Waiting in line for gas is a full-time job in Zimbabwe
DIALOGUE
By
BENEDICT UNENDOROThe Institute for War & Peace Reporting
HARARE, Zimbabwe -- I have been waiting for the last 48 hours in a "fuquel."
Don't bother reaching for the dictionary -- the term "fuquel" only exists here,
where the words "fuel" and "queue" are so closely interconnected that the words
have fused into one word.
So what exactly is a "fuquel"? It's a queue at a gas station that has no
gasoline. Like every other station across the country, this one has not received
any fuel for two weeks or so.
Motorists like myself wait in line at such stations anyway in the desperate
hope that we'll be in the right place when, and if, a fuel delivery finally does
arrive.
Why is there no gasoline in Zimbabwe? It's because the state-owned National
Oil Co. has no foreign currency to pay to import fuel.
And why is there no foreign currency? Because Zimbabwe's economy has
basically collapsed.
It's actually turned into a vicious cycle. Farmers are unable to produce
their crops for export because they lack the fuel to operate their equipment.
And the government lacks the foreign currency to buy the fuel because the
country no longer is able to produce lucrative agricultural exports, such as
tobacco.
Even Air Zimbabwe flights are grounded because of fuel shortages. More than
100,000 bus drivers and crews have been laid off because there is no diesel for
their vehicles. Education is collapsing because teachers either cannot get to
school, or have joined the "fuquels."
The length of each "fuquel" ranges from a handful of cars to hundreds. Some
are three miles long. Once a gas station runs out, most of the motorists will
drive away in search of a better prospect.
But even then, a few will remain -- waiting with cars that actually have no
engines. This bizarre concept is purely Zimbabwean.
In most "fuquels," at least 10 of the cars are mere shells, with only their
gas tanks still intact. They often belong to black marketers who push these
rolling gas cans along in the queues, eventually getting them filled. They then
drain the tank into cans for resale later at an inflated price.
It's an extremely lucrative enterprise.
The pump price of one liter of petrol is 10,000 Zimbabwean dollars, but on
the black market it will fetch up to 70,000. So for a 40-liter tank, the traders
pay 400,000 Zimbabwean dollars but will earn as much as 2.8 million. (Before
anyone gets too excited, it important to realize that 2.8 million Zimbabwean
dollars is worth about $650.)
That will at least pay their rent and buy them a few groceries.
The "fuquel" brings rich and poor together. The flashy cars -- Mercedes,
Mitsubishi SUVs, and those kinds of cars -- belong to men between 28 and 40.
They dress in the latest fashions, and carry several mobile phones that ring
continuously.
But these men don't spend the night standing in line. Instead, they hire
street kids to sleep in the cars and to push the vehicles forward if the
"fuquel" begins to move.
When the "fuquels" started about six months ago, people stood around in
groups discussing politics.
"(Robert) Mugabe has failed this great country," the conversation would
begin. People would hold forth on how President Mugabe had proved such a
disappointment after leading the country to relative prosperity. Then they would
discuss the prospects of opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, and his Movement
for Democratic Change party.
But now those waiting in the "fuquel" are suffering from politics fatigue.
Most conversations now are about sports, either the national soccer team or the
country's cricket team.
The war in Iraq is a big topic of discussion, with most people supporting the
ousted regime of Saddam Hussein.
Why this sympathy? Mugabe has always hated the West, particularly the United
States, and this has rubbed off on most Zimbabweans.
On the other hand, many waiting in line seem to admire America's
technological prowess. The fortunes of the latest space-shuttle flight were
followed very keenly, and the lines of petrol-starved motorists were alive with
would-be astronauts.
One man in the queue tells of having read on the Internet of an incident in
another town, where police bullied their way to the front of a "fuquel" after a
petrol delivery. He said that riot cops with dogs were called in after our
fellow-fuquellers threatened to beat up the police bullies.
