Harare Frustrates UN Bid To Send Special Envoy On Deepening Crisis

http://www.voanews.com

By Ntungamili Nkomo & Blessing Zulu
Washington DC
18 December 2008

Yet another impasse is developing in the Zimbabwe crisis, this time between
President Robert Mugabe and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,
who told journalists Harare has indicated "the timing is not right" for Ban
to dispatch a special envoy to the country to assess conditions including a
runaway cholera epidemic.

In a news conference at the U.N. on Wednesday, Ban told reporters he had
spoken at length with Mr. Mugabe last month at a summit in Doha, Qatar,
during which Mr. Mugabe said he would receive Assistant Secretary-General
Haile Menkerios in Harare.

Ban said he told Mr. Mugabe at that time that the country "stands on the
brink of economic, social and political collapse" and that "things needed to
change, urgently, and that I and the United Nations stand ready to help. The
president agreed to receive my envoy, Haile Menkerios. Now we are told that
the timing is not right."

In the past month the country has been engulfed by a cholera epidemic which
experts blame on the breakdown in public water and sanitation systems that
has deprived the population of reliable, clean water and tainted alternative
sources with deadly bacteria. Harare's largest state hospitals remain closed
following a walkout by health sector workers.

The World Health Organization said the cholera epidemic has claimed 1,111
lives, a surge of 133 in the past two days. Some 20,581 cases of the disease
have been reported.

For perspective on this standoff between the Harare government and the U.N.,
reporter Ntungamili Nkomo spoke with political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya, who
said Harare does not want a top-level U.N. official to be on the spot to
document rights violations.

ZANU-PF information committee member Chris Mutsvangwa, a former ambassador
to China, told reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that
Menkerios's visit is premature as Harare is in the process of forming a
government of national unity.

Mutsvangwa said Mr. Mugabe has written to opposition leader Morgan
Tsvangirai, founder of the Movement for Democratic Change and prime
minister-designate in the government that was proposed in a Sept. 15
power-sharing pact, inviting him to take up his office.

Tsvangirai spokesman George Sibotshiwe said his boss has received no letter
of invitation to assume the functions of prime minister. Rival MDC formation
leader Arthur Mutambara and other officials in his wing of the party said
they had no knowledge of an invitation.

Meanwhile, the political environment has become toxic amidst continuing
abductions of MDC and civic activists - three more Tsvangirai formation
members were seized Wednesday.

On Thursday the Tsvangirai MDC formation moved a motion in parliament to
censure the government for what it is calling a political crackdown, and
over the government's claims that MDC militants are receiving military
training in Botswana - a charge the MDC and Botswana have dismissed along
with South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, currently the chairman of
the Southern African Development Community, which is investigating the
charges.

The alleged shooting of Air Force chief Perence Shiri last Saturday boosted
tensions forcing MDC activists and even members of parliament to go to
ground.

Chief whip Innocent Gonese of the Tsvangirai MDC formation said the
government is making false accusations to prepare the ground for declaring a
state of emergency.

Zimbabwe releases $10 billion note

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

Posted to the web: 18/12/2008 19:25:11
ZIMBABWE'S central bank announced it was introducing $1 billion, $5 billion
and $10 billion notes on Friday as the country struggles to cope with the
world's highest inflation and crippling currency shortages.

Only last Friday, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe put in circulation a $500 000
note, together with a 200 million dollar bill "for the convenience of the
public".

A week before that, the RBZ introduced a 100 million dollar bill that at the
time was worth US$14. Three weeks later, it's worth less than 50 cents.

Zimbabwe's highest inflation was last estimated in July at 231 million per
cent but is now believed to be much higher.

The central bank struggles to print money fast enough to keep pace with
prices that rise several times in a day.

Due to currency shortages, cash can now only be withdrawn once a week from
banks. Ordinary people can take out 500 million dollars a week while
companies are permitted to withdraw 50 million dollars.

Winding queues in banks are commonplace in Zimbabwe as people take hours to
withdraw money which is still not enough to see them through the day, while
others sleep outside banks to get money the next day.

Once the region's breadbasket, the country is now battling widespread food
shortages while cholera has killed nearly 1000 people since late August,
according to the United Nations.

When Money Goes Down the Toilet

December 18, 2008, 2:25 pm

By Freakonomics

At around 231 million percent, Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation rate (which we’ve written about before) is currently the highest in the world.

Blog reader Ben Saltsman sent us this photo of a restroom sign in South Africa, which hints at one use for Zimbabwe’s severely devalued currency:

Photo: Eugine Baron

But is it cost-effective for Zimbabweans to use money instead of T.P.?

