Zanu-PF and MDC celebrate together

Secretary Clinton Commends Zimbabwe Progress

http://www.voanews.com



By VOA News
18 April 2009

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered praise for Zimbabwe's unity
government Saturday in a message marking the 29th anniversary of the African
nation's independence from Britain.

Clinton said the United States commends the transitional government's
efforts and the "progress it has achieved toward reforms that will benefit
the Zimbabwean people."

Since the power-sharing government was created in February, Zimbabwean
President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister and former opposition leader
Morgan Tsvangirai have pledged to work together to confront their country's
extreme poverty, collapsed institutions and chronic food shortages.

In a unique display of unity Saturday, Mr. Mugabe and Mr. Tsvangirai
attended independence day celebrations together for the first time.

At the national stadium in the capital Harare, Mr. Mugabe called for
"national healing," an "environment of tolerance" and an end to instances of
violence, which he said have caused "untold harm" to individuals and
communities.

President Mugabe repeated his call to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe, but his
message was much different from years past in which he has attacked Western
nations and the political opposition.  Mr. Mugabe has held onto power since
Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, and frequently had his opponents beaten and
jailed until agreeing to share power in February.

The U.S. State Department disclosed Friday that it had canceled its travel
warning for Zimbabwe, but officials say sanctions will remain in place until
they see clear signs the new unity government is respecting human rights.

Conditions in Zimbabwe have grown calmer since the unity government was
created, but there are still many unresolved issues.

Zimbabwe endured months of violence and turmoil last year both before and
after disputed presidential elections. The situation was made worse by food
shortages, hyperinflation and the breakdown of the health care system.

Independence Day -- time for action, not just words : Amnesty International

http://www.amnestyusa.org

PRESS RELEASE
April, 17 2009

As Zimbabwe prepares to commemorate its Independence Day tomorrow, Amnesty
International warned that continuing human rights abuses by elements within
the government risk undermining the inclusive government.

"Certain elements within the government are ordering human rights abuses and
the government doesn't seem to be willing or able to do anything to stop
them," said Simeon Mawanza, Amnesty International's expert on Zimbabwe.

The organization expressed particular concern about the continued detention
of three political detainees more than four months after their abduction by
state security agents. They face charges widely believed to be fabricated by
the previous government.

Other detainees released in March, including Jestina Mukoko, still face
charges that raise doubts about the government's commitment to ending a
culture of human rights violations that characterized the previous
government's struggle against perceived opponents.

"A lot of hope is invested in this new inclusive government, and they must
establish the rule of law and a climate of respect for human rights to
maintain their credibility worldwide. This is a very critical phase they are
in," warned Simeon Mawanza.

Amnesty International said it was especially disappointed by the "hands-off
attitude" by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the
African Union (AU), when it is clear that the letter and spirit of the
Global Political Agreement (GPA) was being undermined by elements in
President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.

"As the guarantors of the Global Political Agreement, SADC and the AU have
an obligation to use their influence to end human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.
They are utterly failing in their responsibilities," said Simeon Mawanza.

"They have chosen to look the other way and hope that the problems will go
away. This is helping to strengthen the hand of those who fear that the
success of this government will lead to their being held accountable for
past human rights violations."

Amnesty International also criticised the government for failing to
investigate reports of enforced disappearances of human rights and political
activists allegedly carried out by state agents between October and December
2008.

"It is a scandal that the new government has still not fully investigated
the enforced disappearances of more than 30 people last year. Nor have
allegations of torture and ill-treatment by the victims been investigated by
the authorities. In fact, the state appears to be protecting the
perpetrators," said Simeon Mawanza.

The organisation also challenged the government to live up to its promise to
free the media by licensing local media such as the banned Daily News and
community radio station Radio Dialogue, and by allowing international media
to operate freely in the country.

"The new government has been in place for more than two months now. There is
no excuse for measures such as the freeing of the media not to have taken
place - these measures do not cost the government any money."

Low Key Independence Celebrations As Service Chiefs Boycott Tsvangirai

http://www.radiovop.com

THERE was very little activity in the capital city, Harare on Saturday
to show that people were celebrating the 29 th anniversary independence
celebrations as most people went about their normal business.

There were no incidents of people being forced to attend celebrations
at National Sports Stadium as had been the norm in the past. There were also
no fears of rowdy party youths wearing either the Movement for Democratic
Change, MDC, or Zanu PF T Shirts.

Bottle stores and hotels were almost empty with the few places open,
selling goods at reduced prices. One could buy a beer for US$1 but at other
places one could get two beers for the same amount in Harare.

However service chiefs were reportedly said to have shunned Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai as he arrived at the national sports stadium, the
venue of this year's independence celebrations.

The Service chiefs who in February boycotted Tsvangirai's inauguration
ceremony as Prime Minister, were said to have moved out of the national
sports stadium when the master of ceremony Media Information and Publicity
minister Webster Shamu announced the arrival of Tsvangirai ahead of
President Robert Mugabe.

Commander of the defense forces Constantine Chiwenga, Police
commissioner General Augustine Chihuri and Prison Commissioner Paraddzai
Zimondi moved from their seats at the time Shamu was announcing the arrival
of Tsvangirai. They went to stand at the stadium entrance were they waited
for President to arrive while Tsvangirai was taking his seat.

The service chiefs last year said they would not salute Tsvangirai
even if he was elected the President of the country by the people of
Zimbabwe.

Tsvangirai and his deputies Thokozani Khupe and Professor Arthur
Mutambara attended the independence ceremony which was held under the theme
"Restoring Zimbabwe's Vibrancy."

The MDC had urged Zimbabweans from all walks of life to attend the
ceremony which it said was coming amid a climate of new-found hope and
better prospects for the country.

The MDC had previously not attended Independence Day celebrations
because it said the national day had been privatized and parochialised by
unilateral political interests.

"As a country, we waged a painful liberation struggle to bring back
our dignity and respect for human rights that had been eroded through a
century of colonialism," said the party on the official website of the Prime
Minister.

"Our challenge as we celebrate this year's Independence Day is to look
back at the journey we have travelled and begin to carve out a new chapter
where we say to ourselves never again should a people be subjected to
terror, selective justice, poverty, lawlessness and fear by those that
govern them.

This year's celebrations must rekindle the nation's hopes and
aspirations; especially considering the consummation of the inclusive
government in February 2009 which enabled Zimbabweans to open a new chapter
of national rebirth.

"Independence means jobs, food, education, shelter, basic freedoms and
better health care for everyone. We believe that the direction taken by the
political leaders is an important step in the right direction in achieving
these fundamentals."

"As a party, we believe this year's celebrations must reflect the new
era of inclusiveness. The Independence Day programme, the speeches and the
general arrangements of this important day must reflect a diverse people
working together for the betterment of the country of their birth. The day
must reflect the new-found camaraderie among erstwhile political
protagonists in a new political atmosphere that engenders hope and
prosperity for the people of Zimbabwe. The nation expects to hear speeches
from the leaders of the various political parties who have decided to shelve
narrow and partisan political interest for the national good.

"We believe the spirit of unilateralism, mischief and stubbornness by
some political elements must be a thing of the past. Key institutions such
as The Herald and The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) should refrain
from being inflammatory.

"In the same vein, we also call for the urgent resolution of
outstanding political hygiene issues which are undermining the health of the
inclusive government.. These include the issue of provincial governors, the
appointment of ambassadors and permanent secretaries and the unilateral
appointment of the Reserve Bank governor and the Attorney-General."

