Statement by the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe on the Progress of the Transitional Government

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/3452#more-3452

PRESS ALERT - Zimbabwean farm evictions: Invasion at Mount Carmel Farm (protected by SADC tribunal ruling)

5 WOZA members detained in Harare Central - 9 treated for injuries

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/


Wednesday, 25 February 2009

Five members, four women and one man, will spend the night in Harare
Central Police Station tonight following their arrest this morning whilst
trying to hand in a petition to the Minister of Education. Lawyers from
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have not been allowed access to their
clients so the details of what they will be charged with are not known. Food
has been allowed in to the group this evening.
Nine members have had to receive treatment for the vicious beatings
they received from riot police. All have been discharged however. Most
injuries were deep tissue bruising from being beaten with baton sticks -
deep welts can be seen on most of those that received treatment. One woman
has a fractured toe from where she was stamped on by a booted police
officer. The woman for whom the ambulance was called has a serious injury to
her knee.
She had been trying to protect her seven-month old baby from being
beaten and was begging police not to hurt her or her baby. This obviously
angered the police who then proceeded to single her out for a more severe
beating.
She is unable to walk and had to be carried home. Many others received
beatings but as police were circling the Ministry continuously, they
obviously were not able to make contact with the support team to receive
treatment.

UN chief calls for release of detainees

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=12392

February 25, 2009

By Mxolisi Ncube

PRETORIA - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on
Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe to release opposition and human rights
activists who are still detained by Harare, saying this is necessary for the
country's newly-formed government of national unity to gain international
credibility.

The UN chief said this when briefing journalists in the South African
capital Pretoria Wednesday after holding talks with South African President
Kgalema Motlanthe, who is also the current chairman of the regional Southern
African Development Community (SADC) bloc.

The SADC brokered the power-sharing deal between Mugabe and the splintered
opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) last year.

Although expressing his full support for the GNU, Ban Ki-moon said that
Mugabe (85), should do more to prove his commitment to the power-sharing
deal by releasing the 30 activists currently facing terrorism charges.

"I support the launch of the unity government, but it will be appropriate
for Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe to heal the nation and release the
detained activists," said the UN chief.

"He should promote national reconciliation, as the international community
will only support this government if there are efforts from Mugabe to make
it work."

He added that Mugabe should listen to the concerned international community,
which Zimbabwe desperately needs for its economic recovery, but which has
largely expressed skepticism on his commitment to the all-inclusive
government. He said Zimbabwe's economic situation was very dire.

He said that Mugabe should implement the all the requirements of the unity
deal to his sincerest and "meet the expectations of the international
community and the people of Zimbabwe".

Bill Watch Special of 25 February [Prime Minister's Statement Cancelling Presidential Appointment of Permanent Secretaries]

Shamuyarira's nephew orders farmers off their land

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
25 February 2009

John Worsley-Worswick, head of  Justice for Agriculture, said ZANU PF
spokesperson Nathan Shamuyarira's nephew gave farmers Ben Freeth and Mike
Campbell a 5pm Wednesday deadline to get off their Mount Carmel farm in
Mashonaland West. This is a farm protected by a SADC tribunal ruling.

There are dozens of white commercial farmers who have had their farms
invaded by Mugabe cronies this month alone, in total disregard of the
regional ruling.

Worsley-Worswick said the farm being targeted by Shamuyarira's nephew, Peter
Chamada, is in the Chegutu/Chinhoyi area. The farm boasts tourist lodges and
is a huge exporter of mangoes.  It's reported that Chamada visited the
farmers Wednesday morning and told them if they were not out by 5pm they
would be removed by force. Mike and his wife Angela have left the farm, as
Mike is still weak from the beatings and torture he was subjected to during
their abduction on Sunday 28 June, the day after the June 27 Presidential
run-off election.

The JAG official said there has been a huge escalation of farm invasions in
the last few weeks in this particular area, as it is at the heart of the
SADC tribunal challenge. The applicants who took the regime to court in
Namibia should be totally protected by SADC who ruled in their favour, but
he said a directive was issued by ZANU PF saying the SADC farmers should be
specifically targeted.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told a press conference in
Harare that the disruptions of farming operations is undermining the revival
of the agricultural sector and undermining investor confidence. He said he
has  "tasked the Ministers of Home Affairs, Giles Mutsekwa and Kembo Mohadi,
to bring the full weight of the law down on the perpetrators who continue to
act within a culture of impunity and entitlement. No person in Zimbabwe is
above the law."

Chamisa & Shamu clash over roles in Information Ministries

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
25 February 2009

Nelson Chamisa, the Minister of Information and Communications Technology,
has accused ZANU PF's Webster Shamu, the Information and Publicity Minister,
of 'over-chewing' into his mandate and trying to usurp his responsibilities.
Chamisa's ministry primarily oversees the posts and telecommunications
sector, while Shamu runs the publicity arm of government, including
broadcaster ZBC and the state owned newspapers.

Shortly after the MDC Minister held a meeting with officials from mobile
phone provider NetOne, fixed line operator TelOne and the Postal and
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, about the high tariff
charges affecting consumers, Shamu proceeded to have another meeting with
the same group.

On Wednesday Chamisa told Newsreel the role of his ministry was to provide
the 'microphone and other gadgets' while Shamu was responsible for the
'content and voice.' He said instead of the two ministries complementing
each other it was 'regrettable that some force behind' was trying to
undermine the coalition government. It's also suspected ZANU PF wants to
block Chamisa from making inquiries into the interception of phones and
other communications, controversially done under repressive snooping
legislation.

Asked whether ZANU PF was trying to take advantage of perceived MDC
inexperience in government, Chamisa said, 'we read widely and understand
issues better than them. I have a task to educate Shamu from a communication
point of view and to unlock the value of his own ministry.' He said it was
now up to the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to reign in Shamu. Chamisa
said it was the role of the Prime Minister to supervise the ministers and
formulate the parameters under which they work. He however warned that there
'will be a train smash if he (Shamu) continues to interfere. 'Lack of
sincerity will continue to haunt this deal,' Chamisa added. On Wednesday
Tsvangirai clarified the matter by insisting Chamisa was in charge of the
telecommunications sector and not Shamu.