A roll of toilet paper costs about $1.50 U.S. dollars and has about 352 sheets per roll. That means each sheet is worth about US $.004, or 3,600 Zimbabwe dollars, according to OANDA.com.

So according to these calculations, using a ZWD 1,000 note in place of a piece of toilet paper is a wise financial decision.

'No trade on ZSE till next year'

http://www.herald.co.zw

Business Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Stock Exchange Committee has warned that there would be no
resumption of trade at the bourse for the remainder of this year, unless
stockbrokers' concerns are addressed.

It said stockbrokers would be unable to furnish the Securities Commission
with audited financials of networth by end of day today owing to costs
involved and professional resource availability at this time of the year.

On Tuesday, the commission warned that it would close all stockbroking firms
that fail to deliver the required statements by the deadline.

The statements were needed to allow resumption of trade on the stock market,
which has stalled for the third week running.

In a statement, the ZSE committee said it was engaged in negotiations with
the Securities Commission to resolve the trading impasse but expressed
optimism that the normal trading environment might return next year.

"Consultations with the relevant authorities are taking place and we are
hoping that a normal trading environment will be restored as soon as
practicable although this is unlikely to be achieved in the current month,"
said ZSE.

The Commission is now regulating operations at the local stock exchange,
taking over from the ZSE committee. Normal trading on the local bourse has
been negatively affected by the requirements for purchasing shares, which
came into effect on November 20 this year.

The requirements stipulate that all funding for such purchases must be
formally guaranteed by a bank at the highest level as a prerequisite to
accepting and processing all orders.

Having regard to the settlement risk attaching to this requirement, the
consequences of breach as well as the promotion of market integrity and
investor confidence, stockbrokers have been unable to play their usual
intermediary role of advising clients and taking orders.

"This situation is unlikely to change until settlement issues raised by the
requirements have been resolved," warned ZSE.

Commenting on the clearing and settlement issue, the ZSE said the normal
settlement cycles and order matching principles have not been working as
they would under normal circumstances due to a variety of challenges
encountered within the banking system.

"The issues are however being progressively untangled with satisfaction.

"Information on a variety of defaults is being compiled and these are being
actively investigated and all available evidence is being appraised
according to Securities Commission Act (24:25) section 65 and the Members
rules 10.01 and 11.01," said the committee.

Analysts argued the commission was also not in a position to summarily close
any stockbroking company because of standing Members Rules. This rests with
the ZSE Committee.

In accordance with the Securities Act, Section 118: Rules and Section 65 of
the same Act it will be observed that such Rules do not exist currently
under this Act and have therefore not been Gazetted as prescribed in Section
118(5 (a) and 6).

Recourse has therefore to be made to Section 121 (6) of the same Act.

This then means that "Any rules made by the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange in terms
of Section 94 of the repealed Act and in force immediately before the fixed
date shall be deemed to have been made by the ZSE in terms of Section 65 and
may be amended or repealed accordingly."

Their parents are dead but fresh water can help to save this generation from disease

Zimbabwe cholera epidemic toll rises above 1,000

http://www.timesonline.co.uk

December 18, 2008

Zimbabwe's devastating cholera epidemic has killed 1,111 people since it
began in early September and the World Health Organisation warned today that
its worst-case scenario of 60,000 people infected was a distinct
possibility.

The WHO reported that 133 more people died of the disease from Monday to
Wednesday and that clinics and hospitals - controlled mostly by Western aid
agencies - had dealt with 20,581 suspected cases.

The deaths shot up over the weekend when the disease hit the small town of
Chegutu, about 100 km (60 miles) west of Harare, with 121 people dying in a
matter of three days. "It was explosive," said a doctor who asked not to be
named. "There were bodies piling up on the floor. It was out of the Dark
Ages."

In neighbouring South Africa, the leader of the ruling African National
Congress (ANC), Jacob Zuma, ruled out any military intervention to resolve
the crisis in Zimbabwe.
When asked in an interview with South Africa's 702 Talk Radio whether he
favoured sending troops to Zimbabwe, Mr Zuma said: "No. Why military
intervention when there is no war? We should be pressurising them to see the
light."

The situation in Chegutu stabilised after aid agencies rushed to the scene
with disinfectants, saline drips, drugs and cleaning materials. But there is
new alarm over rapidly depleting supplies, with Medicins sans Frontieres and
the International Organisation of Migration warning that there was three
weeks' stock left.