SA looks into Zimbabwe joining Common Monetary Area

From Business Day (SA), 18 April

Hopewell Radebe

The Treasury is investigating the regional and national implications of
Zimbabwe joining the rand Common Monetary Area (CMA) to which Lesotho,
Swaziland and Namibia belong. Early this year, President Kgalema Motlanthe
suggested that Zimbabwe consider using the rand as its currency until it has
achieved an economic recovery. Treasury spokeswoman Thoraya Pandy says the
investigation will seek to determine "the feasibility of Zimbabwe using the
rand as a reference currency". Referring to the CMA, she says: "Each country
should individually weigh up the benefits and evaluate for themselves if
there are any advantages (to using the rand)." Zimbabwe has already
legalised the use of multiple foreign currencies, including the US dollar,
the British pound and the Botswana pula. Most businesses in Zimbabwe have
adopted the rand for investment purposes and business transactions,
including trading on the stock exchange, the sale of agricultural
commodities and payment of salaries.

Making a case for South African credit lines to be opened to Zimbabwe,
Zimbabwean Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Elton Mangoma
has said his government would report in rands and no licences would be
needed for companies to trade in foreign currencies. However, before
Zimbabwe joins the CMA it will "need to decide on whether a new currency or
replacement currency will be necessary", Pandy says, referring to the
possible replacement of the Zimbabwe dollar, which has become practically
worthless through hyperinflation. Huge numbers of dollar notes still exist.
She says Zimbabwe's joining the CMA will be subject to negotiations that
will take into account all matters related to the currency, inflation and
interest rates. As yet there are no such negotiations scheduled. Before
joining, Zimbabwe will have to meet the conditions laid down in the
Multilateral Monetary Agreement. According to that agreement, no member
country is allowed to place any restrictions on the transfer of funds for
current or capital transactions between members of the CMA. Each member's
exchange control provisions must be substantially in accord with those in
force in SA. In respect to gold and foreign exchange transactions, members'
authorities must be in line with the policies adopted for the management of
the gold reserves of the CMA as a whole. "These conditions would apply to
any new member state," Pandy says.

Upon becoming a member of the CMA, Zimbabwe will have a right of access to
the South African capital and money markets. It will also have the right to
enter bilateral agreements with SA, which will allow the South African
Reserve Bank to make available temporary central banking credit facilities.
Pandy says joining a monetary union will not imply that Zimbabwe is
surrendering monetary policy, but it will mean its monetary policy will have
to be conducted within the framework of the Multilateral Monetary Agreement.
For example, each member state remains the sole authority responsible for
authorising gold and foreign exchange transactions. Pandy says that in the
meantime, the Treasury will consider various options to enhance Zimbabwe's
liquidity. "Liquidity can be brought about through a loan or grants from SA
or any other country. It could also be brought about through economic
recovery." She says if Zimbabwe joins the CMA, the Multilateral Monetary
Agreement will cover other concerns including ensuring that rand notes are
not illegally printed in that country. Regarding progress on establishing a
single currency within the Southern African Development Community, Pandy
says a commitment has been made to work towards a common currency by 2018.

IMF blames Gono

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk


Saturday, 18 April 2009

HARARE - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stoked the fires
with a damning report blaming Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon  Gono
for single-handedly causing a staggering 14 percent slump in  Zimbabwe's
real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2008, heightening  calls for the
embattled central bank chief's ouster.
The statement, issued by the Bretton Woods institution after a
two-week Article IV mission in Zimbabwe last month, comes as principals of
the inclusive government meet tomorrow to decisively decide Gono's future at
the helm of the central bank.
A meeting of the Government Executive Committee comprising President
Mugabe his two deputies Joseph Msika and Joice Mujuru; and Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai and his two deputies Thokozani Khupe and Arthur Mutambara
at State House on Thursday sidestepped the issue of Gono, deferring it to
the crucial April 20 meeting of the three principals to the inclusive
government.
James Maridadi, the Prime Minister's spokesman told The Zimbabwean on
Sunday that Thursday's meeting of the Executive Committee, also known as the
'Top 6,' did not discuss any substantial issues as it was an inaugural
meeting whose purpose was to set ground rules of a working relationship.
"All outstanding issues will be discussed when the principals meet for
their regular consultations on Monday," Maridadi said.
Tomorrow's crucial meeting comes as the IMF reports that Gono was
solely responsible for causing a record collapse in the economy last year
which saw the GDP fall dramatically to a cumulative 54 percent, a record
nine-year high.
In layman terms, GDP is a measure of the output of a national economy.
"Hyperinflation driven by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's quasi-fiscal
activities," said the IMF report, "and a further significant deteriroation
in the business climate, contributed to an estimated 14 percent fall in real
GDP in 2008, on top of the 40 percent cumulative decline during 2000-07.
Poverty and unemployment have risen sharply," said the IMF report, calling
for central bank reforms.
As pressure on Gono has grown with the collapse of Zimbabwe's economy,
he has blamed banks, the stock exchange, black market currency dealers and
insurance companies. As well as firing the bankers, he blacklisted 20
investment companies last October and froze their accounts.
He has also insisted that he was taking instructions from his
principal, President Robert Mugabe, as he implemented policies that  have
wrecked Zimbabwe's dramatic economic ruin.
Gono printed plenty of Zimbabwean dollars, which government took out
of circulation last week for one year until industrial production has been
boosted from its current 20 percent to about 60 percent.
Economists say Gono was solely responsible for the dramatic collapse
of the Zimdollar by relentlessly printing money, as the country, mired in
disease and hunger, inflation beyond calculation and political crisis, kept
on spiraling downward. Extraordinary situations call for
extraordinary measures, he said.
Gono told parliamentarians last month that he engaged in
non-traditional roles of a central bank because of declining capital  flows,
droughts, declining capacity utilisation, limited fiscal
resources, political polarisation, sanctions and a failure to access
balance of payments support.
"People forget what they legislated," Gono said.
"You said to me, 'Ita zvese zvese as long as takuti ita.' (Do whatever
as long as we have
instructed you to do so). So that is what I have been doing. You don't
shoot the messenger."
The IMF report however dismisses Gono's explanation insisting he was
responsible for  compounding Zimbabwe's crisis through quasi-fiscal
activities that have seen the RBZ pump millions into financing newly
resettled black farmers, most of them Zanu (PF) supporters and who have
failed to produce enough food to feed the starving nation.
Under his leadership, the Reserve Bank took on myriad tasks unrelated
to central banking: buying government cars, supplying farm equipment and
fertilizer, setting up and supplying "People's Shops" to sell cheap goods,
setting up foreign currency shops, supplying medicines to
state hospitals, mobilizing rigs to drill bore holes for clean water
in the cholera crisis and a biofuels project, to name a few.
For example, Gono provided foreign currency to purchase combine
harvesters, tractors, motorcycles, generators and small farming implements
that were handed for free to resettled farmers by Mugabe just before
elections last March, in what analysts said was a clear attempt by the
Zimbabwean leader, working in cahoots with Gono to curry favour with a
disgruntled electorate.
Mugabe and Zanu (PF)  still lost the election.The MDC has also accused
him of bankrolling the election terror campaign by providing cars used by
hit squads and stipends to the goon squads that killed over 200 MDC
supporters.
Gono told parliamentarians last month: "All that we did was, however,
authorised, transparently reported upon at different platforms and
appreciated by all beneficiaries, including by those who today hold
different views in public."
Economists say Gono's sacking is a necessary prelude before any aid is
released, and major donor countries, including the G20 group of richest
countries and the US have recently said the central bank chief's removal was
one of the key indices of whether Zimbabwe was a  fit recipient of aid. US
ambassador to Zimbabwe james McGee told a reporters roundtable at the US
embassy in Harare last week Wednesday that the central bank was the "core
problem."
A statement issued on March 20 after a meeting in Washington DC of the
G20 bloc, which again met in London two Thursdays back to consider
Zimbabwe's US$8billion rescue package request, urged the inclusive
government to "take additional steps to demonstrate its commitment to
reform such as . the establishment of a credible and transparent
central bank team."
Britain's Africa minister Lord Malloch-Brown has also called for the
dismissal of Gono before the country could be eligible for budgetary
support. He said he did not trust the people who signed the cheques at the
central bank.
Calls for Gono's ouster is cutting across the poilitical divide. The
49-year-old former tea boy, target of Western economic sanctions and a very
close confidant of President Mugabe has actually made more enemies in Zanu
(PF) than any other senior member, according to Zanu
(PF) sources.
"He must go," said one senior Zanu (PF) official. "During his heyday
we warned him against dabbling in quasi-fiscal activities but he threw
caution to the wind. Now it is time to face the music. He must just do the
honourable thing and resign."
But Mugabe is said to be resolutely standing by Gono insisting he had
actually done a fantastic job busting sanctions which he claim the MDC
campaigned for. Mugabe has said "he will not go."Meanwhile the crucial
meeting tomorrow will also discuss the swearing-in of provincial  governors,
the appointment of Attorney-General Johannes Tomana,  the appointment of
permanent secretaries and ambassadors, and the ongoing land grab Other
important issues are  MDC cadres and human rights activists facing trial,
reform of legislation and the swearing in of Deputy  Minister of Agriculture
Roy Bennett. Mugabe has refused to swear-in  Bennett ostensibly because he
was facing "serious charges." The attempt to invade the Ministry of
Information Communication Technology will also be up for discussion.
By Gift Phiri

