Harare too busy to heed IMF calls for reform

Zim Online

Tuesday 19 December 2006

      HARARE - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday said Zimbabwe
should cut excess spending and import more food as part of measures to
revive a crumbling economy but analysts immediately warned the Fund was
unlikely to get much audience from a government pre-occupied with its own
political survival.

      Zimbabwe, once an African model economy, is grappling with its worst
ever economic crisis, blamed on mismanagement by President Robert Mugabe's
government and seen in four-digit inflation, shortages of foreign currency,
food, fuel and rising unemployment.

      An IMF team left Harare last Friday after a 10-day annual consultation
visit, and yesterday warned of a worsening economic crisis if the government
did not implement urgent reforms.

      "Zimbabwe's economic crisis calls for urgent implementation of a
comprehensive policy package," the IMF said.

      "The key will be first to ensure sharp cuts are made in real terms in
fiscal spending . fiscal expenditure needs to be prioritised , in particular
to ensure adequate food imports . and address the needs of those affected by
HIV/AIDS and Operation Murambatsvina," the Fund added.

      The IMF left with no prospects of resumption in fresh loans or the
restoration of Zimbabwe's voting rights while its executive board is
expected to review relations with Harare when it meets next February.

      Zimbabwe has faced food shortages since 2001 while the United Nations
said the country's humanitarian and food crisis were worsened by the
government's controversial urban clean-up campaign, "Operation
 Murambatsvina" last year.

      The world body says Murambatsvina left more than three million people
or more than a quarter of the 12 million Zimbabweans with homes or
livelihoods after the government demolished thousands of shantytowns, city
backyard cottages and informal business kiosks in a campaign Mugabe defended
as necessary to restore the beauty of Zimbabwe's cities.

      Economic analysts said, with Mugabe's government focused on how to
avert disintegration by ensuring two more years in office for the 82-year
old leader - its only uniting figure - there would be few in Harare who
would find the time to consider and let alone implement the IMF's
recommendations.

      Mugabe's ruling ZANU PF at the weekend recommended the extension of
his rule from 2008 to 2010 under the guise of "harmonising" presidential and
parliamentary elections to cut on costs.

      The next most important step now for the ruling party, which has
overwhelming majority in Parliament, is to marshal its divided ranks to push
through the House constitutional changes to enable Mugabe to remain in
office after the expiry of his term.

      "I think the people in charge are not going to consider those
recommendations," Harare-based private economic consultant John Robertson
said.

      "They want to ensure their survival and protect the fortunes they have
amassed because they feel vulnerable if you talk of return to the rule of
law," he added.

      Zimbabwe has twice survived being axed from the IMF over arrears,
which stood at $127 million at the end of October.

      Analysts say only political reforms, along with fundamental economic
changes could ease the plight of a population that faces a collapsing
infrastructure and deteriorating standards of living.

      The IMF said this (economic collapse) could be halted with
complementary fiscal policies such as easing tight controls on the foreign
currency market, liberalising price controls, imposing tight controls on
public enterprises expenditure and having the central bank revert to its
core function.

      "Achieving sustained economic growth and low inflation will require
comprehensive structural reforms and a strengthening of governance over the
medium term," the IMF said.

      The IMF institution did not explicitly call for political reform in
Zimbabwe although analysts said by calling for "strengthening of governance"
the Bretton Woods institution was subtly urging Harare to undertake
political reform.

      Zimbabwe has had strained relations with the West over policy
differences, such as the seizure of white-owned commercial farms to
redistribute among blacks, which critics say has destroyed commercial
agriculture and worsened food shortages.

      The southern African country has been without IMF balance-of-payments
support and direct donor funding since 1999.

      "Finally, we encourage the authorities to improve relations with the
international community in order to support the government's reform policies
and facilitate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals," the IMF
said. - ZimOnline

Regional body says three million people require food aid

Zim Online

Tuesday 19 December 2006

      HARARE - The Southern African Development Community's Food Security
Early Warning System (FSEWS) says more than three million people in five of
the 14 member countries will require food assistance between now and the
next harvest early next year.

      In its latest food assessment report made available to ZimOnline on
Monday, the FSEWS said 3.1 million people in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique,
Swaziland and Zimbabwe would require food aid between now and the next
harvest in March/April 2007.

      "This number is, however, much lower compared to about 10 million
people last year," said FSEWS.

      FSEWS, however, said that although the region recorded a higher cereal
deficit this year of 3.5 million tonnes compared to 1.85 million tonnes in
2005, the overall food security situation was better in most countries than
last year.

      Zimbabwe, also grappling with its worst ever economic crisis, is
forecast to have a maize shortfall of 385 000 tonnes between now and the
next harvest.

      Southern Africa, also ravaged by HIV/AIDS, has faced severe food
shortages in recent years owing to poor weather, which in the case of
Zimbabwe was compounded by a chaotic and violent land reform exercise that
derailed the farming sector.

      United Nations (UN) special envoy on humanitarian affairs James Morris
toured the region last week to assess humanitarian needs and the food
security situation.

      During his meeting with President Robert Mugabe, the UN envoy pleaded
with the Zimbabwean leader to relax the conditions under which
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) work in the country.

      The future of NGOs has hung under a cloud since Mugabe started working
on legislation governing their operations, forcing most of them to stop
making long-term plans uncertain whether they would still be able to operate
under the proposed new regulations. This has affected the distribution of
food to affected communities.

      Meanwhile, FSEWS confirmed the development of moderate El Nino
conditions over southern Africa and warned of possibility of an extended dry
spell until February 2007.

      "The latest forecasts indicate that the current El Nino conditions are
likely to continue, at least, into early 2007," said FSEWS.

      El Nino episodes are generally associated with depressed rainfall
conditions in the southern parts of SADC, which covers Botswana, Madagascar,
Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

      The El Nino effects are usually most significant from December to
February, according to FSEWS.