Hardliners frustrating release of detainees

Photo: South African DFA

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai

HARARE, 25 February 2009 (IRIN) - The Zimbabwe Attorney-General's office is frustrating an agreement reached between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for the release of political activists.

"President Mugabe and myself last week agreed that all political detainees who have been formally charged with a crime should be released on bail, and that those who have not been charged should be released unconditionally," Tsvangirai said at a press briefing in the capital, Harare, on 25 February.

"The Attorney General's office is wilfully obstructing the release of all detainees by abusing the appeal process, and that must stop forthwith."

About 30 activists have been detained for allegedly receiving military training in neighbouring Botswana, which has long been critical of Mugabe and his ZANU-PF government. The charge has been strongly denied by the government of President Ian Khama.

The ZANU-PF hardliners are said to be security chiefs and central bank officials, who fear that the emergence of a transparent government could reveal crimes they have committed.

Roy Bennett, Zimbabwe's deputy agriculture minister designate and treasurer-general of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), remains incarcerated on charges of arms possession and banditry, despite being granted US$2,000 bail by the High Court in Harare on 24 February.

The judge also ordered the former white commercial farmer to surrender travel documents and imposed stringent reporting conditions, after receiving assurances from Tsvangirai that he would ensure Bennett did not abscond from Zimbabwe.

The progress of the unity government - which came into force with the inauguration of Tsvangirai as prime minister on 11 February, after a power-sharing agreement was signed on 15 September 2008 - has been far from smooth.

At the press briefing Tsvangirai also called for the continued farm invasions by ZANU-PF supporters to cease, and said Mugabe's unilateral appointments of Gideon Gono as central bank governor, and Gen Johannes Tomana as attorney-general, needed to be revisited, as these were contrary to the power-sharing agreement.

The re-appointment by ZANU-PF of the majority of ministerial permanent secretaries without consultation was also contrary to the terms of the deal. "The announcement of permanent secretaries has no force of law, and is therefore null and void," Tsvangirai said.

Madhuku says the power share government is a mess

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Violet Gonda
25 February 2009

The outrageous infringements of the power sharing deal by the Mugabe regime
were clearly exposed on Wednesday when human rights defenders were arrested
and beaten, threats to farmers continued and Mugabe announced a list of
permanent secretaries, all from ZANU PF.

The outspoken chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) Dr
Lovemore Madhuku,  described the inclusive government as a 'circus' and said
the power sharing deal was an inappropriate way of dealing with the complex
Zimbabwe crises. He said Mugabe does not know how to share power and it is
impossible to achieve the kind of real change that Zimbabweans yearn for, in
this kind of arrangement.

Madhuku said not only is Mugabe treating Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
like a junior partner but the human rights abuses are continuing as if
nothing has changed.

Police on Wednesday violently broke up a WOZA demonstration beating
protesters and arresting 10. And despite a SADC ruling barring ZANU PF
officials from grabbing protected farms, Nathan Shamuyarira's nephew gave
farmer Mike Campbell until 5pm to vacate his farm.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai held a press conference on Wednseday and said the
rule of law continues to be flouted in Zimbabwe, where farm invasions
continue unabated and in contravention of the Memorandum of Understanding.
He said this was now "undermining our ability to revive our agricultural
sector and restore investor confidence."

Tsvangirai also said despite the Principals agreeing "that all political
detainees who have been formally charged with a crime should be released on
bail and those that have not been charged should be released
unconditionally. This has not yet happened."

Some of the political prisoners are in leg irons and shackled at the Avenues
Clinic, the other group is incarcerated in filthy cells at Chikurubi. Rights
lawyers say at least 10 others are still missing after they were abducted by
state agents from their homes several months ago.

Furthermore, despite the fact that the MDC has not accepted his appointment,
the controversial Attorney General, Johannes Tomana continues to play a
significant role in interfering and abusing the detainees' quest for
freedom.

Tsvangirai said: "As long as these matters remain unresolved, it will be
impossible for the transitional government to move forward with the reforms
that this country so desperately needs."

However Dr Madhuku was highly critical of the new Prime Minister's
statement. He said; "The fact that he held a press conference to complain
shows that he has no power, because if had any power he would have been
sitting somewhere and actually exercising that power and we would see things
changing."

The NCA Chairman said if Mugabe was interested in real change and Tsvangirai
had power, political detainees would have been released, new faces would be
seen as permanent secretaries and police officers would start behaving
differently and not abuse ordinary citizens.

"But you cannot say you are in power if all you do is to go and have a press
conference and tell us the problems that everyone knows," said the outspoken
critic.

As the game of politics continues to be played in Zimbabwe, questions are
being asked about the role of the regional body - the guarantors of this
controversial Zimbabwean deal. Where is SADC in all this and who can
pressure SADC and South Africa, to force compliance?

