Mugabe's secret strategy

Mail and Guardian

            Godwin Gandu | Harare

            02 December 2005 06:00

                  President Robert Mugabe's succession plans are beginning
to take shape with the installation of loyalists at the helm of the
controversial Senate. The Senate elections were held last week.

                  The swearing in, as president of the new upper chamber, of
Edna Madzongwe, a close ally of Joyce Mujuru, is part of Mugabe's scheme to
ensure his preferred candidate assumes the presidency when he vacates the
post. Another yes-man from the Matabeleland province, Naison Ndlovu, was
appointed Madzongwe's deputy. The 81-year-old leader has indicated that he
wants to retire and write his memoirs when his current term of office
expires in 2008.

                  Sources in the ruling Zanu-PF party's information
department told the Mail & Guardian they intend to "move with speed to craft
new [constitutional] amendments that will allow the Senate and Parliament to
elect Vice-President Mujuru" to the country's top job.

                  At the height of the debate about legislative changes to
create the Senate, the Minister of Justice, Patrick Chinamasa, told
journalists that he was drafting further amendments that would streamline
elections. It is understood that the proposed changes would be placed before
both chambers of Parliament early next year.

                  "That decision has already been made by Zanu-PF. Chinamasa
has repeatedly said it in my discussions with him. The question is are we
going to have Mugabe until 2010 or an interim president between 2008 and
2010?" opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) secretary general
Welshman Ncube told the M&G.

                  Mugabe won the last presidential election, in 2002, which
was widely condemned by observers as rigged.

                  Constitutional law expert and chief civil society
campaigner for a new Constitution, Dr Lovemore Madhuku, said: "They
[Zanu-PF] are trying as much as possible to avoid a direct [presidential]
election in 2008. We are likely to have presidential and parliamentary
elections running simultaneously in 2010," he speculated.

                  In a move interpreted as further evidence of Mugabe's
determination to isolate opposition to Mujuru within the party, the Senate
benches were packed with his cronies.

                  "Mugabe wants to distribute the cake of power to as many
people as possible so that he can pacify as many people as possible. Those
that don't see any value in electing Mujuru will feel important by virtue of
being made senators. They will sing along with Mugabe," Madhuku said.

                  This leaves Mugabe's erstwhile protégé, Rural Housing
Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, out in the cold. His only hope of turning the
tables would be the Zanu-PF congress in 2009. But Mugabe is leaving nothing
to chance. To further fortify his exit strategy he has elevated Kumbirai
Kangai to deputy speaker of Parliament. Kangai is said to have no factional
allegiances.

                  During campaigning in the Masvingo province, where former
provincial governor Josiah Hungwe's faction was backing independents in the
Senate poll, the Zanu-PF top brass admonished supporters of Mnangagwa's
failed bid for the presidency.

                  The Zanu-PF won 43 of the 50 elected seats in the new
upper chamber. Mugabe will appoint an additional six senators, and chiefs
loyal to the ruling party will nominate a further 10. Independent poll
observers estimate turnout in the poll was between 15% and 20%.

                  Meanwhile, Irin News Service reports that the two MDC
factions could engage in a war of attrition over the ownership of the party's
name and assets.

                  The MDC's pro-Senate faction announced that vice-president
Gibson Sibanda had suspended president Morgan Tsvangirai after a
disciplinary committee allegedly found him guilty of violating the party's
constitution by calling for a boycott of the Senate poll. But Tsvangirai
slammed the move as unconstitutional, insisting that only the party's
congress, slated for February, had the power to suspend him.

                  The matter could end up in the courts. There is a
perception among political observers that the judges, some of whom are
sympathetic to the ruling party, would grant the use of the party's name and
emblem to the less popular pro-Senate faction to further destabilise the
opposition.

                  The MDC won a paltry seven seats in the contentious
Senate. Except for Bulawayo, where pro-Senate faction candidates swept all
the seats, other MDC strongholds, such as Harare, and Matabeleland North and
South provinces, heeded Tsvangirai's boycott call.

                  Madzongwe, a brief history
                  Edna Madzongwe swapped her deputy speaker of Parliament
seat, a post she has held since 1995, for the Senate presidency. She served
two years as deputy minister of education from 1993. Before that she was an
MP for Mhondoro in Mashonaland West.