      In northern Tanzania and other parts of East Africa, El Nino is
normally associated with heavy rainfall and flooding. - ZimOnline

Tsvangirai says extending Mugabe's term will worsen crisis

Zim Online

Tuesday 19 December 2006

      HARARE - Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says the
controversial proposal to extend President Robert Mugabe's term to 2010 will
see the once prosperous country plunging deeper into crisis.

      Tsvangirai said in a statement that the ruling ZANU PF party
conference in Goromonzi had shown that the party had failed the nation as
they concentrated on extending Mugabe's term without coming up with serious
resolutions to resolve the national crisis.

      "Extending Mugabe's term means for the next four years, we are stuck
with an illegitimate leadership that has dismally failed.

      "It means our pariah status will continue, our ostracisation from the
family of nations will persist and that the majority of us will continue to
sink deeper into the abyss of poverty and starvation," said Tsvangirai, who
leads the larger faction the splintered Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
party.

      Tsvangirai said ZANU PF had lost a perfect opportunity to address the
deepening national crisis which had resulted in the country recording an
inflation rate of more than 1 000 percent, worsening poverty, a life
expectancy of 34 years and an acute shortage of critical commodities such as
fuel, food and medical supplies.

      "Extending Mugabe's term is simply extending the shelf-life of the
Zimbabwean crisis. It is extending illegitimacy. It is extending
misgovernance. It is extending human rights abuses on innocent Zimbabweans,"
he said.

      He said Zimbabwe needed a meaningful political solution to the serious
crisis that it faces, adding that a new, people-driven Constitution would be
an ideal starting point.

      Tsvangirai and his wing of the MDC are yet to call mass protests by
Zimbabweans they promised earlier this year to force Mugabe and ZANU PF to
accept sweeping political reforms including a new and democratic
constitution that would guarantee free and fair elections. - ZimOnline

France denies visa to Zim's Attorney-General

Zim Online

Tuesday 19 December 2006

            HARARE - The French embassy in Harare last week rejected a visa
application by Zimbabwe Attorney General Sobuza Gula-Ndebele who wanted to
travel to Paris for an arbitration hearing in a lawsuit filed by
dispossessed Dutch farmers.

            Gula-Ndebele was scheduled to leave Harare for Paris last
Thursday to discuss the arbitration process in a dispute in which the Dutch
farmers are suing Harare for US$15 million following the loss of their
properties during the government's land reforms six years ago.

            The Dutch farmers argue that their properties were protected
under a bilateral investment treaty in which Harare promised to pay
compensation to Dutch nationals in disputes arising out of any investments
in Zimbabwe.

            The matter is before the International Centre for the Settlement
of Investment Disputes in Paris.

            The French Embassy in Harare turned down Gula-Ndebele's visa
application saying he could not travel to Paris because he was on a list of
individuals banned from visiting Europe.

            President Robert Mugabe and senior members of his government are
banned from setting foot in Europe under targeted sanctions imposed by the
European Union five years ago.

            Authoritative sources at the embassy confirmed to ZimOnline
yesterday that Gula-Ndebele had been denied a visa to travel to Europe.

            "He was denied a visa and was openly told that the visa could
not be processed because he is on the sanctions list," the sources said
yesterday.

            Gula-Ndebele was forced to send the chief law officer in the
Attorney General's office, Virginia Mabhiza to stand in on his behalf.

            Gula-Ndebele could not be reached for comment on the matter
yesterday.

            If the Dutch farmers win the case, it could open floodgates for
similar claims in international courts by white farmers who lost their
properties during the land reforms. - ZimOnline

A real and serious blow to Mugabe

From The Daily Telegraph (UK), 17 December

So, Robert Mugabe has suffered his second political defeat. The first was in
2000 when Zimbabwean voters, led by the new (and now divided) opposition
party, the Movement for Democratic Change, rejected a new constitution which
Mugabe wanted. The second came on Saturday, when the ruling Zanu PF rejected
his desire to have his term of office, which expires in 2008, extended for
two years. There was real consternation among the party leadership, known as
the presidium, as it wasn't only the 3000 delegates to the annual Zanu PF
conference who were divided about his desire to hang on until he is 86.
Earlier in the week the Zanu PF politburo couldn't come to a decision
either. The next day the central committee, which is the party's highest
authority in between its five year congresses, also turned him down. So in
some deft choreography, Zanu PF national chairman John Nkomo told delegates
late Saturday, ahead of the end of the conference. the question will be
further debated in the provinces and then the central committee will make a
final decision. This is a real and serious blow to Mugabe. Not that he can't
get around it if he tries hard. He has so much dirt on the people opposing
him that he could whip some of that up and get them on their knees pleading
for him to stay for life. He is likely to have a very long life, as he is in
robust health and his mother lived till she was 93. The annual conference
had no problem in agreeing to hold presidential and parliamentary elections
simultaneously, it makes sense as they are expensive. What they couldn't
stomach was the dear leader staying on until 2010 as part of the package.
Watch this space.

Zim opposition, rights groups vow to protest

IOL

          December 18 2006 at 02:50PM

      Harare - Zimbabwe's opposition and rights groups vowed on Monday to
stage mass street protests against plans by President Robert Mugabe's
supporters to extend the veteran ruler's term by another two years.

      In a resolution passed at the ruling Zanu-PF party's annual conference
over the weekend, three key arms of the party proposed that 82-year-old
Mugabe's term be extended to 2010 by postponing presidential elections.

      The official reason given for delaying the ballot to coincide with
parliamentary elections was to save save money in a country reeling under
record inflation.

      But opponents of the man who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in
1980 believe that it is a mere smokescreen for Mugabe to hold on to power.

      "As the National Constitutional Assembly we will resist this by taking
to the streets to re-emphasise the need for a new constitution," said
Lovemore Madhuku, leader of an alliance of labour and rights groups pushing
for a new constitution.

      "Mugabe has simply hardened and the only way we can resist this
continuing erosion of democracy in Zimbabwe is to develop a critical mass of
people to stand up against Mugabe."