Providing a true account of events

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk


Wednesday, 25 February 2009

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) is aware that, sometime
between 11 - 13 February 2009, at least 52 people were arrested and detained
at Mutoko Police Station facing charges of robbery. The allegations against
these detained residents of Mutoko are that they had used force to steal
property belonging to their fellow residents. ZLHR was subsequently
approached by representatives of the accused persons with information that
the alleged "robbers" had in fact not stolen or used force to dispossess the
complainants of their property but were a group of ordinary people who had
sought to recover their property, which property had been forcefully and
unlawfully taken from them by known persons during the controversial
Presidential run-off of 27 June 2008.
These accused persons were thus seeking restitution of their property
from persons who, though known to them, had never been brought before a
court of law to answer for the criminal acts they had committed against
them.
This matter has also been variously (and falsely) reported in the
state-controlled media (print and electronic) in relation to "politically
motivated violence" wherein individuals were "seeking retribution" for
election-related violence which occurred following the March 2008 election.
On Thursday 18 February 2009 lawyers from ZLHR proceeded to Marondera
Magistrates' Court where the criminal cases against the accused persons were
to be heard. The accused persons had in fact been transferred to Marondera
Magistrates' Court from Mutoko Magistrates' Court. It was discovered that
the Magistrate at Mutoko Magistrate's Court had in fact correctly recused
(withdrawn) himself from presiding over their case due to the undue pressure
against him from members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) who wanted
him, at any cost and without consideration of the facts and law, to deny
accused persons bail and ensure that they remained in custody.
At Marondera Magistrates' Court the accused persons were brought
before the State Prosecutor for vetting of the cases/allegations against
them. The Prosecutor then came to the conclusion that the police needed to
undertake more investigations in the matter; accused persons should be
released and would be summoned once the state was ready to prosecute.
Instead of heeding the legal advice of the Prosecutor, ZRP members at
Marondera Police Station led by one Officer Njanike, bundled the accused
persons into the bus that had brought them to Marondera from Mutoko and
detained them at Marondera Police Station where they spent the night in
unlawful detention - the prescribed statutory 48-hour period having long
since expired.
On 19 February 2009 lawyers from ZLHR returned to Marondera Police
Station to represent their clients and take instructions from them. The
lawyers were however denied access to their clients by the Officer
Commanding Law & Order, Detective Inspector Chimimba. The Office Commanding
Law and Order failed to tell the lawyers, upon inquiry, why the police at
Marondera were continuing to detain the accused persons beyond the
prescribed 48-hour period - more so without a warrant for further detention.
The accused persons had in fact already spent seven (7) days in police
custody without any warrant for their further detention. After having spent
almost three hours at Marondera Police Station trying to access their
clients Detective Inspector Chimimba told the lawyers that they were taking
the accused persons back to Mutoko and that the lawyers should wait until
the following day for further information about their clients.
On 20 February 2009, lawyers proceeded to Mutoko Police Station. Again
the lawyers met with Detective Inspector Chimimba who again refused them
access to their clients citing that she was busy. After waiting for almost
an hour, at 12:48hrs, lawyers again made an attempt to see their clients;
initially they had access but then, without explanation, their clients were
rushed back into a Zupco bus which was to take them back to Marondera. The
lawyers followed their clients to Marondera Magistrates' Court where at
around 15:30hrs they were finally able to meet with and interview their
clients.

According to the 52 accused persons the following obtains:

Sometime on the 11th and 13th of February 2009, accused persons
embarked on an initiative wherein they sought to recover their property
which had been taken from them during the run-up to the second presidential
election of 27 June 2008. This property included chickens and goats which
the accused persons had been forced to take to "bases" set up by fellow
residents and ZANU-PF supporters. One such base was Jembere Base in Ward 16
Mutoko, which base was led by one Temba Nyamukondiwa and other persons known
to the accused persons. At this base those who were suspected to be
supporters of the Movement of Democratic Change candidate, Morgan
Tsvangirai, were beaten and forced to pay fines for supporting the
opposition. These fines constituted chickens and goats which were meant to
be eaten by those who ran the base. It must be noted that, despite their
identities being known, none of the persons who ran these bases, beat and
stole the now accused persons' property have been brought before the courts
to answer to criminal charges. Instead the now accused persons have been
arrested and detained for attempting to recover their property which was
forcefully and violently taken from them. The now accused persons were
arrested between 11 and 13 February while trying to recover their property,
as they moved to each home of those who had taken their property sometime in
2008. This form of spoliation by the accused was conducted in a peaceful
manner, in fact with many of the persons from who they sought return of the
property admitting to having taken the same and opting to return the said
property or its value. Several agreements were in fact signed between those
involved as proof of resolution of any outstanding disputes.
In fact, there was only one incident where there was resistance, when
those who sought to recover their property were attacked by at least 10
people wielding spears, baton sticks and axes, with at least one person
being stabbed in the hand by a spear. After overpowering their attackers the
group went on to explain that wanted to peacefully recover their property,
following which they were given back some of the property by their
attackers.
All the property, chicken and goats, which was recovered was
immediately slaughtered, cooked and shared among the group as a ceremony of
having finally recovered their property and reconciled.
It was on 13 February 2009 that at least 52 of the accused persons
where arrested, detained and charged with robbery.
On 20 February 2009 at Marondera Magistrates' Court the accused
persons' lawyers were told by prosecutors that they had received the usual
"instructions from above" that the accused persons were not, under any
circumstances, to be granted bail. In fact the Prosecutors advised that if
the accused persons were granted bail they were instructed to invoke section
121 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which Act allows the
State to appeal against any granting of bail by the Magistrate, during which
time accused persons spend another 7 days in police custody.
The lawyers representing the accused went on to file applications for
bail for all the 52 accused persons. In one of the two courts where bail
applications were made, the presiding Magistrate postponed any decision on
the application to Monday 23 February 2009. However, in the other court the
presiding Magistrate went on to pass his decision wherein several of the
accused were granted bail while others were denied on the basis that their
personal circumstances indicated they would commit further offences if
granted bail. Those who were granted bail were however only taken back into
custody after the prosecutors, true to their orders, invoked section 121 of
the Criminal (Codification and Reform) Act. The State was not appealing
because they had just cause for doing so but simply as an unjustified means
to keep the accused persons in custody for another 7 days. In the end all 52
accused persons remained in custody. Three (3) ZANU-PF supporters who had
also been detained in relation to this matter were, surprisingly, granted
bail, and section 121 was NOT invoked. They have since gained their freedom.
Clearly this was another highlight of the blatant abuse of section 121
by the State and an unjustified violation of the right to liberty and
protection of the law. Women and men aged between 22 - 77 years old remain
at Marondera Remand Prison waiting decision on their bail applications and
others awaiting a trial date.
ZLHR deplores any use of violence to resolve disputes amongst
individuals and instead calls for the use of peaceful conflict resolution
mechanisms to resolve what are in fact long-standing and festering disputes
arising from election/politically motivated violence that was unleashed upon
thousands of Zimbabweans over the past years. In addition, the law
enforcement authorities must prosecute all such cases if there is to be a
break in the cycle of impunity and a reduction in such "self-help"
incidents. Simply arresting victims who seek their own justice, having been
failed by the State's law enforcement institutions and systems, and denying
them bail even there they may deserve the same can never be a solution to
resolve the divisions, anger, pain and hurt that has festered in Zimbabwe's
political society over the years.
ZLHR believes that justice must be seen to be done, wherein all those
who over the past years committed acts of violence, including beatings and
torturing people and stealing their property are made to account for their
actions. Victims of violence must be involved in such processes, as a means
of healing their pain and loss and achieving true and lasting peace. Healing
of victims and survivors cannot be achieved in abstract; holistic
victim-centered approaches which include truth-telling, reparations and
memorialization, have to be explored and properly sequenced to achieve a
lasting peace and harmony within the communities.
ZLHR therefore calls upon the Ministry of Justice, Legal and
Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that their
law enforcement and adjudication agents exercise their duties in a
non-partisan, lawful and transparent manner. The law should not be
selectively applied. Many Zimbabweans have lost faith in State institutions
which are relevant and critical to the restoration and maintenance of peace,
tranquility and justice. We now look to these institutions to see whether
they will restore the faith and confidence in the justice delivery system
through ensuring that justice does not see favour or bias and that all are
entitled to the protection of the law.