Oxfam today launched an appeal for £4 million to help fight the epidemic.
The national mortality rate for Zimbabwean women was 33 years, said Peter
Mutoredzanwa, country director in Zimbabwe for Oxfam. "The tragic fact is
that unless we respond now, many people will not see their thirties."

The government continues to deny the extent of the epidemic. Today the main
headline in the state-controlled Herald was, "Cholera cases on the decline,"
and attributed the claim to the WHO. The organisation's actual words were:
"The devastating cholera epidemic continues to spread."

Harare continues to be the centre of the epidemic, with 224 deaths and 9 072
cases - three quarters of which were diagnosed in the last 14 days. The
situation has been exacerbated by a familiar Zimbabwean problem - a
worsening shortage of Zimbabwe dollar bank notes means medical staff cannot
withdraw their salaries from banks, so they cannot pay for transport to get
to work at hospitals and clinics.

Mr Mugabe's ZANU (PF) party is going ahead tomorrow with the start of its
annual conference, where 7,000 people are gathering in the small town of
Bindura, 80 km (50 miles) north of the capital for a three-day jamboree.

The conference is being held at a local university, which was closed in
October because water supplies had shut down and its toilets were blocked.
Many of the delegates are to be accommodated in a nearby school which is
also without water. ZANU (PF) spokesman Ephraim Masawi said delegates would
not be allowed to bring in their own food. They would be given bottled water
and water bowsers would be on hand.

"There's a very big risk of cholera breaking out at the conference," said a
doctor working in a cholera clinic. "The first thing the ministry of health
should be doing is discouraging big meetings."

Meanwhile, hopes for a breakthrough in the political deadlock to ease the
crisis remained as remote as ever, with ZANU (PF) and Morgan Tsvangirai's
Movement for Democratic Change firmly at loggerheads over the implementation
of a power-sharing agreement signed three months ago, despite a claim by
Soiuth African president Motlanthe that a break through was imminent this
week.

United States deputy assistant secretary of state Jendayi Frazer said: "We
certainly think that the power sharing deal is on life support. It's close
to dead."

To save Zimbabwe, South Africa must step up

http://www.csmonitor.com

Its clout is needed to help end the ruin Mugabe has wrought.
By John Hughes
from the December 19, 2008 edition

Provo, Utah - Once one of the most beautiful and bountiful lands in Africa,
Zimbabwe is fast becoming the worst disaster on the continent since Rwanda
and Darfur.

Under the ruthless rule of its despotic strongman, Robert Mugabe, its
economy is near collapse and its people live in fear, as the regime cracks
down on political opponents. Thousands have died of malnutrition and
starvation. So many have been buried in their remote villages that nobody
can be sure what is now the country's actual population.

Mismanagement of the economy has produced inflation of an incredible 231
million percent, a figure undoubtedly outdated even as this column is
written. The ordinary staples of existence are beyond reach of most
citizens.

The public health system is in dire straits. There is a shortage of fuel to
run the filtration pumps that provide clean water. Consequently, an outbreak
of cholera (which Mr. Mugabe at first declared nonexistent) has taken more
than 1100 lives, afflicted thousands more, and spread to neighboring
countries.

Foreign journalists are personae non grata and humanitarian workers from the
rest of the world are screened and often denied entry. Mugabe recently
denied access to former US President Jimmy Carter, former UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and Graca Machel, the wife of Nelson Mandela,
South Africa's legendary foe of apartheid.

Originally Southern Rhodesia (so named by white settlers after the British
Empire builder Cecil Rhodes), Zimbabwe achieved African majority rule in
1980 following a guerrilla war in which Mugabe played a significant role.
But over time, he dispossessed white farmers of their land and called for
them to leave the country. His reputation as an anticolonial freedom fighter
became sullied by rigged elections that kept him in power as an increasingly
dictatorial ruler, responsible for a failing economy and egregious human
rights abuses.

Though various world leaders, including those of the United States, Britain,
and France, have called for him to step down, he has defiantly resisted such
demands. This resistance has been met with international dismay but little
zeal for any effective tangible pressure.

The United Nations Security Council is due to take up the Zimbabwe situation
momentarily but Russia and China would surely veto any military action. Even
aside from such a veto, European powers such as Britain, France, Belgium,
Portugal, and Germany, which have a history of colonial rule in parts of
Africa, have little credibility or enthusiasm for a military foray into
Zimbabwe.

The United States is untainted by such a colonial background in Africa but
is still regarded with suspicion by a number of African countries.
Furthermore, Zimbabwe is of little strategic interest to Washington, which
has more pressing concerns in the Middle East and Asia.