UZ appeals for US$3,2m for operations

http://www.herald.co.zw

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Herald Reporter

The University of Zimbabwe requires at least US$3,2 million for it to
provide basic teaching and learning necessities before it can reopen, Vice
Chancellor Professor Levy Nyagura has said.

In an interview on Thursday, Prof Nyagura said the College of Health
Sciences alone needs at least US$1,5 million.

"The rest of the university also requires the same amount so that we can be
able to attend to some of our problems here.

"We have not been spared by the problems currently bedeviling the country
although we receive so much bashing.

"Without the funds, all other things cannot move. Water problems have been a
major concern for sometime now as the institution has not had supplies since
May last year.

"With a total enrolment of 12 500 students, we cannot have them here without
water supplies as it would be a health hazard. We tried to run from December
until mid February, but we faced a torrid time," he said.

Prof Nyagura said the university was currently engaged in talks with
Government and was that optimistic a solution would be found soon.

He said at least US$200 000 was needed to drill six boreholes and put up a
reservoir that would be connected to the mainline to solve the institution's
perennial water problems.

Brain drain, he said, mainly caused by poor working conditions, had resulted
in the closing of the departments of geology, metallurgy and surveying.

Prof Nyagura said they might be forced to close more departments after
failing to meet staff requirements.

"In the last two years we lost a lot of academic staff, including some who
were using university accommodation. Things have not been well because of
the obvious siege," he said referring to the illegal sanctions imposed by
the West on the country.

"We were supposed to bring back students on March 31, but we could not. So
we have deferred opening until things are in shape," he said. He said the
institution was eager to carry out its mandate but this was being hampered
by inadequate resources.

New evidence on Tsvangirai crash raises more questions

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
18 April 2009

The BBC reports that early findings from an investigation into the road
crash that killed Susan Tsvangirai suggest that it might not have been a
genuine accident. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's wife was killed when
their Land Cruiser vehicle was side swiped by a truck along the road from
Harare that heads to Chivhu.

John Simpson a reporter for the BBC reporting undercover in Zimbabwe says
senior officials from the MDC are saying their own investigators are
questioning whether the crash was an accident or not. Tsvangirai himself at
the time sought to assure a suspicious nation that there was one in a
thousand chance of the crash having been engineered.

Investigators say two cars accompanied the Tsvangirai's on the day, one
leading the way while the other followed from behind. Both cars were
supplied by the government and had security details from the notorious
Central Intelligence Organisation.

In its television report the BBC said the lead car sped away and did not
stop to help when the crash occurred. Adding to the speculation is the
status of the truck driver who has been described as a having a military
background while some say he is a member of the CIO.

Several politicians have died in previous highly questionable road accidents
and the majority of the population remains convinced Mugabe has had a hand
in most of them.

Madzongwe's guards accused of murder

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=15347

April 18, 2009

HARARE (SW Radio Africa) - The violence on farms in Zimbabwe reached
alarming proportions on Sunday when a man was murdered in Chegutu, allegedly
by farm guards working for Edna Madzongwe, the Senate President.

Justice for Agriculture (JAG) spokesperson John Worsely Worswick said the
man had been caught while stealing oranges at Stockdale Farm, owned by the
Etheredge family but illegally taken by Mrs. Madzongwe. The pressure group
said the Senate President, who has been an illegal resident at the farm
since March 5, was in residence when the murder took place.

Worswick said it is believed the man was just an ordinary member of the
public who probably got hungry and helped himself to some oranges.

"This gentleman was taken to the citrus pack shed where he was tortured for
most of the night; at around 05:00 on the March 13, 2009, this man was
released by the guards (no police report was made of the theft). This
gentleman's body was found near the entrance to the farm," said Worswick."

A report had been made to the Chegutu police and three of Madzongwe's guards
and two former Stockdale employees had been picked up by the police and
taken to the police station. However no arrests had so far been made.

Worswick said that on Monday MDC youths in Chegutu "had reacted angrily to
the murder and stormed the farm, chasing away the remaining guards.

"These people then started shouting at Madzongwe and her two grown up
children, who were in the cottage that she had broken into on the 5th March.
The group shouted that she had destroyed many farms in the Chegutu District.

"They warned Madzongwe to vacate the premises by the time of their friend's
funeral."

Police were deployed at the farm during the night because of the volatile
situation and the frightened Senate President sneaked off the farm at
midnight.

"She was made to walk off the farm and I believe she was not allowed to take
her vehicle," said Worswick.

Madzongwe first arrived at Stockdale Citrus Estate in April 2007. She was
holding an expired offer letter signed by Minister Didymus Mutasa. Stockdale
had not been gazetted at the time and no audit had been carried out on the
land. This was followed by a systematic campaign of violent evictions and
looting of property worth over a million US dollars, allegedly by thugs
under the instruction of the Senate President.

Despite several court battles and rulings in favour of the Etheredges,
Madzongwe continued with the onslaught to acquire the farm.

Madzongwe has defied four High Court orders and ignored a SADC ruling that
protects the farm from acquisition. JAG said she had also occupied and
destroyed eight other farms in a similar manner.

"Madzongwe's other farm (Aitape), which is occupied by her, is close to
Stockdale. It is understood that there is no active farming on Aitape by
Madzongwe in spite of it being a very productive farm in the past. Madzongwe
is a beneficiary of the farm equipment programme and has a massive amount of
equipment parked on Stockdale and on her other farms, Reyden farm, Bourne
farm and Mpofu farm.

"It is interesting to note that Madzongwe and her entourage arrive at
Stockdale Farm each time the citrus export crop is ready to reap, demanding
that the Etheredges vacate the farm.

Jubilation as Zanu-PF militiamen jailed

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=15360

April 18, 2009

By Our Correspondent

CHIREDZI - There was jubilation at the Chiredzi Magistrates' Court in
Masvingo Province when three Zanu- PF militiamen were jailed this week to
terms ranging from 24 to 30 months.

Vengai Zhihura, 38, Eukeria Muvengwa, 37, Alick Ziwende, 38, who were part
of a team that unleashed violence and terrorised MDC supporters, appeared
before Chiredzi Magistrate Judith Zuyu charged with assault.

Appearing for the State, public prosecutor Edmore Mbavarira, said the three
assailants were base commanders camped at Mkwasine Administration Hall A and
on June 6, 2008. They severely assaulted a female MDC supporter with sticks
and clenched fists.

