively on attracting investors, it said.
“The rate of
economic expansion is constrained by a lack of capital as foreigners are
being deterred from investing in the country due to concerns over the
political environment,” added BMI.
The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the
role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it
affects social, cultural, political and economic values
worldwide.
The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in
the UN Millennium Development Goals and to highlight the contribution the
tourism sector can make in attaining these goals.
Zimbabwe, a country full of rich and diverse culture, is
officially celebrating this years WTD in Masvingo, home to the Great Zimbabwe
Monuments. This World Heritage Site is one of the most important archaeological
sites in Africa, giving testimony to the lost civilization of the
Shona.
A great city existed here from the 11th century on, with
over 10.000 inhabitants. Great Zimbabwe (“stone houses”) was a main regional
trading center, its wealth associated with (Arab) gold trading. There were also
trade links with East Africa (Kilwa), and fragments of Persian and Chinese
pottery has been found at the site.
Arab and European travellers in the 16th century sent
reports home about this marvellous place and its impressive stone walls. The
site was abandoned in the 15th century (for Khami) because of a lack of food and
firewood.
The objectives for 2011 WTD are:
To ensure tourism can be integrated with natural,
cultural and human environment.
To consider the effects of tourism on the cultural
heritage, traditional elements, activities and dynamics of each local
community.
To ensure quality criteria both for the preservation of
the tourist destination and for the capacity to satisfy
tourists
To emphasize on that all options for development must
serve effectively to improve the quality of life of all people and to influence
the socio-cultural of each destination.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela asked
President Robert Mugabe to step down in 2007 so that he could preserve his
legacy as a liberation hero but Mugabe is reported to have disparaged
Mandela as a “Western puppet”.
Mandela is said to have conveyed the
message through central bank governor Gideon Gono according to former
Information Minister Jonathan Moyo.
Moyo told former United States
ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell that Mandela had told Gono that he
was acting on behalf of the African National Congress and not the South
African government.
The ANC did not wish to pressure Mugabe but to
“advise” him that it considered him a liberation hero not just for Zimbabwe
but for Africa.
According to a diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks:
“The ANC had defended Mugabe and wanted to continue to defend him but the
situation in Zimbabwe was creating a threat to his legacy. It was time for
him to go in order to preserve that legacy.”
Mandela is reported to
have told Gono to deliver the message before the Zimbabwe African National
Union-Patriotic Front central committee meeting scheduled for 30 March but
the call came just before the meeting and Gono only delivered it the
following Monday.
Mugabe is reported to have disparaged Mandela as a
"western puppet" but was pleased that the ANC held him in high esteem. He
told Gono to tell Mandela and the ANC that he would consider their advice
and would respond further at the right time.
Mandela is a hero in
South Africa but there is increasing criticism that he did not do much for
his people but for whites.
Activist Allan Boesak recently said that
whites in South Africa loved Mandela more than Jesus Christ.
“Jesus
was far too radical and Mandela didn't want to go that far because he
understood our people in this country….But if he [Mandela] would say
tomorrow what Jesus said they wouldn't like him anymore.”
Moyo
requested the meeting with Dell and in his commentary Dell felt that Moyo
was most likely acting on behalf of Gono and was sent to gauge the United
States government’s reaction.
Political commentator and former publisher of the Mirror newspapers
group Ibbo Mandaza was the public voice of former army Commander Solomon
Mujuru, United States embassy officials said in a cable released by
Wikileaks.
“Mandaza is a long-time ZANU-PF stalwart. He is now a
confidante of, and advisor to, Solomon Mujuru….Mandaza is a public voice of
Solomon Mujuru. He is convinced Mugabe will leave office soon; the question
is when,” the cables says.
Mandaza had held a meeting with embassy
officials on 25 September 2007 at which he disclosed that President Robert
Mugabe had cancer and his Malaysian physician had advised him to step
down.
Mandaza said Solomon Mujuru was adamant that Mugabe should step
down at the extraordinary congress in December 2007 and could be replaced by
his wife, Joice, or someone else loyal to him.
He said if there were
to be a secret ballot at the congress Mugabe would be roundly
defeated.
In their commentary, embassy officials said: “Mandaza is a
public voice of Solomon Mujuru. He is convinced Mugabe will leave office
soon; the question is when. In June, Mandaza predicted Mugabe would be gone
by September. He now thinks it could be before the December Congress or
early next year. Regardless of Mandaza's skill as a prognosticator, he opens
a window on to ZANU-PF which, despite the control Mugabe is still able to
exert, is a party in disarray.
Vice-President Joice Mujuru has made headlines since she
was catapulted to that post in 2004 against all odds. It was considered a
victory for her husband, former army commander Solomon Mujuru who was considered
a kingmaker within the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front. But
though there are only 39 cables that cite her name- those few seem to have done
untold damage to her prospects, moreso now that her husband is gone.