What of African nations then? Some have deplored Mugabe's excesses, but none
seems eager to participate in an African expeditionary force marching upon
Harare (formerly Salisbury), the Zimbabwean capital, to depose a leader who
helped put the colonial power to rout, however badly he may have turned out.

Some hope for an internal coup. But although some of Mugabe's soldiers ran
amok recently, their motive was economic, not political. They were fed up
with high prices and their inability to cash paychecks from
currency-strapped banks. The government clamped down on the rioters, and has
since introduced a new 500 million dollar note, worth about US $10. Still,
the military ranks seem restless.

Which brings us to South Africa, the wealthiest and most developed country
on the African continent. Its influence is substantial. It has a vested
interest in developments in Zimbabwe, its neighbor to the north. Cholera has
spread across the border. A steady stream of refugees flees across the
border seeking food, shelter, and work.

Yet the South African government has been disgracefully remiss in not using
its substantial political and economic heft to end the humanitarian crisis
in Zimbabwe. Thabo Mbeki, the former president of South Africa, is the
designated African negotiator supposed to be bringing some harmony to
Zimbabwe in the shape of power-sharing between the Mugabe forces and
opposition political leaders who claim they have been swindled out of a
recent election victory. It is not going well.

The South African government itself includes former freedom fighters in its
ranks. Instead of demanding reform or the resignation of Mugabe, they have
been treating him gingerly, as one of them. He does not deserve it. Instead
of freedom, he has brought despair and tyranny to millions of Zimbabweans.

South Africa fought bravely for its own freedom. It should help Zimbabwe
achieve the same.

* John Hughes, a former editor of the Monitor, covered Africa for six years
for the paper. He is a professor of communications at Brigham Young
University.

No war on Zim - Zuma

http://news.iafrica.com

Article By:
Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:02
The ANC does not support military intervention in Zimbabwe, party president
Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

"The African National Congress will not support military intervention in
Zimbabwe because there is no war. The country's leaders just need to be
pressurised through talks on what should be done," Zuma said during a more
than an hour long interview on 702 Talk Radio.

"The ANC is not like Zanu PF," Zuma said. "We do not accept that leaders put
themselves first before the needs of the people."

Zuma, in response to a caller's suggestion, said the commemoration of
Umkhonto we Sizwe's 47th birthday on Tuesday was not to mobilise its members
for any foul play.

Asked if he had anything to do with the axing of former National Prosecution
Authority head Vusi Pikoli, Zuma said the decision was independently made by
President Kgalema Motlanthe.

"I do not instruct the president to do anything. He made the decision
himself," he said.

Speaking of his legal battles, Zuma confirmed reports that he was suing
cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, known as Zapiro, for R7-million.

This was after a Zapiro cartoon depicted Zuma unzipping his trousers over a
woman pinned to the ground wearing a robe marked Justice.

Zuma dismissed allegations that he visited convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik
every month.

Asked about his controversial comments on how to deal with crime and the
high number of pregnant school girls, Zuma said they were made to provoke
debate.

As South Africa moved towards the national elections next year, Zuma called
on tolerance as he spoke against the vandalism and burning of ANC flags and
those of other parties by political rivals.

"This is why the ANC is talking to its volunteers and members. Those who do
not listen will be punished," he said.

Sapa

Zanu-PF faces divisions

http://news.iafrica.com

Article By:
Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:59
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's ruling party holds its annual conference
on Friday facing internal divisions and intense global pressure over a
ruinous political crisis and a cholera epidemic.

With several leaders pressing him to step down, Mugabe (84), meets his top
officials with the first-ever loss of their parliamentary majority in
elections earlier this year hanging over them.

But The Voice, the official mouthpiece of the Zimbabwe African National
Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF), said the issue of succession would not be
on the agenda of the meeting, which was meant to "invigorate" the party.

The conference takes place in the small mining town of Bindura, some 80
kilometres northwest of the capital Harare.

Tackling divisions

Harare-based political commentator Caesar Zvayi said the conference was an
opportunity for Zanu-PF to patch up the divisions that characterised the
party's campaign, leading to its general election loss in March.

"At the conference Zanu-PF needs to tackle the divisions within the party,"
Zvayi told AFP.

"If one looks at the March elections results, Zanu-PF is not united as it
should be. There are problems of disgruntlement," he added.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled just ahead of Mugabe in
first-round presidential elections, but handed the presidency to his rival
when he pulled out of a second round, citing violence against his
supporters.