                  Her mother is from the Samkange family, regarded as part
of Zimbabwe's "struggle aristocracy" because of their prominence in
nationalist politics in the 1950s and 1960s. The 62 year old is from a clan
that shares the Gushungo totem with President Robert Mugabe. -- Godwin Gandu

Mugabe official had EIGHT farms

New Zimbabwe

By Lebo Nkatazo
Last updated: 12/02/2005 08:18:01
A TOP Zimbabwean government official has lost EIGHT farms that he is said to
have corruptly acquired, it was revealed on Thursday.

Ray Kaukonde, the governor for Mashonaland East province is said to have
seized the farms while serving as chairman of the ruling Zanu PF party in
the province.

Zanu PF sources said Harare governor, David Karimanzira -- who has inside
knowledge about farm ownership in the area as former governor for the
province -- gad blown the whistle on Kaukonde farms.

President Robert Mugabe has moved to stop his supporters from owning
multiple farms, and several ministers have been forced to give up extra
farms -- but none has been busted for having as many farms as Kaukonde.

Kaukonde's seized properties include Kimcoate, Imbwa and Longlands farms.

The Zanu PF sources added that Karimanzira pushed for the farms to be given
to Chitungwiza Municipality for peri uban development, as they are located
near the urban center.

"At the height of land invasions it was a free for all situation and
Kaukonde as Zanu PF's provincial chairman made the most of it," said a
source. "It must not be a surprise that one man could own eight farms
because there was a complete breakdown in the rule of law in this province
during the farm invasions."

Some of the farms are said to be now earmarked for the government's
Operation Hlalani Kuhle to house Chitungwiza residents who were left
homeless following a government blitz on unplanned urban dwellings.

The sources also revealed that Kaukonde, a former security guard, had
escaped the net when government pounced on some multiple farm owners through
his closeness to the powerful Mujuru political dynasty.

Some top Mugabe aides who have given up farms include Local Government
Minister Ignatius Chombo, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Bright
Matonga, the voluble Deputy Information Minister.

Chitungwiza mayor, Misheck Shoko, confirmed his council had been informed
that it would take over the eight farms, but efforts to build the Hlalani
Kuhle houses were blocked.

"When our workers started digging foundations to build houses under
operation Garikayi at Kimcoate farm, police came and arrested them saying
they had no permission to build the houses there. We abandoned the project
and builders were released after paying fines. We just heard that there were
some problems between Karimanzira and Kaukonde," Shoko said.

The mayor could not confirm allegations that Kaukonde -- thought to be one
of the richest people in Zimbabwe -- owned the farms. How Kaukonde amassed
his wealth after quitting his low paying job as a security guard remains a
mystery.

Karimanzira told New Zimbabwe.com he did not comment on "private properties"
and referred all questions to Kaukonde who was unreachable.

Kaunda urges African leaders to give priority to Africa

Vanguard, Nigeria

            Posted to the Web: Friday, December 02, 2005

            For Africa to grow its economy and prosper its people,
governments across the continent must give the highest priority to the
development of agriculture. First  President of Zambia and a founding father
of the defunct Organization of African Unity (OAU), Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, made
this declaration Wednesday in Pretoria,  South Africa, at the launch of the
Key To Africa Leadership Awards, where Nigeria's Governor Abubakar Bukola
Saraki of Kwara State was honoured for his  contributions to agricultural
development.

            According to Dr. Kaunda at the high-profile and well-attended
ceremony, agriculture holds the key to the prosperity of any nation, so
African nations must imbue  their people with the knowledge for sustainable
food production. He said the continent has closed the chapter on
independence struggle, which his own generation of  leaders fought and won,
and challenged the new generation of leaders to engage and defeat poverty on
the continent. Dr. Kaunda recalled that the dreams of the first  generation
of African leaders at the inception of the struggle for independence
included the attainment of freedom, liberty and prosperity for all Africans,
adding that  the development of Africa lies in the hands of Africans.

            Dr. Saraki was jointly presented his award by Kaunda and former
Nigerian Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, who was on the
high-profile gurests list of  ambassadors, governors, premiers and
intellectuals from several countries at the ceremony.

             Recieving his award, Dr. Saraki commended the organizers for
coming up with the programme, which, he observed, would show the world that
good things are also  happening in Africa that are worthy of celebration.
The Governor said Africa has the human capacity to change its situation but
that this can only happen through  careful planning, focus, dedication and
proper mobilization of the people for good governance. He said he was
humbled by the award, which he dedicated to the  people of Kwara State,
which he noted, have given their support and cooperation to his
administration and its policies. Saraki's award was on account of his
commercial farming project, which he started last year with over a dozen
refugee farmers from Zimbabwe on 13,000 hectares of land.