The court heard that Zhihura inserted his fingers in the complainant's
private parts saying he was punishing her for supporting MDC President,
Morgan Tsvangirai.

The three, however, pleased in court that they were acting on instructions
from Zanu-PF's MP for Chiredzi North, Ronald Ndava.

Muvengwa and Ziwende were sentenced to 24 months while Zihura will spend an
additional six months in prison as punishment for putting his fingers into
the complainant's private parts.

There was celebration in the town of Chiredzi when news broke out that the
three had been jailed for perpetrating acts of violence in the run-up to the
June 27, 2008 presidential run-off election.

The residents applauded the move and called on law enforcement agents to
bring all those involved in acts of political violence to be brought to
book.

Over 200 MDC supporters were killed by Zanu-PF militias in the period
following the announcement of the March 29, 2008 harmonised elections in
which the MDC won a majority in Parliament while the party's president won
the presidential election.

Tsvangirai withdrew from the run-off poll as armed Zanu-PF militiamen went
on an orgy of violence killing, maiming and raping innocent MDC supporters,
including young children.

The property of other MDC supporters was vandalised and looted during the
mayhem.

US lifts travel warning for Zimbabwe

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said Friday it has lifted its travel
warning for Zimbabwe, saying conditions were improving in the troubled
African nation.

The US State Department denied making any political overture to veteran
President Robert Mugabe, who has been pushing for the United States and
other Western nations to remove separate economic sanctions.

"The political and economic situation is still unpredictable but we lifted
the restrictions because there was a return of basic medical, food and fuel
services," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.

"We're obviously going to continue to monitor the situation and if we feel
we need to provide another travel advisory or warning we will certainly do
so," Wood said.

"There is no political dynamic. We are just gauging the situation as we see
it on the ground," he added.

Travel warnings by the United States and other Western nations have
contributed to a slump in Zimbabwe's tourism sector, traditionally a major
money-maker for the country.

The United States had imposed a travel warning for Zimbabwe, asking
Americans to "carefully consider their need to travel there," on December 12
last year. Wood said the State Department canceled the warning as of April
8.

In imposing the warning, the State Department had cited in particular
concerns about the dilapidation of Zimbabwe's health care system, saying
last year that hospitals could not provide even basic supplies and clean
water.

The State Department voiced concern about travelers' safety due to an
outbreak of cholera. The World Health Organization says that more than 4,000
people have died since the disease broke out last August, but new cases have
recently slowed down.

Mugabe, who has ruled for nearly three decades, earlier Friday made a new
call for Western nations to lift sanctions and prodded partners in his unity
government to join his campaigning against them.

But the United States has said Zimbabwe has a "long way to go" before it
lifts sanctions, which include a travel ban and asset freeze against Mugabe
and his inner circle.

Zimbabwe is trying to raise 8.5 billion dollars over three years to support
the new government and help revive the country's shattered economy.

US President Barack Obama has pledged to reach out to longtime US foes such
as Iran and Cuba but has insisted they also make progress in areas of
concern such as human rights.

Zimbabwe, EU to engage in official talks

http://news.xinhuanet.com



www.chinaview.cn  2009-04-18 04:54:41

    HARARE, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) will soon
engage in formal dialogue with Zimbabwe for a possible joint roadmap based
on the Cotonou Agreement as the inclusive government ratchets up pressure
against the EU and U.S. government to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe, The
Herald reported on Friday.

    Zimbabwe's Vice President Joseph Msika and Deputy Prime Minister
Arthur Mutambara on Thursday met the head of the European Commission
delegation to Zimbabwe Xavier Marchal and a U.S. delegation in separate
meetings.

     Speaking soon after paying a courtesy call on Msika in Harare,
Marchal said they had agreed that the two sides need to meet urgently to
iron out their differences.

    "I can't say much on the meeting but only to say that we had a
long and fruitful meeting with the Vice President where we had an open talk.
The most important thing is that there is agreement that the EU and Zimbabwe
engage in a formal dialogue, come up with a joint roadmap and commitment
from both sides based on Article 9 of the Cotonou Agreement," Marchal said.

    "I hope very soon we can sit around a table, the EU on one side
and Zimbabwe on the other side to discuss our differences so that we can
start full engagement," he said.

    The Cotonou Agreement governs dialogue between African-Caribbean
and Pacific countries and the EU.

    Marchal said the new political dispensation was critical for the
resumption of dialogue that might lead to the removal of sanctions on
Zimbabwe.

    The government is on record as saying it is prepared to engage the
European Union in dialogue to resuscitate relations severed following the
imposition of the illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe.

    Since the formation of the inclusive government in February this
year, there have been increased calls from SADC and the African Union for
the removal of the sanctions slapped on Zimbabwe since 2002.

    In a related matter, Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara has urged the
U.S. government to immediately lift the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

    Speaking after meeting U.S. ambassador James McGee and visiting
senior professional (Majority) in the house committee on foreign affairs
Pearl-Alice Marsh, Mutambara said the sanctions would only work against the
people.

    "Zimbabweans are unanimous that the present set-up is the only
solution to our problems, they are also unanimous to make the inclusive
Government succeed. It is (however) no longer meaningful for America to
maintain sanctions against the country, sanctions no longer have any value
in Zimbabwe (and) there is no efficacy in maintaining ZDERA," he said.

    Mutambara said the targeted sanctions on some Cabinet members were
affecting the functions of Government. "We are now saying to America, why
don't you give us a chance to fight our problems. Zimbabweans are masters of
their own destiny, they are determined to succeed with or without America's
help," he said.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

Is Chamisa Now Jobless?

http://www.fingaz.co.zw/

17 April 2009

Harare - ANOTHER potentially explosive threat to the inclusive government is
looming large after President Robert Mugabe unilaterally altered the
ministerial mandate of Nelson Chamisa, the Minister of Information
Communication Technology.

Tensions within the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) heightened at the
weekend after the Office of the President and Cabinet announced that Chamisa
had been stripped of control over the communication portfolio, which was
handed to Nicholas Goche, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural
Development.

Goche's ministry has now been changed to the Ministry of Transport,
Communication and Infrastructural Development.
The change effectively transferred key parastatals such as TelOne, the
Zimbabwe Post, Net*One and the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory
Authority of Zimbabwe to Goche, the former Minister of State Security.

Chamisa and the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu,
had been haggling over control of the parastatals.

Goche will now also oversee the implementation of the Interception of
Communications Act, which gives the state authority to snoop into private
communications.

Technically, it means that Chamisa has been left jobless.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has reacted angrily to the tinkering with
the ministerial portfolios defined during the lengthy inter-party
negotiations concluded early this year.

He described the changes as "null and void".

"This does not only fly in the face of the letter and spirit of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA), but is also an illegality as the GPA has legal
effect," said the Prime Minister in a statement.

The MDC-T leader said the allocation of mandates to ministries came into
effect via a process of negotiation by the three political parties to the
GPA and as such no one party to that negotiating process can unilaterally
alter such mandates without effecting the due process of negotiation.

Tsvangirai warned that such "blatant violations of the GPA to suit
individuals" were a cause for concern as they had the effect of taking
people off the course of restoration and reconstruction.

International financiers have since adopted a wait-and-see attitude towards
the power-sharing deal arguing they need evidence of sincerity before they
pump money into the country.

Analysts were quick to interpret the latest controversy as yet another
impediment to the power-sharing deal signed in September last year after
nearly a decade of political violence and economic stagnation.

They said the clash over Chamisa's portfolio presented a further
complication to the coalition government of President Mugabe, Prime Minister
Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara formed on February 13
this year.

"It seems there is still some mistrust within the all-inclusive government
if the reports are anything to go by," said Eldred Masunungure, a professor
of Political Science at the University of Zimbabwe.