The two parties signed a power-sharing accord in September but are
deadlocked on its composition.

"Currently the country is operating without a substantive government, social
services such as health has been declared a state of disaster, other social
services are crumbling," said Zvayi.

Schoolchildren missed lessons for the better part of the year as teachers
went on strike to press for better pay; major hospitals closed due to
understaffing and a lack of essential drugs; and water and power supplies
have been erratic.

Mugabe to close ranks?

Mugabe will seek to close ranks in his party, after himself admitting faults
within Zanu-PF led to its embarassing election result.

"Our structures went to sleep, were in deep slumber in circumstances of an
all-out war," Mugabe said in May.

"They were passive, they were lethargic, ponderous, divided, diverted,
disinterested, demobilised or simply non-existent."

Unusually, the former liberation hero has also faced open dissent from some
elements of the military. Ordinary soldiers suffering the same stark
deprivations as civilians went on the rampage in Harare two weeks ago,
beating up currency dealers and looting shops.

Party spokesperson Ephraim Masawi said he expected the party to emerge
stronger after the conference, which has as its theme: "Let's stand united
in support of the party and the revolution."

He played down divisons in the party, arguing that the party's poor showing
in the March general elections was a result of complacency.

"We have always been united," he told AFP. "The major problem was that we
underestimated the strength of the opposition."

Fresh elections?

Takavafira Zhou, a political scientist at Masvingo State University said:
"Zanu-PF has a challenge on how to proceed assuming the MDC pulls out of
this power sharing agreement."

Mugabe has threatened fresh elections if the two parties fail to reach
agreement.

"The conference will also have to deal with the issue of divisions within
the party, there is also a possibility of PF-Zapu severing ties with Zanu-PF
and intra-party protest," Zhou said.

PF-Zapu was a former opponent of Zanu-PF, led by Mugabe rival Joshua Nkomo,
which formed the country's first ever unity government in 1987.

"One way or the other, they will have to deal with the issue of succession
given that Mugabe has hinted that there might be elections," said Zhou.

AFP

'We won't arrest Tsvangirai,' Zimbabwe government promises

http://www.earthtimes.org

Posted : Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:54:06 GMT
Author : DPA

Harare - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's government said it
would not arrest opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai for travelling on an
expired travel document, according to state media Thursday. Tsvangirai, head
of the Movement for Democratic Change which won national elections in March,
is in Botswana with only an expired emergency travel document (ETD) issued
to him last month when he left the country, and he has said he cannot return
because he does not have a valid travel document.

He has been denied a passport since early this year, the
government claiming it does not have the materials to issue him with a new
one. The MDC has pointed out that thousands of other people have been issued
passports since Tsvangirai applied.

"The truth of the matter is that he has breached the time scale
of his ETD and thinks government may arrest him," government spokesman
George Charamba told the state-controlled daily Herald. "There is neither
rhyme nor reason to his argument. It's plain silly."

After he left the country, Tsvangirai flew to Morocco where he
was presented with a award for services to human rights. He then went to
France where he was issued with a laissez-passer, a diplomatic document
which allowed him also to travel to Germany, whose membership of the
European Union allows people to cross freely between member states' shared
borders.

He then flew into South Africa which refused to allow him to fly
back home. Instead, he went to Botswana which has a customs union agreement
with South Africa which allows free travel across their joint borders.

Ironically, Tsvangirai is prime minister-designate of Zimbabwe.
Under the stalled power-sharing agreement with Mugabe's Zanu-PF government,
he has been offered shared control of the home affairs ministry, which runs
the immigration section that issues passports.

The agreement is stalemated because the MDC insists on having
full control of the home affairs ministry, which also controls the police,
along with other key ministries. Zanu-PF has offered it only lesser
ministries, although it agreed to allocate the finance ministry to the MDC.

Anglo pledges US$100 000 to fight cholera

http://www.zimonline.co.za



      by Nokuthula Sibanda Friday 19 December 2008

HARARE - Mining giant Anglo American has pledged R1 million (about US$100
000) to combat a cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe and in parts of South Africa
where the disease has spilled.

The funds, to be donated from the Anglo American Chairman's Fund and to be
managed by the South African Red Cross Society (SARCS) come as the United
Nations said on Thursday that the death toll from cholera in Zimbabwe has
soared to 1 111 out of 20 581 cases recorded since the epidemic began in
August.

Anglo's donation will be used as part of the SARCS' relief operation to
facilitate medical treatment and to provide clothing, shelter, and food, as
well as education to reduce and minimise infection.