            According to the organizers of the award, the Kwara State
Governor has shown exemplary leadership and vision by encouraging the
farmers from Zimbabwe to keep  their skill in Africa and spread their
knowledge and know-how to other parts of the continent. Also honoured at the
awards ceremony were Governor Victor attah of  Akwa Ibom State and two
premiers from South Africa. A large delegation, led by the Emir of Ilorin,
Alhaji Sulu Gambari and that bincluded Second Republic Senate  Leader, Dr.
Abubakar Olusola Saraki, was on hand to witness Saraki recieve the award at
the ceremony spiced by inspirational talks, music and cultural displays.
             Earlier Tuesday evening, Nigeria's High Commissioner to South
Africa, Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru, had hosted Governors Saraki and Attah to a
dinner that was  also attended by Gen. Abubakar. Kaunda urges African
leaders to give priority to Africa

            For Africa to grow its economy and prosper its people,
governments across the continent must give the highest priority to the
development of agriculture. First  President of Zambia and a founding father
of the defunct Organization of African Unity (OAU), Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, made
this declaration Wednesday in Pretoria,  South Africa, at the launch of the
Key To Africa Leadership Awards, where Nigeria's Governor Abubakar Bukola
Saraki of Kwara State was honoured for his  contributions to agricultural
development.

            According to Dr. Kaunda at the high-profile and well-attended
ceremony, agriculture holds the key to the prosperity of any nation, so
African nations must imbue  their people with the knowledge for sustainable
food production. He said the continent has closed the chapter on
independence struggle, which his own generation of  leaders fought and won,
and challenged the new generation of leaders to engage and defeat poverty on
the continent. Dr. Kaunda recalled that the dreams of the first  generation
of African leaders at the inception of the struggle for independence
included the attainment of freedom, liberty and prosperity for all Africans,
adding that  the development of Africa lies in the hands of Africans.

            Dr. Saraki was jointly presented his award by Kaunda and former
Nigerian Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, who was on the
high-profile gurests list of  ambassadors, governors, premiers and
intellectuals from several countries at the ceremony.

             Recieving his award, Dr. Saraki commended the organizers for
coming up with the programme, which, he observed, would show the world that
good things are also  happening in Africa that are worthy of celebration.
The Governor said Africa has the human capacity to change its situation but
that this can only happen through  careful planning, focus, dedication and
proper mobilization of the people for good governance. He said he was
humbled by the award, which he dedicated to the  people of Kwara State,
which he noted, have given their support and cooperation to his
administration and its policies. Saraki's award was on account of his
commercial farming project, which he started last year with over a dozen
refugee farmers from Zimbabwe on 13,000 hectares of land.

            According to the organizers of the award, the Kwara State
Governor has shown exemplary leadership and vision by encouraging the
farmers from Zimbabwe to keep  their skill in Africa and spread their
knowledge and know-how to other parts of the continent. Also honoured at the
awards ceremony were Governor Victor attah of  Akwa Ibom State and two
premiers from South Africa. A large delegation, led by the Emir of Ilorin,
Alhaji Sulu Gambari and that bincluded Second Republic Senate  Leader, Dr.
Abubakar Olusola Saraki, was on hand to witness Saraki recieve the award at
the ceremony spiced by inspirational talks, music and cultural displays.
             Earlier Tuesday evening, Nigeria's High Commissioner to South
Africa, Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru, had hosted Governors Saraki and Attah to a
dinner that was  also attended by Gen. Abubakar.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator to make fact-finding trip to Zimbabwe

UN News Centre

1 December 2005 - As agreed between United Nations Secretary-General Kofi
Annan and President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe during the September World
Summit, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland will make a fact-finding
five-day trip to the Southern African country for which the UN just appealed
for $276 million in assistance.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told the daily noon briefing that during the
visit from Saturday to next Wednesday Mr. Egeland planned to undertake field
visits and meet with Mr. Mugabe and other Government officials, UN Country
Team members, and NGO partners, as well as civil society representatives.

As part of a global consolidated appeals process (CAP) launched yesterday,
Mr. Egeland's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
requested more than $276 million for Zimbabwe, including for providing
temporary shelter to 23,000 displaced and homeless households.

"In 2005, the humanitarian situation was further compounded by the
Government's Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order, which targeted what the
Government considered to be illegal housing structures and informal
businesses. The operation led to rapid growth in the number of displaced and
homeless people, combined with loss of livelihoods for those that previously
worked in the informal sector," it said in the appeal for Zimbabwe.

In answer to a question at the briefing, Mr. Dujarric said the
Secretary-General had repeatedly expressed his concern about the situation
in the country, while the UN system had mounted humanitarian operations to
assist the population affected by the clearance operations.

