Air Zimbabwe Failing to Raise Cash to Buy Spares for Impounded Aircraft

http://www.voanews.com/

23 December 2011

Sources said the aircraft is still stuck at Gatwick International Airport as
the airline management is scrambling to raise cash to pay for spares

Gibbs Dube | Washington

Air Zimbabwe is struggling to secure spare parts for its aircraft which was
impounded a week ago by an American aviation firm over a US$1.5 million debt
and released Wednesday after paying its creditor.

Sources said the aircraft is still stuck at Gatwick International Airport as
the airline management is scrambling to raise cash to pay for spares.
Suppliers of aircraft equipment have turned down requests by the Air
Zimbabwe to purchase them on credit.

The sources said the aircraft will be towed to the local hanger Friday night
even though spares have not been secured to fix technical problems which
developed while it was still in the hands of lawyers of American General
Supplies.

Air Zimbabwe management declined to comment though sources said it was
unlikely that the national airline will secure spare parts on time for the
aircraft to leave for Harare Saturday.

Economic commentator Bekithemba Mhlanga said even if Air Zimbabwe manages to
fly the aircraft home, the company’s name has been so battered that it will
fail to attract any foreign investors.

Air Zim Dispatch Senior Engineers To London

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, December 24, 2011-Zimbabwe’s troubled national airline, Air Zimbabwe
has dispatched some of its senior engineers to beef up a technical team that
is attending to one of its grounded long haul planes which developed a
technical fault while in London.

The Air Zimbabwe engineers arrived in London on Thursday to give a boost to
and supervise the repairs of the Boeing 767-200 which developed a fault
after being impounded at Gatwick International Airport early this month by
American General Supplies over a US$1.2 million debt.

The engineers were set  begin fixing the plane’s landing gear actuator last
Friday which was sourced from the US and which arrived in London on Thursday
after encountering delays in delivery due to the
delayed movement of money transfers.

The United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority is now scheduled to inspect
the aircraft this Saturday and hopefully certify it to depart on the same
day and arrive on Sunday.

Air Zimbabwe has in recent times grounded most of its planes owing to
persistent workers’ strike and crippling fuel shortages.

Early this month, South Africa’s Bid Air Services seized one of Air Zimbabwe’s
plane, a Boeing 737-500 over a $500 000 debt for ground handling services.

Electoral Chief Plays Down Call For 2011 Elections

http://www.voanews.com

23 December 2011

The ZEC says as part of the preparations, it recently launched a program to
train its employees and acquired vehicles, computers, laptops, photocopiers,
training equipment and relevant software packages

Blessing Zulu | Washington

Zimbabwe's Electoral Commission chairman Simpsom Mutambanengwe has refused
to commit himself to the possibility of holding general elections next year
even as reports emerged Friday that the electoral body has started preparing
for those polls and a  constitutional referendum.

The state-controlled and ZANU-PF-leaning Herald newspaper reports that the
ZEC is undertaking various activities to ensure a smooth poll next year.

In a statement in the newspaper, the ZEC says as part of the preparations,
it recently launched a program to train its employees and acquired vehicles,
computers, laptops, photocopiers, training equipment and relevant software
packages.

The electoral body has also embarked on a voter education campaign.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti did not set aside funds for an early election
next year in his budget proposals for 2012 but sources say the United
Nations Development Programme and its co-operating partners have been
assisting the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Mutambanengwe told VOA Studio 7 for Zimbabwe reporter Blessing Zulu that
elections are not an event but a process therefore his commission is always
preparing for the next polls whenever they are called.

New Zimbabwe Constitution: problems mount

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

By Staff Reporter 18 hours 42 minutes ago

Harare, - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC-T) last Friday disowned a national report on the constitutional making
process that appeared in the government controlled Herald newspaper and
accused Zanu-PF of trying to derail the charter making process.

MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora dismissed the four page report which was
purported to have been written by Constitutional Select Committee (Copac).

He said the document in the Herald was written by hardliners in President
Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF who want to scuttle the constitutional making
process which is now in its drafting stage.

"At no point did the Select Committee submit any report to The Herald. No
member of the authorised Copac staff submitted any report to The Herald. It
there is clear that this report is a Zanu-PF document written and submitted
by the faction of Zanu-PF that is fighting against the drafters in the
constitution making process," Mwonzora told journalists at Harvest House.

"It appears that this is the work of some individuals who are panicking
about the possible outcome of the drafting process. This report is
calculated to mislead Zimbabweans."

The document which appeared in the Herald had statistics on what Zimbabweans
said on subjects like if they want an executive President or not or whether
they wanted a Prime Minister.

According to the Herald report 79% of the views gathered said 'Yes' to an
executive President while a majority of 28 % said they do not want a post of
Prime minister in the country.

On other issues majority of the people said they want press freedom in the
country. About 97 % said anyone who is born in Zimbabwe must require
citizenship while 57 % said 'No' to dual citizenship.

Copac has already appointed three drafters to draft the new constitution
which has been delayed by bickering amongst the three main political parties
which are driving the process.