Kuseni Dlamini, head of Anglo American South Africa and chairman of the
Anglo American Chairman's Fund said: "Anglo is committed to supporting the
communities in which it operates as well as to the health of its employees.

"We hope today's (Thursday) donation to the Limpopo and Zimbabwe communities
will help bring some immediate relief to the affected people."

Anglo American plc is one of the world's largest mining groups and a global
leader in platinum group metals and diamonds, with significant interests in
coal, base and ferrous metals, as well as an industrial minerals business.

The Group has diverse, operations in Africa, Europe, South and North America
as well as Australia

An intestinal infection that spreads through contaminated food or water,
cholera causes vomiting and acute diarrhoea, and can rapidly lead to death
from dehydration.

The disease spreads fastest in situations with poor sanitation such as those
found in Zimbabwe's cities where sewers have broken down while garbage piles
up in the streets and a shortage of clean water means residents have to rely
on unprotected shallow wells for water.

The disease has since spilt into Zimbabwe's neighbours - South Africa,
Mozambique and Botswana, as thousands of infected Zimbabweans fled to these
countries in search of treatment.

The World Health Organisation that is at the forefront of efforts to end
cholera in Zimbabwe has warned that up to 60 000 people could be infected
with cholera in the worst-case scenario envisaged by its experts and other
medical personnel in Zimbabwe. - ZimOnline

Aids-Free World Says International Crisis Group Wrong on Amnesty for Mugabe

Aids-Free World (Boston)

18 December 2008

press release

In the midst of international media focus on the cholera outbreak in
Zimbabwe, the International Crisis Group proposed a plan this week that
pushes for a non-partisan transitional administration in Zimbabwe. It
involves amnesty for Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF. It is a terrible plan.

We are appalled at the continuing nightmare that is Zimbabwe. AIDS-Free
World receives emails and phone calls daily about women who were raped by
ZANU-PF youth militia in last summer's post-election violence, and human
rights activists being abducted right now. We have pushed for the
international community to call Robert Mugabe to account for his crimes,
including crimes against women.

The International Crisis Group's press release says, "It will take
patriotism for Robert Mugabe to step aside and Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC
to put their leadership aspirations on hold until new elections, but the
crisis demands selfless statesmanship."

Zimbabwe would not be in this situation today if Robert Mugabe had an ounce
of selfless statesmanship in him, and it is late in the day to expect him to
suddenly develop some. Even if he did, should amnesty be an option?

No. Amnesty for Mugabe would be illegal, irresponsible, and sexist.

Illegal because international law prohibits blanket amnesty for perpetrators
of crimes against humanity. Irresponsible because it would send a message to
other tyrants that if they just behave badly enough, we'll exonerate them
simply for promising to stop. Sexist because yet again, men with guns would
negotiate an agreement that ignores outrages against women, and allows
perpetrators to simply put down their guns, and carry on.

Amnesty is deeply offensive to anyone who has even an inkling of the
devastation this man has wrought.  The idea of a group of rapists and
criminals who have spread terror and pain, deprived people of their basic
standard of living, cut off access to AIDS drugs, trampled human rights and
destroyed a beautiful nation, suddenly deciding to repent for the sake of
peace, is pure fantasy. The idea that if the top ranks of ZANU-PF retire
quietly, the rest will stop the carnage and blithely rebuild their country
while the world watches in approval, is ludicrous.

We have knocked on the doors of the UN. We have sent letters to every member
of the Security Council. We have taken anonymous affidavits from rape
survivors and handed a summary, last week, to the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights. We have called on the whole world to demand that the countries
of southern Africa step in and pressure Mugabe to step down - to end what
has become Africa's failure to solve Africa's problem. We believe the answer
lies in real action by Zimbabwe's neighbours.

We know that other NGOs share our sense of outrage. We hope that they are
all with us in utterly rejecting the idea of amnesty for Mugabe and ZANU-PF,
because it is a brazen insult to all Zimbabweans, especially the brave women
who have spoken out about their suffering and eloquently asked for help. We
must not forsake them.
Women in Zimbabwe, like women anywhere, are going to play a huge part in
restoring national stability. To ignore their experiences during this
crisis, to follow the same tired prescription we have used to deal with
other despots who have devastated their nations and then moved on, cushioned
from all responsibility, would be grossly unjust. It won't end the crisis;
it will provide a game plan for the next one.