Ambassador McGee's remarks at Africa University

U.S. Embassy, Harare

Public Affairs Section

February 25, 2009

Transcript of Remarks by U.S. Ambassador James D. McGee at the African University, Mutare on February 24, 2009 during an event to celebrate Black History Month

Thank you very much Dr. Tagwira.

Dr. Tagwira, Dean Chitepo, students, faculty and guests. It’s a pleasure to be able to be with you today. It’s been far too long since I have been to the Mutare area and I am thrilled to be able to speak with you all today as part of Black History Month celebrations. I hope that some of you were able to attend Amb. George Haley’s talk here a few weeks ago. As many have said, getting to hear Amb. Haley is a chance to “touch history” and I’m sure he added a lot to the conversations here on campus.

Following me today is Anne Johnson, our Information Resource Officer who is visiting from South Africa. She will be sharing with you some history about African-American literature. This will give you a complementary perspective on the progression in race relations in America to the one Amb. Haley provided.

Literature remains one of the key ways in which a society can tell its story to both the present and the future. Certainly, great writers such as Ralph Ellison, Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison made a huge impact by depicting the African-American experience in the U.S. By humanizing events and making the abstract concrete they showed all Americans, and the rest of the world, a different view of American society. By doing so, they played a key role in the civil rights movement in the U.S. I hope all of you will take advantage of the American Corner located in the AU library to explore the richness of African-American and, more broadly, American literature and history.

I am not a writer. But I hope you will let me share with you a few stories today. The stories I want to tell are not from my past, but the stories I see playing out all around me every day in Zimbabwe. They are stories of abductions, of cholera and of hunger. But they can also be stories of hope, and your voices are a key part of that story. These stories all share one important element – they are stories of man-made crises.

As I speak with you today 18 people still languish in prison, after having been abducted over 3 ½ months ago. 10 more abductees are still missing. They were supposed to be released many times, yet still remain behind bars. Their release must take place without any further delay. Doing so would be an important sign that the new unity government is taking its pledges seriously and honestly wants to move forward for all of Zimbabwe.

This is certainly an important story for what it represents, but I’d like to remind you that it is also a very human story. You may have heard that among the original abductees was a 2 year-old boy. His name is Nigel. After nearly 2 months in detention Nigel was finally released by the authorities into the care of relatives. Nigel’s parents remain in prison. None of us can imagine the experiences of this small child, but it is certainly high time that he be reunited with his parents. Not just because their release is right and needed as a sign that Zimbabwe is moving forward, but because a 2 year-old boy needs his parents.

Another story that I am sure all of you are far too familiar with is the cholera epidemic that continues to plague Zimbabwe. Despite whatever you may have heard, the outbreak continues and is not under control. Last Friday the UN declared the outbreak “uncontrolled.” As of February 22 there have been 82,130 reported cases of cholera in Zimbabwe. 3,817 people have died according to World Health Organization’s statistics.

The human toll of this epidemic is staggering, and continues to grow. There have already been more cases than the World Health Organization originally predicted. There are new predictions that there could be up to 115,000 cases in a worst-case scenario. And that is just in Zimbabwe. I know that many students here at AU come from the region. While the extent is still to be determined, this epidemic is having a regional impact.  For example, two weeks ago USAID staff in Mozambique reported high cholera case numbers in several provinces on the border.

Making these numbers even more tragic is the fact that it did not have to happen. Cholera is easily treated and prevented. Unfortunately, Zimbabwe’s health care system has been allowed to deteriorate, due to mismanagement, corruption and greed, to the point where it is unable to care for the people it is supposed to serve.

Further proof, if any were needed of this, can be seen in the fact that the case fatality rate at the over 300 cholera treatment centers that have been set up with international support is steadily dropping and is now generally under 2%. The overall case fatality rate is still at 4.6%. This shows that when people are able to get the necessary care and treatment in time, we can save them. Sadly, far too many Zimbabweans do not have access to the necessary facilities. Many people are dying at home without ever seeing a doctor or nurse. That is the story they have to tell.

The international side of the story is one of many dedicated individuals working long hours to try to help. The U.S. government is spending $6.8 million to help curb this epidemic. We are working closely with the World Health Organization and UNICEF and other donors and will continue to do so, whatever the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Another oft-heard story here in Zimbabwe is one of hunger. The UN now estimates that up to 7 million people will need food assistance this year. That is close to 3/4 of the population. Once again, this is a story that should not exist. The food crisis in Zimbabwe is not the result of sanctions or drought. It is the fault of a group of people who put their own desires ahead of their people. Through mismanagement and corruption they destroyed Zimbabwe’s once-thriving agricultural sector.