Someone gets fed up and leaves his car to go off for a beer or two. We all
laugh when he says he is not worried in the slightest about his car's safety. "I
doubt that any car thief will manage to get enough petrol to fill it and steal
it while I'm in the pub," he says.
Just then, a gasoline tanker arrives with a fresh supply and the "fuquel" is
about to move and the drivers return to their vehicle, making sure that taxi and
bus drivers who are highly adept at queue jumping don't gain their spot in
line.
Benedict Unendoro is a journalist in Zimbabwe who writes for The Institute
for War & Peace Reporting, a nonprofit organization that trains journalists
in areas of conflict.
Zanu PF chefs jostle for Senate posts By
our staff A few days after the controversial 17th amendment
to the Constitution that will among other things, reintroduce the Senate, there
is a flurry of activity in the provinces as Zanu PF politicians line themselves
up for Senate positions. Zanu PF, which commands a majority in
Parliament, intends to extend its dominance to the upper house, to seal off
opposition in the bi-cameral system. The Constitutional Amendment Bill (17),
which went through Parliament on Tuesday now awaits President Robert Mugabe's
signature.
Zanu PF sources said elections for the Senate could be held sometime in
November or early December but stressed that the dates had not yet been decided.
Most of Zanu PF's aspiring candidates will come from those that lost to the
MDC during the 31 March parliamentary elections and senior politicians who had
gone into semi-retirement.
While the MDC is yet to make a decision on the elections, The Standard
understands Zanu PF is not taking any chances on the issue of the Senate and is
making all necessary arrangements in preparation for the elections.
Last week Vice President Joice Mujuru and Elliot Manyika, the ruling party's
political commissar, were in Matabeleland attending a convention of the Johanne
Masowe Apostolic sect. When asked about their presence there Manyika said it was
not a secret that they travelled to Nyamndhlovu, especially as it was a public
meeting.
He said: "We also attended the Salvation Army meeting in Harare as part of
mobilisation."
Already, the Minster of Finance, Herbert Murerwa has proposed allocating $30
billion for the holding of the Senate elections. The MDC has, however, vowed to
challenge the proposed allocations.
Zanu PF national chairman John Nkomo said they were discouraging the issue of
holding primaries in the selection of candidates.
"We would want to have a situation whereby a candidate is selected by
consensus. We have assigned the commissariat to come up with criterion for
possible candidates and that would be brought to the politburo," Nkomo said.
He would not say much about the criteria to be used by the ruling party,
adding this was yet to be agreed on.
Sources from provinces around the country said that the majority of the Zanu
PF aspiring candidates in the forefront of campaigns had lost their influence on
national politics and were trying to "sneak back" through the back door.
Sources from Matabeleland last week said there was little political activity
because the party was no longer popular.
"There is very little action on the ground but those who stand a great chance
are Dumiso Dabengwa, Absalom Sikhosana and Sithembiso Nyoni," said a source.
Sikhosana told The Standard: "These things are determined by the people and
if the people want me to stand I would not refuse." The other two politicians
could not be reached for comment.
In Masvingo, the race was said to be tight with candidates reportedly
campaigning for the seats along factional lines. Ousted Masvingo provincial
governor, Josiah Hungwe is allegedly on a collision course in Chivi with
Masvingo provincial chairman, Samuel Mumbengegwi, who was recently dropped from
the cabinet.
Hungwe and Mumbengegwi who are trying to find their way back into mainstream
of politics are said to be frequenting the constituency.
Hungwe, however, denied the allegations saying: "I am not aware of that. I
haven't spoken to anyone in Chivi about the Senate and after all it's not yet
time to do that."
Mumbwegegwi said, as the chairman of the province, he was not aware of anyone
who had been selected.
In Mashonaland West Province politicians have already declared their
interests and most of them are women.
The most prominent among women who have reportedly shown interest is
Priscilla Mupfumira who is a member of the commission running the city of
Harare.