Christmas Eve in Zimbabwe - A poem

This poem was written as an initial reflection on a South African newspaper
article which stated something we all realise by now: that the number of
dead from cholera, AIDS, hunger and brutality in Zimbabwe will probably
never be known. As always young children are the most vulnerable. At this
time of year, as Christians consider the implications of God born to us as a
helpless baby into Herod's kingdom, we remember them, the Holy Innocents of
our own day and age.

Journalist Martin Fletcher wrote recently that Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwean
State is "like a dead tree, its trunk hollowed out by termites. One day soon
it must surely topple and crash". Doesn't that inspire every true Zimbabwean
to become one of those termites? Wherever you are in the world...just take
your small bite at the tree! Together, we will bring it down, and soon...

My poem also dwells upon personal memories of Christmas rain in Zimbabwe,
and the flying ants (termites) which take briefly to the skies in early
summer.

MDC Senator David Coltart recently spoke at a Cape Town church, about
holding up the flag of faith in hopeless, desperate times
(http://www.christ-church.org.za/sermons/pdf/20081207-19h00-David_Coltart-Faith_In_A_Hopeless_Situation.pdf).
I want to honour him for doing that, and helping others to hold on.

I have also been encouraged to believe, by the words of Christian mystic
Meister Eckhart, six hundred years old but still relevant this Christmas:

"Tend only to the birth in you and you will find all goodness and all
consolation, all delight, all being, all truth. What comes to you in this
birth brings with it pure being and blessing".

Even in the earthly Gehenna of misrule by  those who would rather rule in
Hell, than serve in Heaven -  there is always new birth, for those with eyes
to see. May the surpassing peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, in this Christmas
season and for evermore...

And a heartfelt Thank You to all who make it possible, through The Zimbabwe
Situation, to get access to the information that is so desperately needed;
also to the brave, unstoppable journalists who at great personal risk,
enable the escape of truth through ZANU-PF's walls of deceit.

May you continue to be guarded, guided and given the strength you need to
keep doing this vital work.

Sally Davies
Somerset West, South Africa

CHRISTMAS EVE IN ZIMBABWE

Little baby, sweetly sleep
Do not stir.
We dare not rock you now, nor lend
A coat of fur.
But swaddled in a blanket, tuck you in
Your hasty bed. No time to weep...

Where cold shrouds part, all red-gold in the West
Rain-silver trickles through the bleeding earth
Soft sobbing of the doves in funeral vest
And frogs the bubbling, choking voice of grief.
When mortal flesh its silence keeps
Give voice to every stone, and tree and leaf:
God is not dead, nor fast asleep!

Where thunderclouds have passed, the flying ants send
Their bodied joy to heaven in silver stream
Forget the fever-fret, the weary round, and tend
To this new birth. This death-defying flight,
This angel-storm; this breach against despair.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow is its end:
To rave and rage into the dying light.

Then wingless angels, spectral, fall through air
Star-pierced amongst the whispers of the grass
To tryst within the secret rust-red scar
That hides the afterbirth. With heavy tread
To trace the sad and lowly plains, the pain,
The darkling shadows and the numberless dead
When angel-song falls silent: and begin again.

Lullay, lullay, our little tiny child...
We dare not rock you now, nor kiss
Your silky head.
Only the tear-bright stars mark where you lay:
In wreaths of silver wings.

Let us be done with anger now: tend only to the birth.
From deep and dreamless sleep it's time to wake the earth.

Red Cross appeal for Zimbabwe cholera

http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com

18th Dec 2008 18:40 GMT

By a Correspondent

THE British Red Cross has launched an appeal to help thousands of people in
Zimbabwe and across Southern Africa affected by cholera and chronic food
shortages.

In Zimbabwe, according to UN figures, cholera has claimed almost 800 lives
and affected 16,000 people. In Angola almost 10,000 people have been
affected by the disease and 229 people killed, Mozambique has registered
more than 8,000 cases and 93 deaths while South Africa has seen almost 400
cases and five deaths.

"The rainy season is coming and we know from experience that rains are an
aggravating factor for cholera. Continued efforts are needed to make sure
the disease is not allowed to run out of control," said Di Moody, British
Red Cross programme support officer for Southern Africa.

"This means providing immediate aid for those currently affected and
widespread hygiene education to prevent new cases from breaking out. People
in Zimbabwe and across the region are still facing a very real risk and it
is vital that this risk is addressed as quickly as possible."

To give to the British Red Cross Zimbabwe & Region Appeal visit
www.redcross.org.uk/zimbabweregion or call 0845 054 7200. Postal donations
can be sent to British Red Cross, UKO, 44 Moorfields, London, EC2Y 9AL

The British Red Cross appeal will be used to supply emergency relief through
community based health, water, sanitation and hygiene projects, delivering
aid and education to those most in need across the region.