Wherever I go I hear of hungry people. Equally sad I hear of small farmers who want to farm but can’t because they could not get seed or fertilizer. I hear of farmers whose crops withered because there was no water or electricity to irrigate their fields. This is the story of Zimbabwe’s food crisis. It is not just a story of large farms unable to produce. It’s a story of many individual farmers unable to provide for their families.

Once again, the U.S. and other donors are doing our best to help the suffering. The U.S. is the single largest food donor to Zimbabwe. We gave over $225 million last year to feed the people of Zimbabwe. We will continue to lead the international effort to fight food insecurity in Zimbabwe this year.  Since 2002 my country has given more than one billion dollars of aid to the people of Zimbabwe.

Before I get accused of only telling sad stories, let me end by talking about the story of hope that exists. This is the story of countless compassionate and dedicated Zimbabweans working for a better future for themselves, their families and their country.  Let me assure you, these people exist. I said before that these issues we confront result from a man-made crisis.  And I believe that they must be addressed with man-made solutions.   You all play important parts in designing these man-made solutions.  I encourage you to use your creativity, your voices, and your actions to help bring these solutions to your leaders.

Despite all the challenges I remain hopeful that true change is coming. I hope that the new unity government represents a beginning. We are watching closely and will judge this new government on its actions. If it takes concrete steps to meet the conditions the international community laid out long ago for reengagement, the United States will be at the forefront in providing assistance. However before that can happen, we need to see restoration of the rule of law, commitment to the democratic process and respect for human rights, a commitment to timely and internationally supervised elections, full and equal access for all Zimbabweans to humanitarian assistance, and commitment to macroeconomic stabilization in accordance with guidance from relevant international agencies.  An important and necessary first step is the release of all political detainees.  If we see signs that this is taking place our support will expand. If we do not see these signs, we will continue to provide humanitarian relief while pushing for these changes.

Finally, the most hopeful story is yours. The students of Africa University will be the future leaders of Zimbabwe and their many home countries. I urge you to use your education to build a brighter future for your homes and all of Africa.

And I urge you to add your stories to those told in literature. Authors such as Charles Mugoshi and Chenjerai Hove changed history through their works, just like Alice Walker and African-Americans writers changed the U.S. Maybe the next Dambudzo Marechera or Agostinho Neto is in the audience today. It is up to you to tell the rest of the world and future generations what you have seen and experienced.

Thank you.

Global crisis may hit aid to Zimbabwe: SADC

http://af.reuters.com

Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:20pm GMT

By Wendell Roelf

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - A regional aid package to help Zimbabwe's
reconstruction could be affected by the impact of the global financial
crisis on southern Africa, a senior SADC official said on Wednesday.

Finance ministers from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community
are meeting in South Africa on Wednesday to discuss an aid package for
Zimbabwe, where the new unity government faces a severe humanitarian and
economic crisis.

The global economic meltdown has had a negative impact on SADC -- with many
of the bloc's members net importers of fuel or food -- slowing GDP growth
and increasing current account deficits, even in South Africa, the block's
strongest economy.

"When (finance) ministers consider any support to Zimbabwe they have to take
into consideration what is going on (globally), so for sure it is a
challenge," SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao told Reuters.

"But they will support Zimbabwe," Salomao said.

Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who joined the power-sharing
government with President Robert Mugabe earlier this month, said last week
it could cost up to $5 billion to ensure the long-term economic recovery of
the country.

South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, current chairman of SADC, sought
a regional response after meeting with Tsvangirai and his Finance Minister
Tendai Biti last week to discuss economic support.

A former breadbasket in the region, Zimbabwe must resolve an economic
meltdown that has led the world's highest inflation rate and a worthless
local currency.

Prices double every day as Zimbabweans struggle with food shortages, massive
unemployment and a cholera epidemic which has killed close to 4,000 people.

Salomao reiterated SADC's position that Western sanctions against Zimbabwe
be lifted to boost its economy, and said the regional body would consider
appealing to the IMF and World Bank for funding.

"Where money will be coming from, we have a range of options, (such as it)
coming from those member states who have reserves."

"I think that we can also assist Zimbabwe in knocking on the doors of
friendly countries who can also assist Zimbabwe, but as a request of a
regional body," Salomao said, without naming these countries.

Zimbabwe has in the past approached China and Libya for assistance as the
U.S and Europe, who remain unconvinced of the new democratic order in
Zimbabwe, adopted a tough line and imposed wide-ranging sanctions.

Mudzuri says US$1 billion needed to revamp energy sector

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
25 February 2009

On Wednesday Energy and Power Development Minister, engineer Elias Mudzuri,
said US$1 billion is needed for the next 12 months to fix the country's
battered energy sector.

'There is a lot of work to be done in the coming year. US$600 million will
help but a billion dollars will be appropriate for the Zimbabwe Electricity
Supply Authority,' Mudzuri said.

The Minister said there are plans to promote renewable sources so that they
account for a big percent of overall power consumption in years to come.

'We have worked on a document that we presented to the Finance Minister,
detailing our strategy to revamp the energy sector. This is an ongoing
exercise but for now we need a lot of energy to get the industry and
commerce sectors back on their feet,' Mudzuri said.
The cash strapped ZESA is broke and cannot meet its operational costs. The
country's power utility company has been unable to procure crucial equipment
to connect new residential areas, a development that has forced it to ask
customers to purchase their own overhead cables.
Like most of the infrastructure in Zimbabwe, ZESA's power stations and
transmission grid are crumbling due to under-funding and neglect, as the
country grapples it's severe economic meltdown, described by the World Bank
last year as the worst in the world, outside a war zone.
Many areas have at times gone for months without electricity because of
breakdowns at ZESA's archaic power stations, while failure by the state
energy utility to pay for coal has seen some of its thermal power stations
having to operate below capacity.
Zimbabwe needs 1400 megawatts of electricity a day, but Hwange power station
currently supplies the nation with only 400 megawatts of power per day,
while Kariba power station generates 750 megawatts, leaving a deficit of 250
mw everyday.