      A fearless critic of the government, Madhuku has been jailed several
times while NCA members have frequently clashed with riot police during
street protests.

      Elphus Mukonoweshuro, an advisor to opposition leader Morgan
Tsvangirai, vowed that there would be protests but would not say where and
when.

      Public gatherings are meant to receive prior approval and protests
that have been advertised in advance have been crushed by Mugabe's security
forces.

      "Mugabe's answer when confronted by people demanding food or a
solution to bread and butter issues has been to threaten to kill them,"
Mukonoweshuro warned.

      "This time he should be prepared for serious confrontation. The
opposition will most definitely resist this dictatorship."

      He said the planned extension was a ploy by the Zimbabwe African
National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) to resolve an impasse over the
choice of Mugabe's successor.

      "The idea is to meet Mugabe's desire to move from State House to the
Heroes Acre," Mukonoweshuro said.

      The Heroes Acre is a cemetery on the outskirts of Harare where
high-ranking veterans of Zimbabwe's 1970s liberation struggle are buried.

      Previous street protests against Mugabe's rule have been crushed by
riot police and in some cases the army.

      In September scores of trade unionists were beaten up by riot police
blocking protests against the escalating cost of living.

      Despite the dire state of the economy, splits within the opposition
have left Mugabe largely unchallenged.

      The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had looked a
good bet to topple Mugabe but it is a shadow of its former self since
fracturing a year ago over Tsvangirai's decision not to contest
parliamentary poll.

      Gabriel Chaibva, spokesperson for an anti-Tsvangairai faction of the
MDC, said his group would resist the ruling party's plans in parliament.

      "We are against this proposal but we will not engage in street
protests because demonstrations have proved to be ineffective because Mugabe
will not listen," Chaibva said.

      "We will oppose this extension in parliament giving our reasons why we
are against it."

      Pedzisai Ruhanya of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said: "Mugabe should
have at least consulted Zimbabweans on this national issue. We will
definitely resist this decision by Zanu-PF. We need to start thinking of the
mode of protest."

      Zimbabwe is in the seventh year of economic recession characterised by
more than 1,000 percent inflation and massive unemployment, with at least 80
percent of the population living below the poverty threshold.

      Mugabe has said the proposal to extend his term would be endorsed by
Zanu-PF's central committee, the party's highest decision-making organ.

      An extension would also require a constitutional amendment, which
should pose little obstacle with Zanu-PF's parliamentary majority.

Zimbabwe opposition vows to fight "civilian coup"

18 Dec 2006 16:27:20 GMT
Source: Reuters

 By MacDonald Dzirutwe

HARARE, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition and civic groups vowed
on Monday to resist a "civilian coup" by the ruling party which has moved to
extend President Robert Mugabe's term by two years.

An annual conference of Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party on Saturday "noted and
adopted" a motion to move presidential polls from 2008 to 2010 so they can
be held concurrently with parliamentary elections.

The resolution, which would give Mugabe two more years in power, must still
be approved by the party's policy-making central committee and by parliament
to be effective.

Analysts say this is virtually assured with Mugabe and his allies in control
of both institutions.

"We strongly oppose this form of dictatorship and we will fight it," said
Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the main opposition Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC). "We will be consulting to come up with a fitting response."

Welshman Ncube, secretary general of a splinter group of the opposition MDC,
called the ZANU-PF action a "civilian coup".

"No person should run the country without being mandated by an election. The
decision to unilaterally amend the constitution without national consensus
amounts to a civilian coup," he said.

"We will oppose all forms of coups. The national council of the MDC will
meet in the new year to decide on what course of action to take," he added.

Analysts say the drive to prolong Mugabe's term of office would hurt
Zimbabwe's chances of turning around an economy deep in recession, a crisis
many blame on his policies.

Political commentators see the opposition, riven by divisions over how to
confront Mugabe, as currently too weak to challenge the veteran Zimbabwe
leader who has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1980.

But pressure group National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), which advocates
and holds regular protests to press for a new constitution, also vowed to
fight what the opposition has called the work of a dictatorship.

"Our position is clear, there should be a new constitution before any future
elections," Lovemore Madhuku, NCA chairman said. "We will be organising
protests starting in January to press for constitutional reforms," he added.

Critics say Mugabe has used tough policing to keep the opposition at bay,
with the police and at times the military cracking down on opposition and
trade union protests.

Mugabe says there is consensus in ZANU-PF to "harmonise" presidential and
parliamentary polls in 2010 and that the resolution would be implemented.

Critics charge that Mugabe's policies, including the seizure of white-owned
commercial farms for blacks, have hit the economy, forcing the country to
import food from countries it used to feed. Mugabe in turn charges that
former colonial power Britain is fronting a Western campaign of sabotage to
unseat him. He has vowed his government would not collapse under pressure.
(Additional reporting by Nelson Banya)

Statement by IMF Staff

IMF

Statement by IMF Staff at the Conclusion of the 2006 Article IV Consultation
Discussions in Zimbabwe
Press Release No. 06/282
December 18, 2006
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff mission that recently visited
Harare issued the following statement today:

"A staff mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visited Zimbabwe
during December 4-16, 2006 to conduct the Article IV Consultation
discussions. We would like to thank Zimbabwe's economic team led by Minister
of Finance, Herbert Murerwa, Minister of Economic Development, Rugare Gumbo,
and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor, Gideon Gono, as well as private
sector participants and members of the civil society for useful discussions
and for facilitating our work.

"The discussions focused on the economic situation and policies to stabilize
the economy and achieve sustained growth and low inflation, which would lay
the foundation for improving the living standards of all Zimbabweans. The
mission noted the deteriorating economic conditions since its last visit in
January/February this year. Inflation has accelerated while shortages of
food, fuel, basic consumer goods, and essential agricultural inputs remain
acute. Progress on structural reforms has been limited and uncertainty over
property rights continues to depress investor confidence. Although recent
data on social indicators are not available, high inflation and falling
output are likely to have polarized incomes and increased poverty.