Meanwhile, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) signed an agreement with the
Government of Zimbabwe today on importing and distributing food aid to more
than 3 million people in the southern African country until next June, 1
million more than last month.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed after several weeks of
discussions with the Government. It sets out the framework in which food aid
distributions will take place and makes Government and WFP responsibilities
clear.

"WFP welcomes the signing of this agreement, which will certainly assist in
meeting our plans to deliver food aid to hungry people across Zimbabwe,"
said Kevin Farrell, WFP Country Director for Zimbabwe.

"This MoU sets out the modalities for food aid deliveries and we are
encouraged by the commitment to ensure procedures are formalized and
followed," he added.

In signing the MoU, Zimbabwean Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social
Welfare Nicholas Goche expressed appreciation for WFP's efforts.

WFP has appealed to the international community for assistance in importing
300,000 tons of food for people who are considered most at risk of going
hungry.

With the support of a range of donors, WFP and its partner non-government
organizations (NGOs) provided food aid to 2 million people in November. The
Programme said it is now gearing up to feed more than 3 million Zimbabweans
through vulnerable group feeding programmes, in addition to continuing its
food support for children in school, orphans and people living with
HIV/AIDS.

The Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC), which includes
representatives of the Government, WFP, other UN agencies and several NGOs,
estimated last June that at least 3 million people would be food insecure
during Zimbabwe's January-April lean season. The Government recently
acknowledged that because of the very large price increases of food since
then, the number of people in need of food assistance would now rise.

Food aid through WFP is distributed directly and free of charge to
vulnerable people, as the Government imports and distributes through the
parastatal Grain Marketing Board at subsidized prices.

During his trip, Mr. Egeland will also meet with the representatives of the
Government of South Africa in Pretoria to discuss closer collaboration in
humanitarian assistance, including raising resources for the proposed global
Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

MDC national council nullifies Tsvangirai's suspension

Zim online

Fri 2 December 2005

      HARARE - A national council meeting of the main opposition Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) party on Thursday overturned the suspension of
party president Morgan Tsvangirai by a disciplinary committee headed by his
deputy, Gibson Sibanda.

      The council also stopped just short of ejecting Sibanda and secretary
general Welshman Ncube from the opposition party, agreeing to dissociate the
MDC from the two who lead a faction pushing to oust Tsvangirai from the
party's helm.

      Sibanda, Ncube and other members of their faction did not attend the
council meeting which MDC spokesman Paul Themba Nyathi, who is with the
Sibanda/Ncube group, described as "unprocedural and irrelevant".

      The MDC council said Sibanda had erred in suspending the party
president without referring the matter to it for approval as is required
under the party's constitution which calls on all committees to refer major
decisions to the council.

      "The purported decision of the disciplinary committee of the 20th of
November 2005 is null and void and without any force or effect. For the
avoidance of doubt, that suspension is set aside," the council resolved.

      The council, which also said Sibanda had omitted several members of
the disciplinary committee from the meeting that decided to suspend
Tsvangirai, added: "Even assuming that Gibson Sibanda's 20th November
meeting was quorate, we would uphold the president's appeal and set aside
the suspension and the decision to charge him."

      The council accused Sibanda, Ncube and other top leaders opposed to
Tsvangirai of persistently missing meetings and said it was dissociating the
MDC from the rival faction.

      "The Council resolves that pending their availability for party
business, the National Council resolves to exercise its freedom of
association by not associating with the Deputy President, Secretary General,
Deputy Secretary General, the Treasurer General, the Secretary for
Information and Publicity and the Secretary for Policy and Research, among
others," read part of the resolutions adopted by the council.

      MDC youth chairman Nelson Chamisa was appointed the new spokesman of
the party and he told ZimOnline that Sibanda, Ncube and others had not been
expelled from the party or stripped of their positions saying they would
resume their positions once they "come back".

      He said: "They are welcome to come back and they have not been
stripped of their positions. When they come back they will assume their
positions and duties."

      But Nyathi scoffed at the national council meeting and its resolutions
saying they were mahumbwe (child's play).

      Nyathi said the council meeting was irregular and said its resolutions
had no force or effect. He said: "It is of no force, totally irrelevant,
nothing to do with reality. This is what people do when they want to vent
out their frustrations. I do not really want to pay much attention to
mahumbwe.

      "Where do they get the authority from? These people have a penchant
for ignoring procedures of the party, they are allergic to proper procedures
and they are dangerous to democracy. We will simply ignore them and continue
with our work as before."