Hwange should generate 920 megawatts, when it is operating at full capacity.

'If we can manage to make Hwange fully operational within a year, that will
be excellent. In Kariba we need to add two more generators to increase the
power capacity. We will also be working on other smaller power stations and
all this work will take up to two years to complete,' Mudzuri added.

Asked to comment on the outcry from consumers about the astronomical energy
bills, Mudzuri was quick to agree the bills were ridiculous and pointed a
finger of blame at people 'who do business without consulting.'

'These are people firing from the dark. We've said no to this and we will be
engaging all stakeholders so that people come up with commercially viable
options,' he said.

Speaking about the fuel situation, Mudzuri said he was optimistic that lines
of credit will be extended soon to the government and private players, to
allow an improved supply of fuel and also to increase competition among
players.

The National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (NOCZIM) will play a leading role in
transforming this sector; though Mudzuri warned he would strictly monitor
its operations to curb the corruption tendencies linked with some of the
executives involved with the company.

 'We will adopt a clear and transparent policy that will allow the
government to open up the market and allow new players to source fuel and
supply locally,' the minister said.

Daily cholera update and alerts, 24 Feb 2009

 Full_Report (pdf* format - 176.3 Kbytes)

* Please note that daily information collection is a challenge due to communication and staff constraints. On-going data cleaning may result in an increase or decrease in the numbers. Any change will then be explained.

** Daily information on new deaths should not imply that these deaths occurred in cases reported that day. Therefore daily CFRs >100% may occasionally result

A. Highlights of the day:

- 229 cases and 29 deaths added today (in comparison 1290 cases and 50 deaths yesterday)

- 55.9% of the districts affected have reported today (33 out of 59 affected districts)

- 90.3 % of districts reported to be affected (56 districts/62)

- Cumulative Institutional Case Fatality Rate 1.85%

- Daily Institutional Case Fatality Rate 3.08%

Zimbabwe's Health, Food Crises Still Grave - UN Official

http://www.nasdaq.com

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AFP)--A top U.N. humanitarian official said Wednesday that
Zimbabwe still faces a grave crisis, with major challenges in averting
hunger and stopping a cholera epidemic that has killed 3,800 people.

Catherine Bragg, assistant secretary general for humanitarian affairs, said
that many parts of Zimbabwe have yet to receive any help in fighting
cholera, which has affected more than 83,000 people since August.

"The humanitarian situation remains grave. Despite efforts to control
cholera, there are many places which are yet to be visited," she told
reporters at the end of a five-day mission.

She also said that the country faces serious threats from hunger, after the
U.N.'s World Food Program reported last month that the number of people
without food was estimated at 6.9 million, more than half the population.

"We continue to see serious challenges. We need to scale up our actions,"
she said.

"Donors have been generous to the humanitarian issues. Of the $500 million
requested, 70% of the funding requirements have been met," she added.

Bragg met with both President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai.

Her team was set to leave Harare later Wednesday for Johannesburg, where
they were expected to brief visiting U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on
their findings.

  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
  02-25-091036ET

More people eating less food

Photo: IRIN

R.I.P the formal economy

HARARE, 25 February 2009 (IRIN) - Urban hunger has deepened across Zimbabwe over the past three years, with families cutting back on their quantity and quality of food, according to a joint UN and government assessment.

The Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee's (ZimVAC) survey, Urban Food Security Assessment: January 2009 National Report, is the first since 2006, and reflects a sample of 2,677 households.

"Since the last ZimVAC assessment in 2006, the food security situation for the majority of the urban population in high-density and peri-urban areas has been worsening," said the report.

National urban food insecurity increased from 24 percent in November 2006 to 33 percent by January 2009, with the worst affected areas in Matabeleland North, the westernmost province, and Manicaland Province, bordering Mozambique.

The number of households consuming three meals a day declined from 54 percent in 2006 to 23 percent in 2009, "clearly indicating that households are reducing the number of meals as a coping strategy", the ZimVAC noted.

Trying to cope

"Limiting the size of portions, relying on less preferred foods and reducing the number of meals were the most common coping strategies among interviewed households," said the report.

"This is consistent with the shift of the highest proportion of surveyed households reporting having three meals per day in 2006, compared to the highest proportion of households assessed in 2009 having two meals per day."

According to the ZimVAC, households were also making do with less varied diets, with the average food consumption score - indicating the diversity of food on the table - declining from 64.88 percent in 2006 to 46.52 percent in 2009.

Even those families generally considered food secure were resorting to selling household property to augment their food stocks

The researchers found that diets rich in carbohydrates, proteins, vegetables, oils and fats were "considered as luxuries by households when they struggle to make ends meet".

Most of the foodstuffs consumed by families were obtained through purchases, with own production - particularly of vegetables - supplementing the food basket.

Almost one-third of households interviewed confessed they had sold some of their assets, including livestock, to purchase food: even those families generally considered food secure were resorting to selling household property to augment their food stocks, but the trend "is worrying, as it is likely creating a vicious cycle of impoverishment".

The survey suggested a lower reliance on remittances than perhaps previously thought. "The proportion of households reporting someone who support them [financially] from time to time declined from 28 percent in 2006 to 19 percent in 2009."

An estimated three million to four million Zimbabweans - in a population of 12 million - have left the country, and their remittances are believed to be one of the keys to the continued solvency of households at home.

Urban agriculture, which over the years has been disrupted by municipal authorities who argued that town dwellers were flouting regulations, "continues to be one of the important sources of livelihoods for the majority of households in the peri-urban and high-density areas, after petty trading, cross-border trading and self employment", the report said. However, urban crop production has fallen in the last three years.

Accordidng to the ZimVAC, Zimbabwe's humanitarian crisis dates from 2000, the result of "a complex web of overlapping factors, some of which include erratic weather patterns; hyperinflation; shrinking economy and a receding international community". 