"As emphasized in previous rounds of discussions last year and
January/February this year, Zimbabwe's economic crisis calls for the urgent
implementation of a comprehensive policy package comprising several mutually
reinforcing actions. Without a fundamental change in policies, prospects are
for a continued deterioration in the economic situation.

"A crucial element of this package will be strong fiscal adjustment. The
inclusion in the 2007 budget of substantial quasi-fiscal activity reported
by the RBZ, such as the provision of subsidized foreign exchange to the
public sector and price supports to commodity exporters, marks a positive
step towards increasing transparency. Going forward, the key will be first
to ensure that sharp cuts are made in real terms in fiscal spending,
including quasi-fiscal activity previously undertaken by the RBZ. This will
mean that the government should aim to stay within the current 2007 budget
envelope. Second, fiscal expenditure needs to be prioritized, in particular
to ensure adequate food imports, an urgent improvement in health
infrastructure, and well-targeted social safety nets to protect the poor and
address the needs of those affected by HIV/AIDS and "Operation
Murambatsvina".

"Strong fiscal adjustment will need to be supported by complementary
policies, in particular: (i) unifying all official exchange rates and moving
the unified rate towards market-determined levels; (ii) removing
restrictions on current account payments and transfers; (iii) liberalizing
price controls and imposing hard budget constraints on public enterprises,
whose losses have been largely responsible for quasi-fiscal activities; and
(iv) establishing a strong monetary anchor, with the RBZ focusing on its
core function of ensuring overall price stability.

"Achieving sustained economic growth and low inflation will require
comprehensive structural reforms and a strengthening of governance over the
medium term. Such reforms include public enterprise and civil service
reform; tax and expenditure management reform; agriculture sector reforms;
and the strengthening of private property rights.

"Finally, we encourage the authorities to improve relations with the
international community in order to support the government's reform policies
and facilitate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. We hope
the authorities will work more closely with the IMF to design and implement
a policy package that would help achieve macroeconomic stability and growth
and improve the welfare of the Zimbabwean people.

"The 2006 Article IV discussions with Zimbabwe are expected to be concluded
by the IMF's Executive Board by March 2007."

Zinwa Cuts Harare's Water Supply By 40 Percent

The Herald (Harare)

December 18, 2006
Posted to the web December 18, 2006

Elita Chikwati
Harare

HARARE residents should brace for another round of serious water shortages
following moves by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority to cut supply to
the city by 40 percent owing to the critical shortage of an essential
treatment chemical.

In a statement, Zinwa said Harare residents would be subjected to
interruptions in supply due to the erratic delivery of aluminium sulphate by
a local chemical company which had been affected by a major plant breakdown.

Last night, Zinwa received 24 tonnes of aluminium sulphate which lasts for
only five hours.

The water authority requires 130 tonnes of the chemical a day.

Zinwa, which is facing financial constraints, recently increased tariffs
from $8 to $130 per cubic metre.

Officials at Zinwa held an emergency meeting yesterday to find ways of
averting the crisis.

"As things stand, the authority is now unable to plan for its water
production and distribution schedules due to the subsequent unpredictable
deliveries," said Mr Nicholas Mukarakate, the Zinwa spokesman.

"We are not shutting down, but we have reduced production by 40 percent."

Aluminium sulphate is one of the key chemicals used in the treatment process
and no safe, potable water can be produced without its application in the
process.

Mr Mukarakate said interruptions would continue until the chemical company
delivered adequate supplies of aluminium sulphate.

He said the company had assured Zinwa that it would increase deliveries but
it was unclear whether the amount would be enough to alleviate the situation
as figures had not been given.

"This means water supply would be a problem until the issue is solved," said
Mr Mukarakate.

The city has for the greater part of this year faced water supply problems
due to the shortage of treatment chemicals, forcing residents to draw water
from unprotected sources, exposing them to diseases.

Last month, several pumps at the Morton Jaffray Waterworks had to be
switched off, leaving a limited number operating to allow for the available
scarce chemicals to go around.

Zinwa, which is responsible for bulk water production and selling it to
Harare, has also on a number of occasions failed to secure treatment
chemicals following suppliers' demands of cash upfront in reaction to the
authority mounting outstanding debts.

State agents disrupt WOZA meeting in Bulawayo

      By Tererai Karimakwenda
      18 December 2006

      State agents pretending to fit in among members of Women Of Zimbabwe
Arise disrupted a meeting on Saturday in Bulawayo. Unfortunately for the
agents WOZA members recognized some of them, especially one named Abraham
Dapi who is known to be a PISI officer. About 170 members had gathered to
reflect on the Harare launch of the Peoples' Charter at Parliament.

      WOZA coordinator Jenni Williams said Dapi tried to disguise himself by
reading a copy of 'The Zimbabwean'. Yet he had testified for the state after
the women were arrested for demonstrating against Operation Sunrise. At the
time Dapi said the women had not been beaten enough. Williams told us the
meeting was almost over when the agents forced their way in with some
latecomers so they decided to disperse before any problems started.

      As the women left the Bulawayo church that hosted the meeting, Jenni
and Magodonga Mahlangu were followed by the agents. Jenni said it seemed as
though they were attempting to steer them towards a nearby police station.
So the women took no chances. With the help of WOZA security details they
monitored the agents' movements reporting them to the pair. Eventually they
lost them.

      According to Jenni, the police stole money from 2 MOZA members who
they approached when the meeting had dispersed. Jenni added that police have
been stealing money and property from innocent civilians for a long time
now, particularly at roadblocks. She fears that this type of theft will
escalate during the holiday season. Calling it "theft with impunity", Jenni
said the police officers are usually young suspected graduates from the
youth militia camps. Since the government has no money to pay them, they are
allowed to get away with stealing and harassing people.

      SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news

The pen's no friend of Bob

 

15 December 2006 BOOK OF THE WEEK By Richard Steyn

Geoff Nyarota is a journalist of rare dedication and courage. For 20 years - as editor of the Chronicle, Financial Gazette and Daily News in Zimbabwe - he tried to keep his readers informed and expose corruption in the face of daunting circumstances. As a teacher and Zanu sympathiser during the war of liberation, Nyarota suffered first at the hands of Ian Smith's security forces - notably a black detective now on the board of Air Zimbabwe - before joining the Rhodesian Printing & Publishing Co as a cadet reporter shortly before independence. A few years later he found himself in his birthplace, Mutare, as Zimbabwe's youngest newspaper editor, and soon after was put in charge of Bulawayo's Chronicle. Nyarota's editorship of the Chronicle was distinguished by the newspaper's brave uncovering of the Willowvale scandal, a car-selling scam involving many senior government ministers. The exposé was lapped up by the reading public, but not by the political establishment or his proprietors, who kicked the author upstairs to a PR post back in Harare. AGAINST THE GRAIN Memoirs of a Zimbabwean Newsman By Geoffrey Nyarota352 pagesZebra PressR184 A less stellar performance by the Chronicle, on the author's own admission, was its coverage of the Gukurahundi massacres in Matabeleland carried out by Mugabe's Korean-trained Five Brigade. In mitigation, Nyarota points out that his reporters were banned from the operational area and any information about the killings was ruthlessly suppressed. Moreover, after Mugabe's conciliatory attitude towards whites on coming to power, few in the media, the diplomatic corps or foreign chancelleries were inclined to doubt his seemingly good intentions. After a short spell at the independent Financial Gazette, whose popularity with readers led to his dismissal by Zanu-fearing management, followed by a spell of self-imposed exile, Nyarota returned to Zimbabwe to launch the Daily News, whose "going against the grain" after Mugabe launched his land invasions so infuriated the ruling party they attempted to assassinate the editor before bombing the newspaper's plant. Mugabe's egregious spin doctor Jonathan Moyo declared on national television that "the Daily News has become a threat to national security and must be silenced, once and for all". In due course the paper was banned, after management had fallen foul of a legal technicality. Now living in the US, Nyarota has written an absorbing account of a career in journalism that has brought him the admiration of his peers worldwide, but exile from his home country. It contains many salutary lessons - chief of which is that in Africa a watchful press is not enough to keep a country on the straight and narrow. Unless the authorities, from the judiciary down, are willing to support and act upon the exposure of corruption, the pen is generally defenceless against the sword. In a final chapter, the author reflects bitterly on Zimbabwe's catastrophic decline into poverty over the past 25 years, observing that Mugabe's revolution, which began with such promise, is now devouring its own children. He quotes with ironic approval the verdict of the now disaffected Moyo on Mugabe: "He has become synonymous with what's wrong with Zimbabwe. He has become the symbol of utter failure and breathtaking ineptitude."

 

 

 

 

Zimbabwean president appoints new Politburo members

People's Daily

      Zimbabwe President and first secretary of the ruling Zanu-PF party
Robert Mugabe has appointed four new members to the Politburo, the party's
supreme decision- making body, the state media reported on Sunday.

      The four are Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development
Minister Ignatius Chombo, Policy Implementation Minister of State Webster
Shamu, Masvingo senator Dzikamai Mavhaire and Gutu senator Vitalis
Zvinavashe, New Ziana reported.

      Mugabe announced the appointments at the end of the ninth Zanu- PF
People's annual conference which began at Goromonzi High School, Mashonaland
East, on Friday.

      Meanwhile, 18 new members were also co-opted into the central
committee to replace those who had died or defected to other parties.

      Source: Xinhua

For Many HIV-Positive In Zimbabwe, Immune System Tests Unaffordable

VOA

      By Ndimyake Mwakalyelye
      Washington, DC
      18 December 2006

Zimbabwe authorities say they are concerned that the high cost of diagnostic
tests for people living with the AIDS virus is hampering efforts to mitigate
the pandemic.

Machines used to measure the level of CD-4 or T-cells in HIV-positive
patients are in short supply, and scarce foreign exchange is required to
purchase the materials used in the test. Health Minister David Parirenyatwa
told the United Nations news service IRIN that the shortage of machines and
scarcity of materials has driven up costs.

CD4 cells provide a measure of the strength of the immune system, how far
the AIDS virus has progressed, and helps predict the risk of complications
and infection.

Health officials are concerned that the lack of testing capacity will lead
to guesswork by medical workers who must decide if antiretroviral drug
therapy is needed.  A CD-4 count under 200 usually means antiretroviral drug
therapy is needed to forestall the onset of full-blown AIDS. Those with a
count over 200 may not yet need ARVs.

CD-4 testing is recommended every six months for those who carry the AIDS
virus, but the tests now cost anywhere from Z$25,000 to Z$50,000
US$100-200).

Reporter Ndimyake Mwakalyelye of Studio 7 For Zimbabwe sought more on the
cost-crunch in CD-4 testing from Elaisha Chidombwe, executive director of
the Zimbabwe AIDS Prevention and Support Organization and physician Douglas
Gwatidzo, who is the chairman of the Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights.

Mugabe's 'job for life' plan is thwarted by his party

The Scotsman

ROBERT Mugabe's plan to make himself Zimbabwe's president for life hit an
unexpected snag when a group of disgruntled delegates at a conference of his
ruling ZANU-PF party refused to endorse the idea.

Some senior officials even want Mr Mugabe, 82 - blamed for causing
Zimbabwe's worsening economic crisis - to stand down, according to reports
yesterday.

Delegates did not formally adopt a motion that would have let him extend his
stay in power by two years until at least 2010, as had been expected.

Some officials loyal to Joyce Mujuru, the vice-president, refused to support
it and the conference only "recommended" that presidential elections be
postponed. The issue will be referred to Mr Mugabe's Soviet-style central
committee, but it is unlikely to stand in his way.

Mugabe doesn't want to leave Zanu in "shambles" - even though it already is!

From: "David Coltart"
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 3:43 PM
Subject: Mugabe doesn't want to leave Zanu in "shambles" - even though it
already is!