"Mostly members of the Central Committee have expressed their intention in
participating in the Senate elections and there is very little challenge from
young politicians," said a source from Mashonaland West.
In Harare a few names were being thrown around last week including that of
former MP for Mbare Tony Gara and losing Zanu PF candidate for the Zengeza
Constituency Christopher Chigumba.
"I have always been a public figure and as a party cadre, I would not refuse
an opportunity to get in the Senate," Gara said.
While there was speculation that Joseph Chinotimba also wanted a position in
the Senate, the former war veterans' leader said he was tired of politics.
MDC chief whip Innocent Gonese said the opposition party was against the
re-introduction of the Senate.
"We have taken a position against the introduction of that Senate and we are
still deliberating on whether to participate in those elections whenever they
are to be held," Gonese said.
War vets beat up councilors By Vusumuzi
Sifile THERE was chaos in Karoi when a group of war veterans
disrupted a council meeting and assaulted councillors over the suspension of
Rachel Chakazamba, the town secretary who is a former freedom fighter, The
Standard can reveal. Chakazamba was suspended for allegedly not
following council procedures that included issuing licences without council
knowledge, mismanagement of funds and maladministration.
The suspension outraged fellow war veterans who stormed the council chambers
when a meeting was just about to start - 10 days ago - on Friday and assaulted
the councillors. Some of them sustained serious injuries.
The council's chairman of the finance committee, Norman Madzima, confirmed
the incident. "A number of councillors, including myself and the council
chairman Chamusaona Mutisi sustained injuries after being beaten by the war
veterans. Right now as we speak, I am in a queue to see the doctor as I suspect
internal injuries," said Madzima last week.
The Standard understands that the war veterans accused the councillors of
being supporters of the opposition, despite the fact that the entire council
comprises Zanu PF members.
All the nine councillors were elected on a Zanu PF ticket.
The issue has also raised the ire of residents, who believe it is diverting
council attention from critical developmental issues. Residents accused the war
veterans of taking the law into their own hands and undermining the authority of
the council they voted into power.
"This has never happened in Zimbabwe. It should not matter whether one is a
war veteran or not. What we need as residents is transparency and accountability
in the handling of issues that affect us. Chambers are there to solve problems,
not infighting," said a resident, who identified himself as Jenny Masawe.
Residents want war veterans to be barred from interfering in the operations
of the council.
Police officers in Karoi confirmed receiving a report on the incident last
week but refused to discuss the issue, referring this reporter to Assistant
Inspector Nyathi, the provincial spokesperson, who could not be reached for
comment yesterday.
Red-tape stalls food distribution By
Caiphas Chimhete BUREAUCRATIC procedures by Zimbabwean
authorities are stalling food importation and distribution in the country, at a
time when about one million people - victims of the government's "clean up"
campaign - face starvation, a western aid official has said. The
official, who requested anonymity for diplomatic reasons, said even for the
on-going targeted supplementary feeding in schools and hospitals, agreeing on
memoranda of understanding (MOU) between a donor organisation and the line
ministry was a tiresome process.
Apart from that, some of the line ministries were "unfamiliar" with the
procedures, unnecessarily delaying the process while getting an import licence
was another odious task, the aid official said.
"If you really want to facilitate the provision of food assistance to people
who are hungry, I don't think this is the system you would design because it is
cumbersome," said the official.
The latest revelations come barely a month after the US Ambassador to the
United Nations for Food and Agriculture, Tony Hall, who visited the country said
about 10 000 tonnes of US non-governmental organisations (NGOs) aid was bottled
up in Durban, South Africa awaiting import licences.
Another 15 000 tonnes are in the country but the government had not
sanctioned its distribution despite the fact that hundreds of people are
clamouring for food assistance. Government sources said Zimbabwe was carrying
out thorough health inspection to exclude importation of genetically modified
food (GM).