UN launches $500 million appeal for aid

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=12403

February 25, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - The head of a visiting United Nations humanitarian mission,
Catherine Bragg says her team has launched a combined appeal of US$500
million to try and rescue Zimbabwe from what she described as a grave
humanitarian crisis.

Addressing journalists in Harare at the end of her mission on Wednesday
afternoon, Bragg, who is the United Nations Assistant Secretary for
Humanitarian Affairs, said 43 percent of the required relief emergency has
since been secured.

Nearly seven million Zimbabweans are in need of food aid while 4 000 have
succumbed to the deadly cholera disease since mid last year.

The epidemic, which is now spreading to the country's rural areas, has
affected 80 000 people.

Bragg said despite an onslaught that has been directed at the epidemic by
the international community, numerous cholera cases continue to surface in
remote parts of the country.

"Despite tremendous efforts to contain one of the world's worst cholera
outbreaks in recent times, major challenges remain," she said

"There are areas where the results of our concerted efforts are seen in
declining number of new infections.

"But there are many places which have not been reached with the required
services and where cholera continues to spread."

The UN official said broader strategies such as fixing the water and
sanitation system which have caused the epidemic, were required to contain
the disease.

"Food security is another major issue," she said.

"The food security situation usually improves in March and April after which
the need for food aid generally declines but we continue to see serious
challenges, a growing number of households are reducing the number of meals
they have per day.

"This indicates the people's coping mechanisms are stretched.

"The people of Zimbabwe have demonstrated considerable resilience in the
face of hardship but everyone has his own limit."

She warned Zimbabwe faced a similar food crisis if Zimbabwean farmers were
not fully equipped with the necessary inputs for the next planting season,
which begins in early in October.

"Seven million people in need of food aid should not become the new norm in
2010," she said, adding that there would be need for continued food
assistance throughout 2009.

She added, "This is also the time to start planning broader early recovery.

"The rehabilitation of the basic infrastructure such as health water supply
and sanitation systems is required so that epidemics such as cholera and
other diseases do not reoccur.

"Without proper attention to education, large numbers of children would be
unable to access the right to education."

Bragg, whose mission met President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai and some cabinet ministers on Monday, said their discussions were
positive and their efforts were given assurances of full cooperation.

The team, which arrived in Zimbabwe last Saturday, comprised Daniel Lopez
Acuna from WHO in Geneva; Timo Pakkala from WFP in Johannesburg.

The other two members of the group are Andrew Parker a UNICEF official based
in New York and Dr Robin Nandy, a senior health advisor with UNICEF in New
York.

The humanitarian team also met various Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
operating in Zimbabwe, which have better knowledge of the humanitarian
situation on the ground.

It also visited Mashonaland East province's Wedza area, Harare's satellite
town of Ruwa, cholera treatment centres and some food distribution centres
and warehouses.

Bragg said she and her team would now approach various aid groups in the
world to project the nature of the situation on the ground with a view to
generating much needed humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe.

"The humanitarian community will continue to respond to the needs of the
people of Zimbabwe," she said.

"We will continue to provide food aid where needed, to continue to operate
established cholera treatment centres especially further into the periphery
and we will intensify the community public health outreach.

"We will also be carrying out additional needs assessment in order to better
understand the nature of the humanitarian crisis."

She however refused to delve into what she called political issues saying
her mission had come specifically to assess the humanitarian situation.

"The humanitarian community is always guided by humanitarian principles of
humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality," she said.

Bragg said the only instance in which so called political matters were
broached was only when President Mugabe personally raised the subject of
dozens of MDC political detainees.

According to Bragg, Mugabe said he could pardon the alleged terrorists only
when and after the due court process had run its course.

She was however quick to say the welfare of the people was the
responsibility of the government.

"We trust that the all-inclusive government will quickly take the necessary
steps to address the fundamentals of governance that would allow stability
and economic recovery," she said.

Speaking at the same occasion, Unicef's Andrew Parker said children in
Zimbabwe constituted the most vulnerable section of the population that has
been affected by the myriad problems.

Apart from the current food insecurity, cholera and the HIV virus, Parker
said children had their own unique problems, which were worsened by the
collapse of the country's health system.

No US dollars for an x-ray

MDC Supporters Take Revenge

http://www.iwpr.net/

Wave of attacks against ZANU-PF officials puts strain on power-sharing
government.

By Chipo Sithole in Harare (ZCR No. 182, 25-Feb-09)

Opposition supporters have staged a series of retaliatory attacks against
ruling party officials linked to the outbreak of brutal election violence
last year.

The latest turmoil follows the establishment on February 13 of an inclusive
government between President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, MDC.

MDC supporters' tit-for-tat attacks on ZANU-PF members threaten the new
power-sharing arrangement, and put the long-suffering population at renewed
risk.

For the first time since the state-sanctioned violence that followed
Mugabe's devastating loss in presidential elections last year, when over 200
MDC supporters were killed and 200,000 others internally displaced, MDC
supporters are exacting vengeance on their assailants.

They appear confident they will have protection from the power-sharing
government that now includes their leader.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa, the new information communication technology
minister in the joint administration, told IWPR that it was understandable
that people were angry, injured and scarred by last year's turmoil.

However, he said there was "a need for Zimbabweans to be collected, calm and
wait for the justice system to start unfolding to respond to this
overwhelming desire for fairness".

"We feel that there has to be a national healing process, and that process
must not be retributive, but restorative and rehabilitative. We risk ending
up having more victims where we are trying to deal with the injury, agony
and pain of the past," he said.

Chamisa said it was difficult to tell a person who is exploding with anger
to be patient, "but this is the plea that the leadership of the MDC is
making".

The scope of the new incidents bears no comparison to the widespread
state-sponsored violence by ZANU-PF and its allies in the blood-soaked
run-up to last year's presidential run-off vote.