      Sibanda and Ncube, who led the MDC into last Saturday's senate
election but dismally lost, in part because Tsvangirai and some civic groups
led vigorous campaigns urging MDC supporters to boycott the poll, have filed
a court appeal seeking to have Tsvangirai interdicted from acting or working
as president of the opposition party.

      Political analysts say the courts, manned by pro-ruling ZANU PF party
judges, are most likely to be more sympathetic to Sibanda and Ncube who are
viewed as less of a threat to President Robert Mugabe's government than
Tsvangirai.

      While Sibanda and Ncube could easily claim the MDC through the courts,
it remains unclear how they would fare on the grassroots where Tsvangirai
appears to have an upper hand.

      The six-year old MDC had appeared Zimbabweans' only alternative to
Mugabe's government but many analysts are agreed that whoever emerges from
the bitter and ugly infighting as the undisputed leader of the party would
find it more than difficult to challenge Mugabe or his successor, if he
steps down in 2008. - ZimOnline

National budget contradictory and unrealistic: analysts

Zim online

Fri 2 December 2005

      HARARE - Zimbabwe business leaders and economic analysts last night
shot down Finance Minister Hebert Murerwa's Z$124 trillion budget for 2006,
saying it was inflationary and based on unrealistic growth assumptions in an
economy in recession for the last six years.

      Murerwa's budget even contradicted itself seeking to raise expenditure
by about four times from last year's $27 trillion and at the same time
forecasting annual inflation to drop from more than 400 percent now to 80
percent by December 2006, they said.

      "If inflation is coming down to 80 percent by the end of next year,
why then do we need to raise our expenditure to levels that are about four
times this year's? This is a contradiction," said Zimbabwe National Chamber
of Commerce (ZNCC) president, Luxon Zembe.

      Zembe, whose ZNCC is regarded as the voice of commerce in the country,
added: "This (budget) is an unrealistic presentation given that it seeks to
paint a rosy future when fundamentals on the ground show the opposite."

      Murerwa predicted an impressive rebound in Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) which he said will next year increase by between two and 3.5 percent
in 2006 after a 3.5 percent decline this year.

      But the Finance Minister's optimistic forecasts drastically contradict
figures given by the International Monetary Fund which predicted Zimbabwe's
GDP to fall by about seven percent next year, citing continued poor
performances by key sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing.

      The Finance Minister, who criticised ongoing farm invasions, said
expected good rains this farming season will push growth in the agricultural
sector by 14 percent in 2006 which he said would give momentum for overall
economic growth.

      "Growth in agricultural sector will be driven by increased production
of maize which is expected to increase by 33 percent and cotton which is
expected to increase by 26 percent," Murerwa told parliament.

      He said the mining sector will grow by a massive 27 percent next year
picking up from a 5.7 percent decline this year while the manufacturing
sector, at present running at below 60 percent of capacity, would decline by
just three percent next year.

      Murerwa, who called for bold measures to ensure President Robert
Mugabe's government lived within its means, said he hoped to collect about
$110 trillion in the year to leave a budget deficit of $13.9 trillion or
about 4.6 percent which he said was in line with the targeted 80 percent
inflation by December 2006.

      He restructured domestic debt - which shot to $15. 9 trillion in
October from $1.7 trillion in last December - from short term to medium and
long term instruments.

      In series of small concessions on the tax front, Murerwa reduced value
added tax from 17.5 to 15 percent, effective January 1 2006. The individual
tax free pay-as-you-earn threshold was moved from $1.5 million to $7 million
per month, while tax bands were reviewed upwards to end at $40 million with
anything in excess of $40 million attracting 30 percent tax.

      Annual bonus tax free threshold for individuals moved upwards to $20
million from $5 million.

      But Harare economic analyst James Jowa said with the 2005/2006 farming
season set to be another flop, Murerwa's budget was nothing beyond a mere
feel-good statement.

      "There is nothing new in this budget. No substance at all. Same old
stories of just allocating resources which are not available," said the
respected Jowa.

      Although Zimbabwe may receive good rains farm production is likely to
be poor because farmers were unable to access financing, seeds, fuel and
other inputs on time.

      Zembe said: "In terms of planning this is the worst agricultural
season that Zimbabwe has ever witnessed. Irrigation infrastructure was
stolen and there was no timely provision of inputs and I wonder why he
(Murerwa) attempts to paint a rosy picture when it's the opposite. This
creates integrity problems for his budget statement."