The MDC-T spokesperson, Mr. Douglas Mwonzora said the COPAC national report
published in the media is fake, while Co-chairperson Munyaradzi Paul
Mangwana of Zanu PF says the document is a true reflection of the people’s
views gathered by COPAC.

"The document you want to call COPAC national report is fake," said Mr
Mwonzora.

"The document you have seen in the media today (Friday) is indeed a COPAC
national report and it carries the true aspirations and views of the people
of Zimbabwe that were gathered by COPAC during the outreach programme,"
Mangwana said.

Zanu PF loyalists masquerading as political analyst, Goodson Nguni said it
is unfortunate that MDC-T has been caught napping in its fight to smuggle
issues of homosexuality and gay rights much to the disappointment of its
Western sponsors.

"The MDC-T wanted to smuggle rights for homosexuality so as to please their
western masters who everyone is aware they bankroll them," said Nguni.

Efforts by Zanu PF to delay the constitution-making process were this week
exposed after it emerged that claims of drafters’ incompetence and political
party activism were unfounded.

It emerged yesterday that Zanu PF officials were left with an egg on their
faces after the drafters met the constitution select committee to discuss
the said allegations.

MDC spokesperson and party point man at the Constitution Select Committee,
also known as Copac, Douglas Mwonzora, said the meeting absolved the three
drafters, namely former Zimbabwe High Court judge Justice Moses Chinhengo,
Priscilla Madzonga and Brian Crozier of any wrongdoing leaving the Zanu PF
members in the committee embarrassed.

The former ruling party had claimed earlier during the week that there was
need for new drafters as the current crop of drafters was championing the
MDC agenda.

This emerged after the drafters released drafts of the first four chapters
of the draft constitution which they handed over to Copac recently.

Zanu PF then went into overdrive, vilifying the drafters and claimed it had
lost confidence in the drafting team.

“The Constitution Select Committee (Copac) met yesterday (Thursday) to
discuss a number of issues on the constitution and also to review the drafts
that have been produced by the drafters of the constitution,” Mwonzora
explained.

“Contrary to allegations that the three drafters had acted outside the
mandate given to them by the select committee, it emerged that the drafters
had indeed acted within the mandates given to them by the select committee
and therefore the drafters were cleared of any wrong-doing,” he added.

He said that the drafters had been allowed by the select committee to glean
constitutional provisions from the documents they had been supplied with by
the select committee.

The drafters, Mwonzora said, had also been empowered by the select committee
to read far and wide in search of other constitutional provisions applied by
other countries.

“The drafters were given the leeway to draft the constitution based on
documents we gave them as well as research they would make in terms of other
constitutional jurisdictions.

“Arising from the discussions from the meeting yesterday (Thursday), the
select committee reached an agreement that the drafters were still within
the limits that we set out for them and that the allegations of propagating
an MDC agenda or otherwise, were unfounded,” Mwonzora said.

What has further made the episode dramatic is the fact that a recording of
instructions that were given to the drafters was played at the meeting on
Thursday, further dampening the Zanu PF’s argument of the drafters’ untoward
behaviour.

“We have seen also a video recording of the instructions that were given to
the drafting team when it started working,” explained Mwonzora.

“Zanu PF’s Paul Mangwana himself read out some of the instructions and from
the drafts produced so far from what we have, we all realise that what we
have is a product of largely the instructions we gave to the drafters,” he
added.

Information reported suggests that the drafters have been given the green
light to continue with their work. The drafters would commence work on 3
January next year.

“The drafters are commencing their work on the third of January next year.
We have agreed that they will now relocate to Nyanga where they are going to
do their work. They have been advised to disregard any instruction that is
given to them by any member of the select committee that does not bear the
signature of any other two members of the co-chairpersonship of Copac."

“This is aimed at minimising confusion and chaos that has been created by
some members of the select committee,” Mwonzora said.

Efforts to seek explanation from party point man, Mangwana, on how the party
had lost confidence in the three hit a brick wall on Monday after the Zanu
PF official denied ever claiming his party’s loss of confidence in the
three.

Instead, Mangwana said there was no basis for him to make such a claim as
his party had been in agreement with the drafters’ results as well as their
appointment.

“We have no qualms about what these people (drafters) are doing and have
done so far,” Mangwana said.

“It is a fact that we agreed on the appointment of the three, their terms of
reference and what they have produced so far is in line with what we had
agreed they should focus on,” Mangwana said.

Travellers warned of criminal syndicate at border post

http://www.sabc.co.za/

Saturday 24 December 2011 18:46

Authorities at the Beitbridge port of entry between South Africa and
Zimbabwe have warned travellers to beware of a criminal syndicate called
Maguma-guma which operates at the border.

Spokesperson Michael Malindi says members of the syndicate pretend to be
officials and rob travellers of their cash. Malindi says legitimate border
authorities have uniform and name tags. Irritated travellers have meanwhile
complained about long queues and slow service at the Maseru border post
bridge.  About 18 000 people have crossed the border into Lesotho since
yesterday for the Christmas weekend.