"One would have expected the three principals to consult, but just changing
another party's allocated ministerial portfolio has the danger of poisoning
the already poisoned atmosphere," said Masunungure.

He said it was generally accepted that the aspects handed to Goche should
naturally be under Chamisa's mandate.

Jonathan Moyo, the independent legislator for Tsholotsho North, was quoted
in the international media slamming the move to trim Chamisa's mandate as
"inherently preposterous."

Moyo said: "The suggestion by some in government quarters that the
Information Communication Technology Ministry is about software is
inherently preposterous. You don't need a Ministry of Software and indeed
you don't need a Ministry of Hardware. That suggestion is either
mischievous, ignorant, or both."

Phillip Pasirayi, the co-ordinator of the Centre for Community Development
in Zimbabwe, pointed out that the "elbowing" of Chamisa, whom MDC-T sources
claimed had brought some sanity in the country's telecommunications sector
after holding meetings with all stakeholders, came at a time when there were
still crucial outstanding issues that needed to be urgently dealt with by
the three principals.

Pasirayi said the debacle indicated that the road to economic and political
stability was going to be long and bumpy.

"The trimming of Minister Chamisa's powers could be an indication that
President Mugabe is not prepared to genuinely share power with Prime
Minister Tsvangirai," he said.

"It is time for PM Tsvangirai to show real leadership and refuse to give
into demands which run contrary to people's expectations. PM Tsvangirai must
demand that all the outstanding issues, including the appointment of
governors, permanent secretaries and ambassadors be concluded within two
weeks if the coalition government is to work properly," said Pasirayi.
Pasirayi suggested that the latest impasse and all other outstanding issues
should be referred to the Southern African Development Community and the
African Union, the guarantors of the GPA.

"The MDC formations cannot continue to be held to ransom by ZANU-PF, which
unilaterally continues to make changes and appointments without
consultation," he said.

Madzongwe vows she will not leave farm

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=15319

April 18, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - Edna Madzongwe, the President of the Senate, vows she will not
vacate Stockdale Citrus Farm, a Chegutu commercial farm that she occupied
last month.

She denies claims that she now owns five more farms in Chegutu and maintains
her take-over of the large-scale orange producing farm is her first attempt
to own land since the onset of government's land reform programme in 2000.

Madzongwe last month allegedly took a group of youths to the farm to evict
Richard Thomas Etheredge (73), the owner of the farm for over two decades.

She claims she has in her possession an offer letter issued by the
government in 2007 that authorises her take-over of the farm.

An armed police officer has now been deployed at the farm house, apparently
to prevent any attempt by the owner to reoccupy his land.

Etheredge says the farm originally extended over 2000 hectares before he
surrendered half the property to government at the onset of Zimbabwe's farm
invasions in 2000. He now has 400 hectares under citrus fruit.

"She (Madzongwe) came here with a fictitious offer letter which has a 2007
date," said Etheredge. "The farm has never been gazetted

"There were four court orders against her, including the SADC tribunal
ruling. We recently got a final order that we should not be evicted."

He said he bought the farm from his family in 1984 and personally cleared
the bush to start growing oranges.

"Madzongwe has come here at a time when the fruit is ripe," said Etheredge.

"She has never contributed one ounce of fertiliser. This has cost me over a
million dollars to produce. I started this project in 1984 and to date I
have 60 000 orange trees.

"We are the first people from the southern hemisphere to export kumquats to
Europe and there is a niche market especially in Holland.

Kumquats are mainly cultivated in China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Japan and
the Middle East, as well as in Europe and the southern United States,
notably in Florida and California.

Kumquats are often eaten raw. The rind of the kumquat is sweet while the
juicy centre is sour and salty.

"We also export 6 000 tonnes of oranges to Europe and the Middle East.
Ninety percent of the fruit produced on this farm is exported."

There are claims Madzongwe already owns five other farms within the same
area. They have been identified as Aitape Farm, which produces more than 100
hectares of tobacco; Bourne, a dairy farm; Reydon, a maize and tobacco
producing farm; Mpofu, a maize and beef farm and Coburn Estates, which
produce maize.

Farai Madzongwe, the daughter of the President of the Senate, now lives on
the newly acquired farm. She denied that her family had illegally occupied
the farm.

She also denied that her family ever hired youths to dislodge the owner of
the property who now lives with relatives elsewhere.

She also denies they had since taken possession of the farm, saying they
were on the property with the consent of Etheredge who had allegedly agreed
to allow them to occupy a portion of it.

"We have not officially moved onto the property. They have opened up the
house to allow us to stay here while the issue is being resolved."

She said the Madzongwe's family's stay on the farm was a strategy to allow
them the opportunity to assess the operations on the farm before they move
in to start production.

"I am making an assessment of how operations go in the eventuality that we
are going to the farm,' she said.

"We are finding out about the equipment that is here, we are finding out
about the workers that are here, the oranges that are here and making sure
that when this comes through should we take over the operations we are 100
percent ready."

GDP Drops Sharply

http://www.fingaz.co.zw/

17 April 2009

Harare - ZIMBABWE'S economy contracted by its biggest margin ever last year,
against the backdrop of acceleration in the country's economic and political
crisis, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report said.

A statement issued by the Bretton Woods institution at the conclusion of an
Article IV mission into the country, said the country's gross domestic
product (GDP) slumped by a massive 14 percent last year, adding to a
cumulative decline of over 40 percent between 2000 and 2007.

GDP, also known as gross domestic income, is one of the measures of national
income and output for a national economy. It is the total monetary value of
all final goods and services produced in a particular economy in a given
year.

The decline was the fastest since an economic crisis many blame on President
Robert Mugabe, who however, accuses the West of undermining the country's
economy to trigger an uprising against his government.

President Mugabe united with bitter foe, Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC), to form an inclusive government that includes
Arthur Mutambara's breakaway faction of the MDC.

The inclusive government is expected to arrest the country's economic
decline through a raft of measures that include micro and macro-economic
stability and supply-side measures aimed at achieving low inflation and
improving social conditions.

"Hyperinflation, driven by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's quasi-fiscal
activities, and a further significant deterioration in the business climate,
contributed to an estimated 14 percent fall in real Gross Domestic Product
in 2008, on top of the 40 percent cumulative decline during 2000-07. Poverty
and unemployment have risen sharply," the IMF said.

The country's productive sectors have been in free fall over the past 10
years, with independent estimates indicating that industrial output had
slumped to an all-time low of 10 percent last year.

The agricultural sector has equally haemorrhaged from land
under-utilisation, caused in part by the expropriation of land from white
owners to new black farmers under a controversial land redistribution
exercise.

Droughts and a skewed pricing policy had also conspired against meaningful
agricultural activities.

In its Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme (STERP), with a punch-line
"Getting Zimbabwe moving again", the inclusive government notes that it will
require significant funding to turn around the country's economy and steer
it towards sustained growth.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti said the "substantial amounts in funding"
required were "well beyond the capacity of the inclusive government".

"It is, therefore, hoped that bilateral and multilateral partners will play
their part in this process," said Biti.

So far, donors have remained aloof, demanding that certain reforms had to be
undertaken first before they could give any financial backing to the
government.

Some Western donors have even been blunter, saying they were not willing to
fund the inclusive government as long as President Mugabe remained a part of
it.

But Biti, who has indicated the potential for social upheaval if
international partners refused to assist, said: "The inclusive government
faces the challenges of collapse and decay and the poverty and suffering of
our people.
"We either wallow in the wish-wash of disempowering party politics or we
choose STERP and make a bold step away from the mundane.

"Indeed Zimbabweans expect nothing less and should get nothing less."

Committee accuses MDC-T leaders of double standards

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Cuthbert Nzou Saturday 18 April 2009

HARARE - A committee representing ordinary parliamentarians on Friday
accused Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party leadership of double
standards, saying it will defend its members who are facing imminent
disciplinary action after receiving vehicles from the central bank against
party position.