      Zimbabwe is in the grip of a severe economic crisis that has
manifested itself through shortages of food, fuel, electricity hard currency
and just about every other basic survival commodity.

      Critics blame the crises on mismanagement and repression by President
Robert Mugabe's government. Mugabe denies the charge. - ZimOnline

Mugabe appeals to foreign investors to help mine uranium

Zim online

Fri 2 December 2005

      HARARE - President Robert Mugabe on Thursday appealed to "able foreign
investors" to assist Zimbabwe mine uranium for use to generate electricity.

      In a clear attempt to pre-empt expected criticism against any moves by
his government to acquire nuclear technology, Mugabe said an expected
massive electricity shortfall in southern Africa by 2007 was enough a
compelling reason for regional governments to be innovative in the search
for alternative sources of energy.

      Uranium discovered in Zimbabwe's northern Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe
district could be used to spur social and economic progress said Mugabe, who
together with his wife and top officials is under Western sanctions for
violating human rights.

      The Zimbabwean President, who was speaking while opening the 12th
annual general meeting of the Africa Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank) in
Harare, said: "If used (uranium) as productive material for peaceful
economic and social purposes, it can be a spring-board for economic success.

      "We therefore invite able foreign investors to come and join hands
with us."

      Mining industry experts say Zimbabwe's uranium deposits are large
enough that they could be mined profitably. But nuclear energy experts have
warned that crisis-hit Zimbabwe does not have enough resources to acquire
the requisite technology to finance construction of a nuclear reactor to
generate electricity.

      Mugabe's government is believed to be in talks with some Australian
and Chinese investors it hopes to rope in to help mine uranium.

      But political analysts say Western powers would still stand in the way
of any deal to transfer nuclear technology to Zimbabwe, once described by
United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice as one of the last
outposts of tyranny in the world. The other tyrannies in the world according
to Rice are Cuba, Burma, Belarus, Iran and North Korea.

      Mugabe told the Afreximbank summit that his government was working
hard to improve the business environment in Zimbabwe to attract foreign
investment, which economists say is vital to any efforts to revive the
southern African nation's economy.

      He claimed his controversial land reform programme was now focusing on
increasing agricultural productivity to help boost economic growth.

      "Our land reform programme is now focusing on unlocking maximum
agricultural productivity, through the provision of adequate working capital
and security of tenure under 99-year lease," he said.

      Under the land reform programme, Mugabe seized productive farms from
whites parcelling them to landless black villagers in what he said was the
only way to correct a colonial and unjust land tenure system that gave all
the best   farmland to whites while blacks were cramped on poor soils.

      But the chaotic and often violent farm seizures destabilised the
mainstay agricultural sector causing a 60 percent drop in food production
chiefly because Mugabe did not give the black villagers resettled on former
white farms inputs or skills training to maintain production.

      Zimbabwe has since 2000 when Mugabe launched his farm seizures avoided
famine only because of food handouts from international relief agencies.

      The farm seizures also caused a flight from Zimbabwe of foreign
investors fearing for the safety of their properties and investments in the
country. Most traditional financiers, development partners and donor groups
also deserted Harare complaining about gross human rights abuses during the
farm seizures as well as Mugabe's failure to uphold the rule of law and
democracy.

      But the Egypt-based Afreximbank has stood by Zimbabwe, for example,
giving the country US$195 million this year to import food, fuel and for
supporting the export sector. - ZimOnline

Safeguarding tyranny at the expense of progress and development

By

Andrew M Manyevere

In a recently concluded elections held in Liberia the first woman president
on the continent of Africa appears a welcome development indeed. It is a
signal good bye to dictatorships, I want to believe, after this long and
arduous history of man kill man on the continent in hopeless failure to
resolve political differences. Strong attack against dictatorship should be
the best way to receive the news of the first woman president on the
continent by any leader worthy his salt. There is silence in the corridors
of African leaders as though to lament on the soon ending dominion by man in
political authority over the continent.

Hopefully Her excellency President Ellen John-Sirleaf has a message of hope
and inspiration to lift the image of mother Africa and bring compassion on
the African continental organization the African Union (AU). As a member of
the commonwealth of nation she should make sure that people like Robert
Mugabe of Zimbabwe are given a diplomatic cold shoulder to help Africa mend
her political past ways from treachery and tyranny to a democracy.

Thinking of Africa as a grave yard of torture and victimization because of
the fear of those in power to be removed democratically by those more
favoured by the populace, gives one hope that fresh elections of this lady
Africa will inspire hope to an almost lost cause, freedom in Africa.