The western aid official said Zimbabwe showed no sense of urgency in
processing licences to enable NGOs to import food.
This is in sharp contrast to the 2002/3 drought season when Zimbabwe declared
a food crisis and suspended the lengthy importation requirements procedures,
making it easier for donor agencies to import food aid.
But the government has since reverted to the old system.
"So we all got stuck up in the changed procedures since the government no
longer views the situation as a food crisis. I don't think they feel the same
urgency," said the official, who added that the government had sanctioned the
wholesome distribution of food aid in the country starting on 1 October.
A US aid official, who also declined to be named, said part of the 10 000
tonnes locked up in the country was meant for the Market Assistance Programme, a
project under which the urban poor buy food from aid agencies at a nominal
price.
Although the programme had been well received in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Revenue
Authority (Zimra) officials, stopped it from being rolled out to other urban
centres, insisting that they must charge Value-Added Tax.
"They suggested that if we are selling food it has to be taxed. We are
engaging them since its donor food. It must not be taxed. A lot of the 10 000
tonnes relates to that," said the aid official.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Nicholas Goche,
refused to comment insisting that The Standard should make an appointment
through his secretary.
"You need an appointment to talk to me. Phone my secretary," Goche said.
Goche's secretary said she would call back after securing the appropriate
time but had not done so by late last night.
The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that one million people are
desperately in need of food aid and the number could swell to about 4.3 million
people before the next harvest.
This would be further exacerbated by the fact that 700 000 people, who were
rendered homeless by "Operation Murambatsvina", also need food aid.
During his visit last month Hall, who last visited Zimbabwe in 2002,
announced a donation of US $51.8 million or 73 500 tonnes of food to six
southern African countries.
The donation is set to benefit between five and six million people in
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
However, much of the donation is expected to benefit Zimbabwe.
The US has since 2002 provided US$300 million in food assistance to Zimbabwe.
War veterans take over NRZ security By
Loughty Dube BULAWAYO - The government has deployed war
veterans and youths from the National Youth programme in the National Railways
of Zimbabwe (NRZ) structures, The Standard has established. Sources
at the NRZ said the two groups, although not controlled by NRZ management, had
inexplicably been placed on the payroll of the struggling parastatal. They were
said to be reporting to the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Harare.
The sources said the war veterans who operate from an office at the old NRZ
administration block seemed to be in charge of the NRZ's security department.
"There is a man who is only known as Siziba who is responsible for recruiting
war veterans and youths from the Border Gezi camp. What is worrying is that
these people do as they please and they do not report to anybody at the NRZ,"
said a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
An official from one of the NRZ's workers' unions said the move was meant to
cow the railway unions. The NRZ is one of the largest employers in the country
with a workforce of about 5 000 people.
"There are fears in government circles of the NRZ labour unions which have
bred the likes of Gibson Sibanda and Thokozani Khuphe, the very same people who
are in the opposition Movement for Democratic Change leadership. Government
wants the unions to be controlled by friendly forces," said the union leader.
However NRZ corporate affairs manager, Misheck Matanhire, professed ignorance
of the presence of war veterans but added the organisation did not discriminate
over who it employed.
"All Zimbabweans are eligible, in their personal capacities, to apply and be
considered for various jobs, which may be offered by the National Railways of
Zimbabwe from time to time," Matanhire said.
Matanhire dismissed claims that youth militias were on the payroll of the
organisation and said only bona fide employees were on the NRZ's payroll.
"We are unable to account for any reports of war veterans harassing National
Railways of Zimbabwe labour leaders, as no such incidents have been brought to
our attention," Matanhire said.
The MDC spokesperson for Bulawayo Province, Victor Moyo, said the opposition
was aware of the deployment of the war veterans to harass the party's
supporters.