Friends,

This is a truly remarkable piece which appeared in the Herald on Friday. Our
dear leader has clearly lost control of his own party. It is unprecedented
for this type of anguish to be published on the front page of the Herald.

This, added to the revelation that the dear leader failed in his objective
of passing a resolution extending his term of office over the weekend, is
some of the strongest evidence yet that Zanu PF is in deep trouble. It has
in fact been fatally wounded (as I said in my end of year letter last year)
– it is not dead yet and will probably linger around for quite a while yet –
but the powerful monolith we have known for over 40 years will never be the
same again.

Now the opposition (in the widest sense of that term) must get its act
together and prepare for the final phase of the struggle to bring democracy
to Zimbabwe.

Regards,

David

No vacancies in Presidium, says President

By Caesar Zvayi

ZANU-PF members should stop jockeying for non-existent posts in the
Presidium as unbridled ambitions have left the Presidency wondering whether
the party will survive in the future, President Mugabe has said.

The President said this in his address to the 68th Ordinary Session of the
Zanu-PF Central Committee in Harare yesterday. The meeting preceded the
ruling party’s Annual National People’s Conference which begins in Goromonzi
today.

"Succession issue . . . ndakati kuna vaMsika imiwe nyaya yesuccession iyi
yavakutiparira ngozi. Stop it, ko what’s the problem, hapana mavacancies
acho, aripo here?

"Where are the vacancies? VaMsika vakandiudza kuti ah vamwe varikutoda kuti
ndife. Aiwa let’s not be over-ambitious, the time will come when vacancies
will exist, but now there are no vacancies, none at all.

"Let’s work together for the party and ensure that we, isu, here are the
inheritors, the christened inheritors of ilifa which others have died for
vatakaisa kumaheroes’ acre kupi nekupi, so that ilifa must be passed on
properly to the future generations.

"Zvino tavakuvamba kuva nemadoubts as to whether the party will survive in
future, hameno," he said, amid applause from the packed hall.

The President’s remarks come in the wake of concerns he raised in an
exclusive interview with Omni Television of Canada that it would be improper
for him to retire at the expense of leaving the ruling party in shambles.

The President, who has encouraged open debate on his succession, also
slammed infighting in the higher echelons of the party saying recent
developments that saw high-ranking party members dragging each other to
court before exhausting internal grievance procedures were disturbing.

"When leader fights leader, leader quarrels leader, and it becomes not just
a matter for the party, a matter requiring that we sit down and resolve it
within the party, but allow matters (to) have us challenge each other in
court, then something is wrong, totally wrong.

"What do we want to achieve within the party? "What are we showing the
people?

"What are we demonstrating to the people, that we are still one or divided?
That we are still together or apart? That we are still united as comrades or
divided as enemies?

"So what are we doing at the top? Is there no machinery within the party to
resolve our differences?

"Have we tried our machinery, party machinery to resolve the differences,
before getting out, going to share it with strangers, people who have
nothing to do with Zanu-PF, with us?

"'But when you are two leaders in a province, who are setting the pace for
the people, leaders the people look up to for guidance, and you are seen now
fighting each other, are you still leading the people properly, or
misleading them? So, stop that nonsense!

"This going to court, damages — damages dzei? A colleague has offended you .
. .then talk to him and get him to apologise. Do you have to go to court for
damages, uthanda imali, kuda mari ikoko? Aiwa, what is happening now is a
departure, a departure from what we learnt as we fought the revolutionary
struggle."

The President said the ruling party had the machinery and procedures to
resolve grievances, and better still members who disagreed with each other
should sit down and talk about it, get the offender to apologise and honour
the mandate they were given by the people to keep the party intact.

The President’s remarks come in the wake of recent reports that the ruling
party’s national secretary for legal affairs, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, is
suing national chairman Cde John Nkomo for damages for alleged defamation in
a case related to the infamous Tsholotsho saga.

The President also slammed party members who leak information to online
publications and privately owned anti-Government newspapers saying such
practices compromised the party.

"The papers, newspapers (laughs), there is information, sorry,
misinformation, deliberate from our enemies, (put) daily on the Internet,
yatinoisa paInternet or kunanaGazette, Independent and so on, and we try to
put it in a way that disguises it a bit, but it’s obvious that it’s a
colleague of ours who has written it or sent the information to the
Independent or the Standard. Why do we behave like that?

"What do we want our party to become at the end of the day?"

Turning to this year’s conference theme — "Consolidating Independence
through Land, Mining Reforms and Empowerment", the President said to achieve
this, Zimbabweans should shun vices like corruption, black market foreign
currency dealings, nepotism and bribery that detract from the turnaround
programme.

"Tose tinoda mari, sonke siyathanda imali ehe, but there are proper ways of
getting it and improper ways of getting it."

The President hailed the police for their effective implementation of
Operation Chikorokoza Chapera/Isitsheketshi Sesiphelile.

"We declared in Government that time has come to stop gold panning that has
been taking place in our country."

He expressed concern at reports that some senior Government and party
members were involved in the chaotic diamond rush in Marange, saying it was
imperative that discipline becomes the hallmark of the drive to indigenise
the mining sector.

"It is disheartening to see the chaotic situation that has characterised the
mining of diamonds in the Marange area, and now we hear more diamonds have
been found in Buhera and Mutasa.

"Some of the behaviour, allegedly incited by senior party and Government
officials, provides fodder for our enemies who are ever ready to pounce on
the smallest happening that appears to tarnish us."

The President warned those aspiring to enter the mining sector not to do so
for the sake of it, saying the industry was capital intensive, and was not
for those with limited resources.

"There would be partnerships, we shall facilitate in order for them (people)
to succeed in mining, mining is an area which has the highest capital
requirements, and its highly capital intensive and you can’t just rush into
that area with little money. You need to buy big machines.

"If you are going to be harnessed by European companies which are already in
it, which we are fighting against, then we will be fighting against you as
well, ndozvamunoda here izvozvo?"