The committee, formed a month ago after Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor
Gideon Gono pledged to allocate secondhand vehicles to the lawmakers until
government sources funds for new cars, accused the MDC-T leaders of
duplicity.

Addressing a press conference in the capital, the chairperson of the
committee Makhosini Hlongwane (ZANU PF MP) said MDC-T leaders in the
executive had received vehicles from the central bank to discharge their
duties and should not stop ordinary MPs from doing the same.

Tsvangirai's MDC said the over 50 MPs from the party who received vehicles
from the central bank would face disciplinary action. It said lawmakers
should be allocated vehicles through a parliamentary loan scheme.

Hlongwane said backbenchers were in a desperate situation since their
election in March last year.

"Matters affecting our honourable MPs have not been addressed for too long,"
Hlongwane said.

"Since March 2008, we have had a deplorable situation where members of
parliament have been travelling in haulage trucks and public transport,
buses, kombis and sometimes ambulances to attend parliamentary business.
That is not good. Can you imagine an honourable Member of Parliament
carrying copies of the Hansard in a haulage truck?"

He added: "In some cases we have members of parliament smuggling bread into
hotels because they cannot afford lunch and dinner in hotels, which would
have been booked for them by Parliament (most hotels only provide bed and
breakfast). That is deplorable"

Hlongwane accused the MDC-T leadership of double standards.

"No member of parliament should be denied to participate in government
business, including the interim use of these (central bank) vehicles. We are
not being extravagant, we are cautious. Even more cautious than most people
who claim to have more financial prudence," he said.

"I don't want anyone to misread on our preparedness to defend members of
parliament who will be victims for receiving the secondhand cars by those
who received brand new Mercedes Benz and Limousines. We are going to watch
and see. We will respond to these matters when they come. We are not
clamouring for material things."

The donation of cars, Hlongwane, added should never be seen from the
"perspective of one party".

"There is a subtle instigation to create an unpalatable relationship between
members of parliament and the executive," he said. - ZimOnline

Zimbabwe University Students Promise More Protests Over Tuition Fees

http://www.voanews.com/

By Patience Rusere
Washington
17 April 2009

Zimbabwean students have vowed to stage more protests following
demonstrations at the National University of Science and Technology in
Bulawayo.
Student sources said the protests began Thursday after authorities posted
notices saying students who had not paid tuition fees would not be allowed
to take exams starting Monday.

Many students find it hard to pay fees now set in U.S. dollars or other hard
currencies.

The sources said about 1,000 students marched toward the administration
office but were stopped by riot police who arrested 30 students and beating
many protesters.

Ten students remained in police custody Friday and two were hospitalized,
sources said.

Spokesman Blessing Vava of the Zimbabwe National Students Union described
the melee at the university in an interview with VOA reporter Patience
Rusere.

Cholera Mainly Ebbs In Zimbabwe, But Persistent in Kadoma Mining Town

http://www.voanews.com/

By Marvellous Mhlanga-Nyahuye
Washington
17 April 2009

Zimbabwe's longrunning cholera epidemic has been losing momentum in most of
the country - but not in the Mashonaland West town of Kadoma where 414 new
cases and 34 more deaths were recorded by authorities over the four-day
period through Thursday

The fatalities in Kadoma, a mining and farming center, accounted for most of
the 50 deaths in the entire country over that period and nearly half the
national total of 860 new cases.

Executive Director Itayi Rusike of the Community Working Group on Health
told reporter Marvellous Mhlanga-Nyahuye that unsanitary conditions in the
surrounding area, especially in marginal mining operations, continue to
produce new cases of cholera.

Southern African Finance Chiefs Head to US Seeking Funds for Zimbabwe

http://www.voanews.com/



By Blessing Zulu
Washington
17 April 2009

The Southern African Development Community is sending a delegation to
Washington next week to urge the U.S. government, the International Monetary
Fund and the World Bank to help members of the regional organization fund
Zimbabwe's economic recovery plan.

SADC sources said the organization's executive chairman, Tomaz Salamao, will
lead finance ministers from the region in appealing to Washington and the
multilateral financial institutions which have all said that Harare needs to
show clear progress on governance, human rights and respect for the rule of
law if they are to consider funding Zimbabwe's recovery.

Following a decade of accelerating decline Zimbabwe's economy has collapsed
and the national unity government in which power is shared by President
Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai seeks money to pay civil
servants and restore basic services.

A second SADC deadline for member countries to make firm pledges of aid to
Harare passed on Friday, but Salamao declined to state the amount of pledges
received so far.

South Africa and Botswana between them have pledged some US$160 million -
but Harare is looking for US$2 billion to get started and up to US$10
billion for full reconstruction.

Economist Prosper Chitambara of Harare told reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA's
Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that with a global recession in force, SADC's means to
help are limited.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government lifted its travel warning for Zimbabwe,
saying conditions in the country have improved.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters Friday the warning was
canceled because basic medical, food, and fuel services have been restored
in Zimbabwe.

But Wood cautioned that the situation in Zimbabwe remains unpredictable, and
that the United States could issue another travel warning if necessary.

Welcoming the decision, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Chief Executive Karikoga
Kaseke said the U.S. decision will encourage tourists worldwide to
reconsider visiting Zimbabwe.

Nkomo's son could step in father's shoes

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=15326

April 18, 2009

By Our Correspondent

BULAWAYO - The recently revived PF-Zapu is courting Sibangilizwe Nkomo, the
only son of  Zimbabwean liberation icon, Dr Joshua Nkomo, to join the party
and possibly emerge as its new leader, thereby taking the dreams of his late
father  a step further towards fulfillment.Nkomo one of the most illustrious
of Zimbabwe's liberation nationalists and founding president of ZAPU died a
disillusioned man on July 1, 1999, after his party had been subdued by
Mugabe's Zanu-PF, following the signing of a unity agreement between the two
parties in December 1987.

Nkomo, a popular and respected politician, who was outmaneuvred by President
Robert Mugabe after the signing of the unity agreement, was accorded a
rousing send-off by the largest turnout ever at the National Heroes Acre in
Harare.

Dr Nkomo's party has been now revived following its withdrawal last December
from the decade-long unity agreement with Zanu-PF.

Sources within PF-ZAPU disclosed that there were now strenuous efforts not
only to persuade his son, Sibangilizwe Nkomo, to join the new party but
perhaps to also convince him to take over the leadership of the party, thus
following in the footsteps of his late father.

At the moment, former Zanu-PF politburo member, former Home Affairs
Minister, and current chairman of the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project
(MZWP), Dumiso Dabengwa is the acting chairperson of the party. Sentiment
has been strong that Dabengwa belongs to a generation of politicians that
can no longer provide inspired leadership to any vibrant political party.

Sources say the party is contemplating a strategy to delay its congress so
as to pave the way for the selection of new candidates to lead the party.

The sources say the delay would also give the emissaries who have been
shuffling between the party's offices and Nkomo's business premises in
Bulawayo time to consolidate their strategy.

"Plans are already underway to draw Sibangilizwe into party structures. We
believe that he has a role to play in pursuing the dream of his father for
Zimbabwe," said a source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"There are people who have already been sent to him to discuss the matter
but he has not said where he stands. He has asked for time to think about
the issue and then feed back to the party on what he would have decided.

"Our expectation as a party is that this will be an honour for him and the
entire Nkomo family and we hope that he will see sense in what we proposed
to him."

Another source said emissaries had given feedback which pointed to a
positive outcome of the negotiation process the party was engaged in with
Nkomo.

"For now, it looks promising," said the source, "he appears to favour the
idea of joining the party and we hope that he will commit himself to it as
soon as possible. We want to move with speed and get the elections over and
done with."