Uganda has, for example, had a life problem when the northern tribes of the
Teso and Lango evacuated their homes in fear of massacre from post
independence traumas of political conflicts and being untrusted by those in
power. Uniquely enough not very many people talk of this Ugandan experience
which dovetails well into the case of Zimbabwe, and many other African
nations, when much internal political conflicts is a subject of debate than
it is an action plan tangibly against tyranny. May be the political lethargy
comes from the nature of leadership that we have leading Africa today, in
that they are dependent on the west even though they shout fire of insults
against the west on the diplomatic front. This charade of hypocrisy puts a
veil of corruption endorsement by those coming into power and compromises
efficient institutions against incompetence and creates a gloat of poverty.

The analysis is an attempt to help Africa work a modality for good
governance based on transparency and competent managers than rely on failure
to condemn wrong but on concealment at extreme growth of poverty and under
development. Zimbabwe becomes a best case study for compromise of efficience
with an institution of corrupt people named a political party-Zanu Pf. The
AU was unilaterally shown the door out of Zimbabwe by the Zimbabwean
authorities who knew very well that humanitarian rapporteur would have
discovered awesome abuse in human and people rights. The UN discovered, much
to the horror of all dictators of Africa, that Zimbabweans had suffered a
worst humiliation from one masquerading as messiah for the black race,
Robert Mugabe and his Zanu Pf party.

Should, after all these discoveries of negative factors on Zimbabwe by
reputable international bodies, the world led by African leaders counsel
patience for a reformed Zanu pf ?

Zimbabweans should, where ever they are, read themselves into the ploy
strategy of some west nations to sell Zanu Pf as a better devil between the
MDC and Zanu pf. The ploy has started manifesting itself in the rigging of
elections. Zanu Pf watched the world to see if there was going to be action
after rigging of 2000 elections, and the world was divided between strong
action and another chance. In 2002 the world saw that Mugabe was a cheat and
so was the basis on which Zanu Pf premised its stance for democracy.

The commonwealth took action to boot Zimbabwe out of the club. Unfortunately
nations like the USA played a monopoly of trusting South African leader
Thabo Mbeki as point person on Zimbabwe. That was the most unkind act by the
USA, it equally revealed the crude policy of America on Africa since the
1960s.

The whole plan to mediate in the MDC leadership issues, by Mbeki of South
Africa, before conflict issues were at their worst status, was meant to
weaken than strengthen the opposition political party in Zimbabwe in order
to give Zanu pf an upper hand. The truth is out, those not MDC have betrayed
the people cause to get freedom from tyranny, opting instead for crumbs from
the table of the oppressor and long time enemy of the people total
liberation from tribalism, poor hospital planning, no creative management
and therefore no jobs, no fuel, no industry, no morality, no culture and no
sense of dignity and pride in being people.

We should not talk of senate elections unless we truly want to give
credibility to tyranny transformation. Incidentally tyranny is rarely
transformed into anything other than compounded tyranny, which we have
witnessed of Zimbabwe from 1990 to 2000 and from 2000 to 2005. If the world
is an honesty place with honesty people in leadership, Zanu Pf has berried
itself through the Senatorial elections.

There is no way the world can stand and watch by while the tyranny is being
legitimized by Robert Mugabe and his cronies as they accept a failure in
people support as legitimate elections. Can a constituency of 30, 000 voters
be acceptable as having shown the people involvement when a winner comes up
with a staggering 1978 vote?. If people in Zimbabwe were happy amidst
economic plenty it would be reasonable to expect that they would turn out to
vote in order to sustain what they have and enjoy.

With a falling down economy what would people vote to achieve or maintain?
When Zanu Pf started ruling from 1980 and her program achieved no peace, but
institutionalized tyranny and failure all the way; who today in his/her
normal senses would go vote for failure? Zimbabweans outside the country
have a true picture of the difference between illusionary impressions and
reality. Our relatives cannot afford living in Zimbabwe due to harsh
political crime of the ruling party, compounded by hard economic realities.
Having no choice should not be counted for a choice which Mugabe can brag on
even before the UN august assembly, as my people can eat potatoes instead of
corn their staple food.. Leadership is not given to insulting her people,
but Mugabe insults both the citizens of Zimbabwe and those of the world
generally, without remorse.

The existence of people and parties like Zanu Pf and all her plans to wipe
out freedoms as safeguard for their stay in political power point to growing
tyranny.