Landmark ruling on seized goods
By our staff
THE High Court has ruled that owners of property and
goods confiscated by the police should be given up to three years to challenge
the seizures before they are forfeited to the State. In a landmark
ruling two weeks ago, Justice Nicholas Ndou said the police have no jurisdiction
to urgently forfeit seized non-perishable items to the State before an inquiry
by a local magistrate.
The judgement was handed down after the Bulawayo Club dragged the police to
the courts following the seizure of their liquor amounting to $23 168 495 in
March this year after they failed to produce a valid operating licence.
The police raided the club and later on forfeited the liquor to the State.
In his ruling, Justice Ndou said: "The applicant was not informed of the
intended forfeiture and thus was denied opportunity to make representation
before the forfeiture. It seems to me that the police have no common law right
to search and seizure, save when expressly empowered by statute.
"Generally, where an offender as is the case here, pays a deposit fine, the
article must be returned to the person from whom it was seized, if he may
lawfully possess it, or if he may not lawfully possess it, to the person who
may."
Justice Ndou also said magistrates have no right to authorise the forfeiture
by the police without an inquiry.
"What magistrates cannot do, with respect, is to summarily authorise
forfeiture and disposal without an inquiry merely on the say so of the police
dealing with the matter.
"Magistrates have to bear in mind that any person who has interest is given
up to three years within which to assert the right to said seized article,"
Justice Ndou added.
The High Court ruling gives relief to many who had their property forfeited
to the State.
Travel ban for Mugabe critics By Caiphas
Chimhete THE government, reeling from targeted sanctions
imposed by the West, is drawing up a list of opposition politicians and human
rights activists who will be banned from travelling abroad, sources have told
The Standard. Details of the list emerged a few days after the
controversial 17th Amendment to the Constitution sailed through Parliament
despite widespread criticism.
The Bill, which has been described as an assault on people's democracy,
would, among other things, empower the government to withdraw passports from
people deemed to be "unpatriotic", rendering them unable to travel abroad and
therefore alert the international community to the growing crisis in Zimbabwe.
On top of the list, the sources said, is MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.
Sources said Zanu PF's department of information and publicity, headed by
Nathan Shamuyarira, was charged with drawing up the list.
Other politicians on the list include MDC MPs such as Welshman Ncube, Job
Sikhala, Trudy Stevenson, Gibson Sibanda and Sekai Holland.
"The list was there already but they are just updating it to include people
like Jonathan Moyo, Pearson Mbalekwa and lawyers like (Arnold) Tsunga," said the
source.
Tsunga heads the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, while Mbalekwa resigned
from Zanu PF in a manner that rattled the ruling party.
Moyo, Mugabe's former right-hand man, was fired from the ruling party for
indiscipline after he stood as an independent candidate for Tsholotsho in the 31
March polls.
He is championing the establishment of a Third Force.
Other names on the travel ban include that of the director of Human Rights
Trust of Southern Africa (SAHRIT) Philliat Matsheza, and National Constitutional
Assembly (NCA) chairperson, Lovemore Madhuku.
Both NCA and SAHRIT are perceived as anti-Mugabe and were candidates for
closure under the non-governmental organisation Bill.
MDC spokesperson Paul Themba-Nyathi said the Bill was a satanic assault on
people's rights, not only targeting MDC members but all critics of Mugabe.
Just before the 31 March parliamentary elections, Zanu PF's department of
information and publicity produced a booklet entitled Traitors Do Much Damage to
National Goals that listed perceived enemies of the State.
The list comprises politicians, human rights activists, journalists and
clergyman viewed as "traitors," dating back to the First Chimurenga.
Archbishop Pius Ncube is one of the people listed in the booklet.
Patrick Chinamasa, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs,
who is one of the architects of the Bill, said all people who called for
sanctions or demonised the country would have their passports withdrawn in the
interests of national security.
"There are people who gallivant across the globe calling for sanctions
against the country. Those are the ones we are targeting. I don't want to
mention names because they know themselves. If you are one of them, you are in
for it," Chinamasa warned.
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