What has however remained unclear is the question of whether the rest of the
party structures will buy into the idea of bringing Nkomo's son into its
ranks.

Contacted for comment, Smile Dube, the PF-Zapu spokesperson, said the party's
leadership was yet to meet to discuss the issue.

"At the moment, I am not sure about that issue. I have not yet met the
chairman and other members of the part's leadership. So it's only after we
have met as the leadership, that I will be able to discuss that matter,"
Dube said.

But Dube hinted later in the interview that there could be discussions
already underway.

He said: "One thing is that there could be that interest because of what
some people's perceptions are. But those that are interested in Sibangilizwe
coming to join us should bring the issue up for discussion at the
forthcoming congress to be held between May 8 and 10."

Contacted for comment by the Zimbabwe Times Nkomo said he was not ready to
talk about the issue at the moment.

"I shall be making a statement when I think it is appropriate," he said. "At
the moment, there has been a lot of talk about what I think and there are
other issues associated with the revival of PF-Zapu.

"I will address these issues when I am ready to discuss them and you shall
be informed accordingly."

Nkomo has not played any active role in politics. Those who know him say he
has not displayed any political ambitions. He currently runs his late father's
businesses, which include the Blue Lagoon Takeaway and Restaurant at
Bulawayo's Renkini Long Distance Bus Terminus.

US diplomats doubt that aid can be delivered responsibly in Zimbabwe

http://www.sabcnews.com

April 18 2009 , 9:00:00

Manelisi Dubase, Washington

Former United States (US) diplomats say they doubt that American aid
to Zimbabwe could be delivered responsibly to those who need it most. The
scepticism comes from two senior Africa diplomats under the previous George
W Bush and Bill Clinton administrations.

The two diplomats, Tom McDonald and Walter Kansteiner, say despite
recent political compromises in Zimbabwe they are still doubtful that the
government in Harare is capable of delivering aid appropriately and agree
with the Barack Obama Administration's decision to hold back on financial
support.

McDonald thinks any direct aid to government is premature whereas
Kansteiner reckons Zimbabwe would be better off with a fresh round of free
and fair elections that could be counted. Their comments are motivated by
continuing concerns in the US over the legitimacy of the current government
of national unity.

Both former officials, who remain influential in Washington, say it
will take many years for Zimbabwe to recover, given that country's current
economic picture. Next week, Zimbabwe Finance Minister Tendai Biti will be
attending the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank's spring
meetings, in yet another bid to plead for help.

Catholics work for reconciliation in Zimbabwe

http://www.christiantoday.com

by Anne Thomas
Posted: Saturday, April 18, 2009, 10:18 (BST)

A Catholic organisation is working to bring reconciliation between
supporters of ZANU-PF and the MDC in Zimbabwe, seven weeks after the parties
formed a coalition government.

Less than a year ago, ZANU-PF supporters terrorised MDC voters in a run-off
for the presidential elections between President Robert Mugabe and the now
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Around 180 MDC supporters are believed to
have been killed and many more were tortured.

One ZANU-PF man, known as Harry, was the chief torturer in the township of
Chitungwiza and was in charge of gangs which hunted down MDC supporters.

Speaking to The Times he said that he now lives in fear that he will be
murdered by people seeking revenge for his crimes. He also said that he
recognised that his actions were wrong and that he was plagued by guilt.

He refuses to eat food prepared by others, in case it is poisoned, is afraid
to go shopping, regularly sleeps in the bush and often thinks of suicide.

He said, "Maybe one morning, I will wake up murdered . I know other people
won't forget what happened."

Now Harry is taking part in a process of bringing together both ZANU-PF and
MDC supporters run by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP).

Last October, three researchers from the CCJP interviewed a number of
torture victims to start the process. Joel Nkunsane, a co-ordinator, said,
"It was just horrible . We were reopening the wounds. We were listening,
then we would leave them in pain, without giving any help."

The CCJP set up a reconciliation process in Chitungwiza attended by 17
torture victims and seven ZANU-PF perpatrators, including Harry.

Nkinsane said of Harry, "He was sweating and shaking when he started . The
guilt with him is still there. He said what he did was evil, that he caused
death and suffering. He and the others said they wanted to look into the
eyes of their neighbours and stay in harmony. They want to go back and talk
it out."

George Simango, 28, a local MDC leader in Chitungwiza was tortured last
year. He was beaten, had boiling water poured on his back and had burning
embers put into his T-shirt, which he was then forced to lie on.

He said, "For the time, I cannot forgive . But revenge is not the way. The
only thing I want is a law that they should confess, give details of what
they did and who sent them."

Nkunsane said that he believed there should be public acknowledgment of
violence in a similar ways to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up
in post-Apartheid South Africa.

He said, "I fear they may go for a process of blanket amnesty, call it a
time of madness and say let bygones be bygones . If that happens, there is
never going to be a time that we can have another election without
bloodshed."

Honeycomb home

http://www.cathybuckle.com

Saturday 18th April 009

Dear Family and Friends,
After counting as many people as I could and then doing some rough
calculations, I guessed there were about 750 people in the queue in front of
me at Beitbridge border post. It was 7.30 in the evening and we were all
trying to have our passports stamped to get into South Africa. The line was
immense: inside the building, all around the courtyard, out into the car
park, along a fence and down the road back towards Zimbabwe. Rude,
aggressive, sullen and surly South African officials made it quite plain how
they felt about us Zimbabweans. If we dared to even sit down on the ground
in the painfully slow border queue, large chested South African police women
barked: " Get up! No sitting allowed here."

A couple of brazen touts constantly patrolled the line looking for business
and watched by the Police women:

"You want to go fast?" they ask.
For 200 Rand per person (20 US dollars) they will bribe the officials and
take you to the front of the queue. For another 200 Rand per person they
will get you right into the passport control building.

Without bribes it took 4 hours to get to the front of the line and when you
get to the few counters that are staffed, the South African immigration
officials do not look at you or greet you but they chew gum and talk to each
other as if you weren't even there. Its a very grim welcome to South Africa
and an exhausting exit from Zimbabwe.
Shortly before midnight the queue waiting to get into South Africa was still
at least seven or eight hundred strong.

One Afrikaans man standing in the Beitbridge border queue told a crowd of
bemused and amused onlookers about the five most frequently used Shona words
and phrases he'd learned whilst doing contract mining in Zimbabwe: "Nzara"
(hunger); "Hapana mvura" (no water); "Hapana mari" (No money); "Hapana basa"
(No work); "Hapana magetz" (No electricity). How accurately this visitor
summed up our lives.

Despite all the negatives: physical, social, economic and political, and
despite the fact that life is so hard and improvements painfully slow in
coming, there is still no place quite like this Zimbabwe. Coming home three
weeks later at dawn when the trees were silhouetted against an apricot dawn
glow a woman passed me on the road. In one hand she held a child's hand, in
the other she carried a bucket and on her head she was balancing a full size
suitcase. She smiled and called out a response to my greeting and straight
away, despite a decade of racial hate speech by our leaders, I felt as if I
belonged.
On the road ahead a line of guinea fowl walked single file across the
pot-holed tarmac and further on young men ran out holding out slabs of wild
honeycomb dripping with golden, sticky nectar.

The farm invasions go on, political prisoners remain incarcerated and the
attempts by the old order to cling to power continue but Aah, it's good to
be home!

Until next time, thanks for reading, love cathy.

The Economic Situation in Zimbabwe

http://mensnewsdaily.com

Apr 18, 2009
Just how bad the situation is in the economy is not hard to see. Banks are
empty - no clients and often just one teller on duty. Wholesalers are slowly
getting back on their feet but stocks are pathetic and staff few and far
between. The streets are empty of traffic and in town you can park anywhere.