Zimbabweans need continue to put pressure to bear on leaders of the
commonwealth to isolate Zimbabwe leader by causing more commission of
inquiries on to the human and people abuse by the authorities. Any
commission of inquiry on life conditions generally in Zimbabwe shall come
out with staggering results to the down fall of Zanu Pf and its leadership,
even if the world will not act.

Applaud should go to the Malta commonwealth meeting whose resolutions, among
other things, concluded that governments need to ensure that human rights
norms are not compromised using internal security situation as an excuse.
Robert Mugabe has used that excuse for far too long, and beginning visibly
from 1982 and 1983s during the Matebeleland disturbances which culminated in
the massacre of thousands and thousands of the innocent lives.

I quarrel with the Malta recommendation which calls for inquiry into human
rights on Uganda and Maldives, while taking an engagement position with
Zimbabwe. I believe that like the situation in Uganda and Maldives, Zimbabwe
situation needs world body of UN level to investigate what actually is
taking place there.

I am in full agreement with the recommendation which seeks for governments
to offer standing invitation to UN reporteurs and other UN investigators on
human and people rights abuse issues as commitment to transparency. It is
sad that Mugabe and his cronies have found it comfortable to invoke statutes
of world order to protect their crime acts against people of Zimbabwe. More
sad that the world has not found a way to intervene in a government on
matters of extreme poor governance so transparency to the detriment of human
progress can be exposed.

It is true that in world of politics there are leaders who rejoice to keep
the people in abject poverty condition as a way for political survival.
Operation clean dirty/Murambatsvina is the summary in the case of Zimbabwe
to retain Mugabe in power, and has provided evidence only as far as the UN
went in to investigate. But there are cases in Zimbabwe today which continue
to show the ugly hand of dictatorship and its extension into small minds of
self seeking individuals in order to render the people quest for freedom
meaningless and futile to the joy of cronies of the oppressive system.

Through honesty observation and pointing of deficiencies in those seeking
public office, a culture that seeks to remove leadership out of power
through due processes is on its way in Africa. Senate so called elections in
Zimbabwe have and can help the world see the language of honesty Zimbabweans
who need simple peace and progress for the country.

Zimbabwe is managed by a den of thieves who seek to prolong their stay in
power and with the support of their British and American tycoon sponsors.

South African court gives go-ahead for gay marriage

The Scotsman

FRED BRIDGLAND IN JOHANNESBURG
SAME-sex couples in South Africa are to be allowed to marry after a ruling
by the country's constitutional court yesterday.

It ordered the government to amend the country's marriage laws within 12
months so that marriage will be defined as "a union between two persons"
instead of the current "union between a man and a woman".

The judges said that, if the government failed to act, the court's ruling
would automatically become law on 2 December, 2006.

The move will allow Marie Fourie and Cecelia Bonthuys, two white Afrikaner
lesbians, to marry. They petitioned the court last year for implementation
of constitutional clauses that give them the right to marry.

The government unsuccessfully argued that earlier decisions by lower courts
in favour of Ms Fourie and Ms Bonthuys usurped parliament's "supreme" power
to make law". But the court, which interprets the post-apartheid 1994
constitution, said the constitution, not parliament, was supreme.

South Africa will be the first country on that continent to allow gay
marriage. However, it is an example that is unlikely to be followed
elsewhere in Africa for a long time to come, given the deep anti-gay
prejudices at the highest levels of government and in religious
organisations.

In neighbouring Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, the president, has attacked gay men
and lesbians as "worse than dogs and pigs", while Uganda's president, Yoweri
Museveni, has outlawed homosexual sex and instructed detectives to root out
gays and "lock them up and charge them".

On this issue, the views of most MPs in South Africa's ruling ANC reflect
those in the rest of the continent.

Catastrophe zone

Channel 4 News, UK

Published: 1 Dec 2005
By: Jonathan Miller

A million people destitute, a landscape turned to rubble, fields barren,
homes reduced to dust and stones.

Truly a humanitarian catastrophe, but this is no earthquake zone.

Channel Four News has travelled into the heart of Zimbabwe to find out
what's happened to hundreds of thousands of people left homeless since
President Robert Mugabe's government bulldozed vast areas of urban slums.

The man in charge of the UN's emergency relief programme has arrived in the
country to evaluate the crisis and investigate food shortages, as the World
Food Programme was finally allowed to distribute more aid.

Our Foreign Affairs Correspondent Jonathan Miller started his journey in
Harare from there he travelled southeast towards the border with Mozambique,
where he visited bulldozed townships where once thousands of people lived.

Go to
http://www.channel4.com/news/special-reports/special-reports-storypage.jsp?id=1254
to watch the report.