He said land would occupy pride of place in deliberations at the conference
to underline its importance.

Zimbabwe, he said, would regain its breadbasket status if farmers plan
adequately for each season, and produce huge quantities of grain.

"We have, I hope, learnt the precious lesson that farming can never be an
easy pastime. Farming is a serious business enterprise that needs the same
principles to apply as in the case of other business enterprises."

The President said the inputs support the Government availed in the
transitional phase of land redistribution was only a stop-gap measure and
farmers should purchase the required inputs before the onset of the season.

Turning to the third sub-theme, empowerment, the President said the
Government had adopted an ongoing policy of empowering the people, and
called on the leadership to embrace and not go against it.

"When Government says this is the policy, please do not interfere with the
policy; you are the leaders, you should sustain that policy, and get out of
its way so it can be implemented."

He urged party members not to sit on their laurels even though the two MDCs
have fallen flat on their faces, saying party cadres should instead
galvanise support to prepare and win the forthcoming Chiredzi South
by-election and the 20 local government wards that are still to be
contested.

The President thanked Zimbabweans for their resilience in the face of
economic hardships, and challenged the leadership to ensure that
profiteering businesses were brought to book, if need be.

"They set up new prices, and day-by-day the prices are going up, and also
they have shown us to be weak in safeguarding the interests of consumers,
and we are looking at how we can strengthen our own position."

Zimbabwe's media faces self regulation

VOA

      By Sithandekile Mhlanga
      Washington
      18 December 2006

The country's media will have a self-regulatory body as of january 26 - the
date now set for the launch of the media council of Zimbabwe, whose 11
members will be elected shortly before that launch.

How much power Harare will relinquish to the new council is not entirely
clear. But the Ministry of Information was involved in talks to establish
the panel, which was promoted by the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe, the
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists and the Media Institute of Southern Africa.

Studio seven's Sithandekile Mhlanga spoke with Jonathan Maphenduka, a
veteran journalist who resigned early this year from the Media and
Information Commission - hostile to the creation of the Media Council -
saying that the MIC only served the interests of the government.

Letter from America

      By Dr Stanford Mukasa
      18 December 2006

      In today's Letter from America Dr. Stan Mukasa compares the Kenyan
political experience to what possibly can happen to Zimbabwe.
      ..........................

      Many Zimbabweans will be inspired by the courage and resilience shown
by the Women of Zimbabwe Arise members.

      The fact that WOZA was at last able to make it to Parliament and
declared their People's Charter was a milestone in the struggle against the
Mugabe regime.

      But the struggle is far from over. The question Zimbabweans are asking
is: How and when will the Mugabe regime end?

      One Zimbabwean remarked that, while they saw some light at the end of
the tunnel it appears the tunnel is very long.

      It is very difficult to predict how Mugabe and ZANU PF's grip on power
will at end.

      However the Kenyan experience might offer some insight.

      Kenya and Zimbabwe have a number of similarities that make their
comparisons very tempting in predicting future directions for Zimbabwe.

      On December 12 last week Kenya celebrated its 43rd independence
anniversary, dubbed Jamhuri Day.

      President Mwai Kibaki took the salute as police and army marching
bands walked past in perfect harmony.

      There was thunderous applause from the public when Kenyan air force
jets made acrobatic stunts as they flew past at supersonic speeds and
deafening sounds.

      Later, President Kibaki was flanked by his army chief of staff as he
rode at the back of a spotlessly clean land rover and inspecting a guard of
honor that stood at attention in reverent salute to the head of state.

      In its 43 years of independence Kenya has been ruled by three
presidents. This is nearly twice the number of years Zimbabwe has been
independent.

      How Kenya moved politically from 1963 to 2006 can be a textbook case
in understanding how Zimbabwe is likely to progress from now on.

      As I said earlier Kenya and Zimbabwe have many similarities.

      Zimbabwe and Kenya had a large and more permanent white population
both during and after the colonial era.

      Both countries went through stiff resistance to independence from the
settler colonial white populations who had both political and economic
power.

      The two countries also experienced an armed struggle for independence,
with the Mau Mau in Kenya and ZANU/ZAPU in Zimbabwe.

      At independence both countries had charismatic leaders, Jomo Kenyatta
and Robert Mugabe, who swayed people's emotions through their power of
speaking.

      Affectionately known as Mzee, Kenyatta's fly whisk philosophy was
Harambee meaning "Let us pull forward together."

      The period immediately after independence in both countries saw the
emergence of authoritarian rule.

      Both Kenyatta and Mugabe had a very strong agenda for a one party
state. Kenyatta's ruling party was Kenya African National Union or KANU.
Mugabe led the Zimbabwe African National Union or ZANU.

      In both countries the opposition movement suffered acts of harassment,
intimidation, leading to arrests, torture and deaths of opposition
supporters.

      Economically, both countries started on a sound footing. They both
practiced Capitalism. And still do.

      Kenyatta openly and publicly declared this capitalistic philosophy. In
Tanzania they used to describe Kenyan Capitalism as a country where "man
eats man." Kenyans responded by describing Tanzania's Socialism as "a
country where man eats nothing."

      Mugabe, on the other hand, openly declared Socialism, but practiced
Capitalism.

      In the Kenya experience Kenyatta died in office. He was replaced by
Daniel arap Moi who had been his deputy.

      Moi was more of a side kick or a shadow to Kenyatta than anything
else.

      Incidentally Moi came from a minority ethnic group. Imagine a future
president of Zimbabwe coming from the Kalanga in Plumtree.

      In a bid to be his own man, Moi introduced his philosophy of Nyayo
meaning" follow the leader." He regimented Kenya to his harsh and
authoritarian brand of leadership.

      However, Moi did not enjoy Kenyatta's charisma. But he ruled with an
iron fist even though there were isolated pockets of liberalism that in some
ways made Moi different from Kenyatta.

      For many years, attempts to defeat Moi at the elections failed largely
because the opposition movement was not united.