The Red Cross has been on the ground in Zimbabwe since the beginning of the
cholera epidemic, focusing largely on public education. Cholera is a
treatable and curable disease, but people need to know the simple steps they
can take to minimise or even eliminate risk of the disease.

In the last two weeks, Red Cross volunteers have reached more than 11,000
people in seven provinces with health and hygiene messages. Funds have also
been used to provide cholera kits and water purification equipment, which
are being distributed to affected communities.

For more info, interviews or pictures contact Mark South, 020 7877 7042 or
msouth@redcross.org.uk
Matt Cochrane, delegate from International Federation of the Red Cross, has
recently returned from the field and is available for interview.

The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are.
We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural
disasters and individual emergencies.
We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and
withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over,
we help them to recover and move on with their lives.

The British Red Cross has a special role as an auxiliary to the British
public authorities in the humanitarian field.  It co-operates with and
assists the UK government in the promotion, dissemination and implementation
of international humanitarian law.

In the event that we raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently
spent, any surplus funds will be used to help us prepare for and respond to
other humanitarian disasters either overseas or here in the UK. For more
information, visit redcross.org.uk

www.redcross.org.uk

Open Letter to Morgan Tsvangirai

http://blogs.amnesty.org.uk

18 December 2008 at 12:59 by rollo miles

Dear Sir

I would just like to say I wish there where more people in the world like
you. Keep doing what you are doing, you will get there, Zimbabwe will be
free again.Everyone knows you won the election, the first round fair and
square, even with Zanu rigging it by at least 30% you still came first; it
was such a surprise to them that they postponed the results while trying to
figure out what to do next. You are the real president-elect of Zimbabwe and
the world should recognise you.Shame on South Africa and SADAC for trying to
force you to compromise with Mugabe the dictator; he should be dragged in
front of the Hague with all his cronies. He is an old man and a day will
come when he will no longer be with us, at this point his party will
collapse and lose the support of SADAC and ZANU will be held to account.My
advice is not to enter a power-sharing deal, walk away. 30 years ago the
world supported the liberation struggle and helped train people like Mugabe
to take on those who would not share power. Well the time has come for the
world once again to support a new Liberation war, a war for freedom and
democratic values.Zimbabwe is such a proud country but Mugabe who lives by
the sword needs to die by the sword, it is the only language he understands.
I am for peace and I hate wars but there comes a time where one must stand
up for what one believes in and if talking cannot deliver it then maybe it
is time for other measures. If Botswana is helping to train people to take
on ZANU then great we should all help them and support them. There is no
shame in this it is the right thing to do.The time has come for the world to
wake up; it is so obvious that Mugabe is a mad dictator who has lost the
plot, the longer we wait for him to step down the longer it will take to
rebuild Zimbabwe. He will be remembered not as a liberation hero but as a
war criminal. Zanu should wake up to this, they have blood on their hands,
they need to stop living for today and start thinking about tomorrow. How
long do they think they can get away with such tyranny?

Rollo Miles, Supporter for a free Zimbabwe

Zim shareholder sues Old Mutual

http://www.iol.co.za

    December 18 2008 at 02:03PM

By Peta Thornycroft

Old Mutual is being sued by a Zimbabwean shareholder over non-payment
of the £2,6-million (about R40-million) interim dividend to its Zimbabwean
shareholders.

The late payment comes as a blow to thousands of pensioners struggling
in a hyperinflationary environment, with asset management companies unable
to trade shares since share-price manipulation by brokers acting on behalf
of the central bank resulted in a halt to trading on the Harare stock
exchange on November 20.

On November 25, the insurance group released a statement saying it
would not pay the 2,45 pence dividend on November 28, as previously
announced, due to "difficulties being experienced by the Zimbabwean banking
system".

However, the Old Mutual shareholder, Fadzai Mhenyu, says in her High
Court application there have been no such problems.

Shareholder activist Jonathan Waters said: "Having impoverished a
generation of policyholders, it's now the turn of the shareholders.

"This year Old Mutual owes Zimbabwean shareholders around £2,6m, but
will pay only a fraction of this as it has done in recent years. Each time,
it pays at the official rate - about a thousandth of the black market rate -
claiming it has to act within the law. Well then, what's wrong with a
dividend in specie (Latin for 'in kind')?"

This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Argus on
December 18, 2008