In the largest supermarket in my home district 20 till points stand empty -
only one was working. You do not have to book for a meal as most
establishments are half empty. People do not have the money to entertain.
Most factories are slowly starting to resume production but exporters are
feeling the pinch as costs rise and export customers feel the global
recession.

Several days a week we face power cuts, the water situation is hardly better
and the roads are in a terrible state. Prices are coming down but cash is in
short supply and low incomes inhibit personal spending on everything except
the basics. Food is freely available but at a price and only in hard
currency. Two thirds of the population are on food aid from a variety of
organisations funded by the international community.

Hotels are running at about 30 per cent occupancy - mostly foreign, as local
tourism has dried up. Investors are wary of the changes, fearing a collapse
of the new government and a reversal to the old ways and Gono delinquency..
He still struts the stage pretending to be a key player and this unnerves
all business people except the corrupt cabal that is trying to hang onto
what is left of their power and influence. Not even our neighbours trust us
to handle their money - the US$30 million sent to Zimbabwe by South Africa
in December just vanished - we could have told them that would happen but
they were not listening.

While the international community have responded rapidly to the needs of the
new government - raising their input by 100 per cent in the first quarter of
this year to over US$100 million per month, the region has responded in a
pathetic and halfhearted way. We asked them for US$1,5 billion in lines of
credit and for US$500 million in essential budget support. After two months
we have had pledged US$30 million in aid from South Africa and US$70 million
in a line of credit from Botswana. Since we are in this top heavy,
cumbersome marriage of convenience largely at the instigation of the region,
we really thought they would feel some responsibility for making it work.

Instead they have sat on the sidelines for 7 months while Mugabe
procrastinated and when he finally agreed to share power with the MDC, we
were forced to accept a lopsided deal which bore little regard to our
respective political strengths. Even then they have stood back and watched
as Mugabe has simply refused to keep his side of the bargain. Two months
into the transitional government and not a single significant problem has
been resolved.

No wonder the world watches Africa and despairs. Who can blame them when we
cannot manage a simple exercise such as this one and do not put our own
money where our mouth is. SADC compounds the problem when they stridently
call for "sanctions to be lifted" and for the international community to dig
deeply into their overburdened fiscal reserves to find huge sums for our
economic recovery. In doing so they give the international community no
recognition for their ongoing grant aid to Zimbabwe - now standing at nearly
5 billion dollars since 2000 in the face of insults and widespread flaunting
of all the rules of good governance and respect for human rights and the
rule of law.

The GPA promised media freedom - what has Mugabe delivered - a slight shift
in the character of State propaganda? They are still jamming international
radio broadcasts, still banning the BBC and CNN still harassing and
imprisoning local journalists.

The GPA promised a halt to the farm invasions and respect for the rule law.
Instead we have a rush of fresh invasions, more violence and intimidation.
The theft of private assets and crops and a total disregard for the highest
legal opinion in the SADC.

The GPA promised a halt to political violence, respect for our freedoms of
assembly and association. Instead we have the continued detention of MDC
activists, banned meetings and harassment of MP's and local leadership.

The GPA promised that all major decisions and appointments would be carried
out on a consensual basis and all that we have seen are repeated attempts by
Mugabe to make decisions and appointments without consultation and
agreement.

The GPA promised equity in government with a slight majority to the MDC in
respect for its victory in the polls in March 2008. Instead Mugabe insists
on maintaining control of almost all key government functions and not a
single State institution has seen its leadership reformed to reflect the new
reality.

Under these circumstances can anyone blame everyone for being sceptical
about this transitional arrangement? What hope on earth has this got to
yield a decent election in 2011, an election that will be respected by the
international community? Who can blame the major bilateral and multilateral
financial agencies for their caution and reluctance to come to the party
when it is clear that once there they will simply be abused and used?

Who can blame the business community - here and abroad, for being cautious
about coming in and helping our recovery with their own money? We have no
right to expect to be trusted and until that changes there can be no
progress. If Zanu PF cannot see that and accept that so long as they behave
like a rogue elephant, they will be treated as such and with every
justification. The main problem for everyone is that the innocent and the
guilty suffer in this situation and the innocent in this deal can do very
little about protecting their essential interests.

Today is Independence Day, Zimbabweans have very little to celebrate after
29 years of poor and corrupt government and now on top of all that, inept
regional leadership.

Eddie Cross
Bulawayo, 18th April 2009

Zimbabwe: The storm is far from over

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk


Saturday, 18 April 2009
Economic partners and donors hard hit by crisis

by Roy Laishley

International humanitarian aid efforts to Zimbabwe to help combat a
continuing cholera outbreak and overcome widespread food shortages are
intensifying. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also sent a mission to
the country in March, the first in more than two years, to discuss with the
government its policies for an economy ravaged by plunging revenues,
hyperinflation and a collapsing infrastructure.

The moves come on the heels of the establishment of a unity government
in February, after months of deadlock following disputed elections last
year. Immediately upon taking office, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and
Finance Minister Tendai Biti (both of the Movement for Democratic Change)
asked for a $2 bn loan package from other members of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) to help pay wages to health workers, teachers
and the police, as well as to support other basic services.
But economic assistance is likely to be slow in coming. The extent of
SADC support could be affected by the global economic crisis, which is
seriously hitting even the richest members. Funding from the IMF, as well as
from the World Bank and African Development Bank, will not materialize until
the country's debts to them have been cleared - and approved policies are in
place. Above all, economic assistance will depend on further signs of
progress on national reconciliation.
Speaking in South Africa on 25 February, UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon said that the international community, led by the UN, stands ready
to support the people of Zimbabwe. But he cautioned that such efforts "would
get stronger and more support from the international community if we can see
the promise in political and national reconciliation." Releasing political
prisoners is "important and desirable," Mr. Ban said, adding that he hoped
they would be freed "as soon as possible."

Food shortages
A UN team, led by Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
Catherine Bragg, visited Zimbabwe in late February. It reported that the
humanitarian crisis remains grave. Ahead of this year's harvest in April,
the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) and international non-governmental
organizations are distributing food aid to some 7 million Zimbabweans -
nearly 60 per cent of the population - the highest level since the food
crisis began in 2002.
Donors have provided more than $240 mn for operations in 2008 and
2009. Even so, WFP reported in February that a growing number of households
are reducing their number of meals per day, with over 10 per cent of
households reporting that they had not eaten the previous day.
The harvest, while it will bring some immediate relief, is not
expected to end the need for substantial amounts of food aid. The UN's Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned in February that prospects for the
new crop are "unfavourable, pointing to another year of serious problems of
food insecurity in the country."

Cholera outbreak
Inadequate food consumption, together with appalling sanitation and
the near-collapse of the cash-starved health system, have created the
conditions for a cholera outbreak. By mid-March, more than 4,000 people had
died since the outbreak began last August and more than 90,000 have been
infected. Over 90 per cent of Zimbabwe's 62 districts are affected, with
most deaths occurring in rural areas, where only limited or no treatment is
reaching the local population. In January the death rate reported by local
communities was three times that within health facilities, according to the
World Health Organization (WHO).
More aid to Zimbabwe's health system would help end the cholera
outbreak. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) provided $5 mn in January and in
March, Australia announced it would give more than $6 mn to restore water,
sanitation and health services.
By mid-March the death rate in cholera cases had fallen to 1.8 per
cent from over 5 per cent in January, WHO reported. With proper care, the
death rate is normally below 1 per cent. The rate of infection also seemed
to be easing, WHO said, with the number of new cases in the first week of
March well down from the previous week. However, the situation remains
precarious, with a nurse in Harare telling the UN-supported Integrated
Regional Information Network news service that "the storm is far from over."

Mr. Roy Laishley is a writer for United Nations Africa Renewal
magazine.

afrik.com