      Where efforts were made to form a united front such attempts often
faltered like drunken men trying to create a human pyramid at a circus,
amidst constant bickering among the opposition parties.

      This led to the opposition movement fielding rival candidates. As a
result, Moi was re-elected several times, even after the majority of Kenyans
had voted against him!

      What eventually brought Moi and KANU, which had dominated Kenya
politics since independence, to an unceremonious end?

      There were three significant events. One of them happened at the last
minute!

      First, Moi conceded after pressure not to seek re-election.

      Secondly, the opposition movement managed to get its act together and
form one united front. It was called the National Rainbow Coalition or NARC.
They also filed one candidate, Mwai Kibaki, who, incidentally, had been a
member of the ruling KANU until his resignation.

      Thirdly, a large group of Kenyan MPs defected on the eve of elections
from the ruling KANU and joined the opposition. The MPs had opposed Moi's
decision to impose Kenyatta's son, Uhuru, as the candidate for KANU in the
next elections.

      In the next elections NARC roared to victory. Moi's anointed successor
was battered. He lost and conceded defeat.

      This historic event signaled the birth of a new era in Kenyan
politics. It was era that, for the first time in Kenya's history, KANU was
dumped into the dustbin of history.

      The post- KANU Kenya enjoyed wide-scale civil liberties and human
rights. Free primary education was reintroduced and the new NARC government
of Kibaki actively launched a campaign to rid Kenya of corruption in
government.

      But several years after that promising start some people say its de
javu again in Kenya. The momentum towards the ideals that Kenyans had hoped
for when they elected NARC appears to be slowing down.

      In fact NARC has split again. Kibaki purged from government coalition
members of NARC. These have now formed a new party called Orange Democratic
Movement or ODM.

      While Kenya has not regressed to the level of the Kenyatta-Moi era
there are signs that NARC has not lived up to its promises.

      Kenya's experience can, in some sense, is a textbook case for
Zimbabwe.

      There is signs age wise that, despite efforts to extend Mugabe's term
of office, or even make him life president, his term of office could
abruptly end the way Kenyatta's ended.

      Whoever replaces Mugabe could, like Moi of Kenya, maintain the
authoritarian tradition in Zimbabwe.
      However, considering the different economic circumstances under which
such a changeover could take place, Mugabe successor may initially try to
bring in some democracy, if only to attract investments and confidence in
the economy.

      The leadership changeover in Kenya took place when the country had a
relatively stable and prosperous economy.

      In Zimbabwe the situation will be vastly different. Whoever takes over
from Mugabe will be presiding over a sinking Titanic.

      In the short term, Zimbabweans are likely to experience a period of
unprecedented civil liberties as the new post Mugabe leader tries to court
the affection and support of the people.

      It seems likely that, barring some unforeseen circumstances, Mugabe's
successor from within ZANU PF will lead the country possibly for many years.
Kenyans never imagined that after the death of Kenyatta in 1977 they would
be stuck with KANU's Moi for another 20 years!

      Putting aside when and how Mugabe will step down, the actual change
from ZANU PF political dominance may occur if two events take place.

      The first is if the opposition parties form a united front that will
field one candidate to avoid the risk of splitting votes. The assumption
here is that elections will be free and fair. This will be a necessary but
insufficient condition for the eventual overthrow of Mugabe's successor as
well as dislodging ZANU PF from its dominance of Zimbabwe's political
theatre.

      The second is if there is massive defection from ZANU PF leadership.
One is assuming a major policy division within ZANU PF. Mugabe's choice of
Joyce Mujuru to succeed him could be grounds for such a massive defection,
given Mujuru's lack of popular support among the rank and file of the top
ZANU PF leadership. But Mugabe could make other unpopular decisions that
might well be the last straw in political and ideological ferment within
ZANU PF.

      Some people have argued that the economy might eventually bring Mugabe
down. The fact of the matter is Mugabe has cleverly manipulated the
situation. As the economy continues its free fall Mugabe has designed a
lifeboat strategy to save his cronies while sacrificing the rest of the
Zimbabweans to the ravages of the economy. Zimbabweans are having to fend
for themselves as Mugabe and his top henchman watch from a sheltered life
boat that is floating the troubled seas of Zimbabwe, hoping against hope
that rescue will be forthcoming.

      Given the Kenyan experience, and adding to other factors that are
unique to Zimbabwe, there is reason to believe that Zimbabweans are in for a
long haul in the struggle to get rid of not only Mugabe but ZANUPF.

      The Zimbabwean opposition movement must come to grips with the fact
that, while preparing for any unexpected shifts of political fortune in
their favor there is a real likelihood that it may be years before real
freedom comes.

      Strategies for confronting Mugabe must be both short-term and
long-term. If Zimbabwean opposition can get its act together they could
right now be planning for both short and long -term resolution to the
conflict.

      SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news

Six stolen Zimbabwean antiques recovered in Poland

People's Daily

      Six antiques that were stolen from the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in
June this year have all been recovered in Poland, The Sunday Mail reported.

      An official at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, who preferred
anonymity, was quoted as saying that the antiques had been recovered in good
condition. She could not say when the antiques would be returning home.

      "We are delighted and impressed with the people who managed to trace
the artifacts. The gallery will definitely reinforce security measures so
that there will not be a repeat of such thefts," she said.

      "This will send a message to world dealers that we will do all we can
to recover any stolen antiques. Apparently, we are targeted by world dealers
as we have the most valuable antiques that bring in large sums of money when
sold outside the country," said she.

      According to the Museum Security Network website, a seller in Poland
offered the stolen antiques to a collector in the USA five weeks ago.

      The collector immediately contacted Ton Cremers, an international
security consultant, because the objects were similar to the ones published
on the MSN website.

      The authorities were informed and the Polish police arrested the
thief.

      Cremers said this is one great example where international cooperation
managed to beat a cross-border criminal.

      He said that the assistance came solely from the Africa security
network, which was set up to curb theft of antiques in museums.

      Source: Xinhua