At least 80 people including pedestrians have died in vehicle accidents
since the first of December on Free State roads. Home Affairs officials say
they've beefed up their manpower for the festive period.  With 52 officials
at the Maseru border post and 21 officials' inland. Power outages are said
to pose a security threat forcing officials to capture information manually
instead of electronically.

As a result they are unable to rogue elements that are not allowed to move
between South Africa and Lesotho. But holiday makers and travellers are
tired of excuses.
Home Affairs manager at the Border post Tsholo Moeti says: "You realise that
we are shift workers and during shift changes there are some processes that
we go through relating to shift handing over maybe that is when it
frustrates because now because you understand that when the shift changes
then we have to transfer some of the statistics and issues into the shift
that is incoming, that is when we have a little bit of a halt there."

    Officials say they've beefed up their manpower for the festive period.
With 52 officials at the Maseru border post

At least 80 people including pedestrians have died in vehicle accidents
since the first of December on Free State roads. Home Affairs officials say
they've beefed up their manpower for the festive period.  With 52 officials
at the Maseru border post and 21 officials' inland. Power outages are said
to pose a security threat forcing officials to capture information manually
instead of electronically.

As a result they are unable to rogue elements that are not allowed to move
between South Africa and Lesotho. But holiday makers and travellers are
tired of excuses. Home Affairs manager at the Border post Tsholo Moeti says:
"You realise that we are shift workers and during shift changes there are
some processes that we go through relating to shift handing over maybe that
is when it frustrates because now because you understand that when the shift
changes then we have to transfer some of the statistics and issues into the
shift that is incoming, that is when we have a little bit of a halt there."

Gvt Extends Free Health Services to Pregnant Women First: Madzorera

http://www.radiovop.com

Bulawayo, December 24, 2011—Health Minister Henry Madzorera said pregnant
women and HIV/AIDS patients will not pay hospital fees at all government
hospitals with effect next month.

In an interview with Radio VOP last Thursday, Madzorera said pregnant women
will be the first group of people who will get free treatment at government
hospitals in January 2012 then followed by HIV/AIDS patients.

“With affect from January 2012 all Zimbabwe women will be treated for free
at all government hospitals and after that we will also give HIV/AIDS
patients free treatment,” said Madzorera.

Madzorera said his Ministry has done a research and established that most
women  are dying at home whilst giving  birth  because they can’t afford
hospitals fees.

“We have realised that most Zimbabwean women are dying at home whilst giving
birth because they can’t afford hospital user fees.

“We have also realised that most HIV/AIDS patients are failing to access to
antiretroviral treatment offered for free by our partners who are mostly
non-government organizations because of hospitals fees,” he said.

He said his Ministry has already secured US$10 million to pay for pregnant
women hospitals’ charges adding that in the near future he will make sure
all Zimbabweans visiting government hospitals will be treated for free.

Most government hospitals are currently charging fees as much as US$30 per
patients and per visit.

The Health Minister also dismiss reports that there is critical shortage of
antiretroviral (ARV) drugs ,saying that the only problem the government is
facing is shortages of pharmacists  to administer these AIDS drugs.

"There are enough stocks of ARV drugs in the country; even our partners who
are non-governmental  organizations have enough stocks. The only problem we
are facing currently is shortages of pharmacists to distribute these drugs
as most have left the country in search of greener pastures,” he said.

Zimbabwe used to be one of the countries worst affected by HIV/Aids in the
world although transmission rates have been declining in the last few years.

Researchers say fear of infection and mass social change have driven a huge
decline in HIV rates in Zimbabwe, offering important lessons on how to fight
the Aids epidemic to the rest of Africa.

Zimbabwean Lawmaker Uses Sports to Promote Peace

http://www.voanews.com/

23 December 2011

Taking a campaign to target political and other forms of violence in her
constituency, Kadoma Central lawmaker Editor Matamisa has started a program
to promote peace in her constituency through sports.

Violet Gonda | Washington

November 25 to December 10 marked the 16 Days of Activism against
gender-based violence globally with Zimbabwean women lawmakers and women’s
groups coming together in a campaign targeting domestic and political
violence in their communities.

The theme for 2011 commemorations was: "From peace in the home to peace in
the world: Let’s challenge militarism and end violence against women!"

And the national theme for Zimbabwe was “From peace in the home to peace in
our nation: Let’s challenge all forms of gender-based violence."

Taking the campaign further to target political and other forms of violence
in her constituency, Kadoma Central lawmaker Editor Matamisa of the MDC
formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has started a program to
promote peace in her constituency through sports.

Through the campaign hundreds of youths in the constituency gathered at
Rimuka stadium on Thursday for a soccer tournament meant to bring to an end
political and domestic violence.

Kadoma Mayor Peter Matambo told Voice of America that the program is
targeting the youth in this constituency because most of the violence that
rocked the 2008 elections was spearheaded by unemployed youngsters.

“During 2008 shops and homes were destroyed, young girls and mothers were
raped and we cannot allow such a spirit to continue. The youths themselves
were in the forefront of this violence and they were used by the political
leadership.”

The Kadoma mayor said Zimbabwe can never develop or prosper as a nation if
differences continue to be settled through violence.

Breakthrough of the Year: Antiretroviral drugs treat & prevent HIV