In parts of Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces last week, MDC
supporters burned homes of known ZANU-PF supporters and officials, accusing
them of murdering their relatives.

In Mashonaland East, over 15 people were admitted to Mutoko District
Hospital on February 18 after they were singled out by MDC supporters who
accused them of directing last year's terror campaign in the area.

In Mbare, a dirt-poor suburb in Harare which witnesssed the worst election
violence in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, retaliatory attacks erupted barely
72 hours after Tsvangirai was sworn in as prime minister on February 11.

MDC supporters attacked occupants of Nenyere, Shawasha, Matapi and Tagarika
Flats in Mbare, swiftly moving into the apartment block which they claimed
they were repossessing after being driven away by ZANU-PF supporters at the
height of the election violence last year.

Eleven MDC supporters are currently being held on charges of malicious
injury to property and assault with intention to cause grievous bodily harm
during the Mbare incident.

MDC Mbare Ward 4 councillor Friday Muleya, among those evicted from the
flats, said the group had police clearance to reclaim the property.

"When we got there, there was commotion and people were injured," he said.
"The police intervened and arrested our members, saying we had taken the law
into our own hands - yet they were the ones who gave us their blessings."

In Mutoko North and East constituencies, MDC supporters ran riot, attacking
supporters of Mugabe's party in what they termed "payback time".

Trouble reportedly started after an MDC rally held on February 8 at the
Mushimbo business center some 10 kilometres from the centre of Mutoko.

ZANU-PF victims, shown on state television with swollen faces, claimed that
the MDC had compiled their names on the eve of the swearing-in of Tsvangirai
as prime minister.

ZANU-PF provincial youth league leader Marere Kuguyo and ZANU-PF provincial
political commissar Chenjerayi Mukondiwa, accused of having directed and
executed the terror campaign against the MDC last year, were beaten by the
MDC mob, sustaining serious injuries.

They are both in an intensive care unit. Police have launched a manhunt for
their assailants.

The MDC supporters also grabbed livestock such as chickens, pigs, goats and
even cattle as compensation for the animals they allege were seized at the
height of the election campaign by ZANU-PF district leaders and feasted on
at ZANU-PF camps.

ZANU-PF member of parliament for Mutoko East Ordo Nyakudanga appealed for
calm and said "let bygones be bygones".

"I want to urge our people to emulate their leaders who have embraced
reconciliation and peace for the sake of development in Zimbabwe," he said.

In Mashonaland Central province, hotbed of support for Mugabe and one of the
areas that suffered the worst election-related violence, axe-wielding MDC
supporters went on the rampage, kidnapping alleged members of ZANU-PF
vigilante squads, taking them into the bush and thoroughly beating them.

The outbreak of violence in Bindura, in Mashonaland Central, was seemingly
triggered by Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri unilaterally
pardoning the people allegedly responsible for last year's murders of
opposition supporters.

The majority of those murdered were in Bindura.

"Please be advised that all murder cases committed during the run-up to the
presidential election and have not been finalised be dropped immediately,"
Chihuri said in an apparent memo to all police provincial commanders leaked
to IWPR. "The decision has been made in the spirit of promoting national
healing in view of the inclusive government."

The pardon includes perpetrators of murder and rape and frees from
prosecution thousands of supporters of ZANU-PF. Many were awaiting trial for
manslaughter, assault and damage to property.

Chihuri has since dispatched Deputy Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga to
all provinces to appraise the ProPols (officers commanding provinces) on the
details of the amnesty and to quell simmering unrest in the countryside over
the move.

In rural Masvingo, isolated incidents were reported of aggrieved MDC
supporters going after alleged members of the ZANU-PF vigilante squads,
wielding axes and whips.

Victims of last year's ZANU-PF-orchestrated violence, miffed by the
conspicuous silence from the inclusive government on issues to do with
transitional justice, say the police commissioner-general's pardon is a slap
in the face of the MDC and are now taking the law into their own hands.

In his appeal for calm and patience, the MDC's Chamisa said the inclusive
government had clear mechanisms to deal with issues of transitional justice
and three ministers - John Nkomo of ZANU-PF, Sekai Holland of the mainstream
MDC and Gibson Sibanda of the breakaway MDC faction - had been appointed for
that purpose.

Churches and civil society groups have heightened calls for the
establishment of a truth, justice and reconciliation commission to deal with
transitional justice issues.

Civil society groups have also strongly denounced the blanket amnesty for
perpetrators of violence, saying it may reduce Zimbabwe's chances of
receiving foreign aid.

"Returning to the rule of law should be an essential pre-requisite for a
return to normal relations with the donor community," said one activist.

Tsvangirai has said Zimbabwe will need five billion US dollars to
reconstruct the shattered economy but key financiers such as the European
Union and other international donors, including Britain and the US, which
have frozen all but humanitarian aid, said they would reconsider helping
only if those guilty of election violence faced the due process of law, and
all political prisoners on trumped up charges of attempting to overthrow the
president are released from jail.

Chipo Sithole is the pseudonym of an IWPR journalist in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans abroad return as volunteers

From BBC News, 24 February

By Damian Zane

Norwich - Everjoice Makuve, dressed in a neat suit and consulting folders
bulging with documents, does not look like an archetypal pioneer. But by
trying to organise fellow expatriate Zimbabweans who are based in the UK to
go and volunteer in Zimbabwe, she is breaking new ground. Standing in front
of a small group of potential volunteers in a small church hall in Norwich
in the east of England, she is smiling and almost jumping with enthusiasm.
Her audience of trained social workers and nurses are hearing about what
they could achieve. Mrs Makuve has just begun a year's sabbatical from her
job as a sexual health adviser to work full time for her charity, Widows and
Orphans Relief Development. And as part of her mission she wants to find a
way to address the skills shortage created by hundreds of thousands of
Zimbabweans leaving the country. "I feel I've got a duty to rebuild the
nation to provide the services," she says. "Our government invested a lot of
money in developing us and in educating us and now the benefit is in the
UK."

There are about 20 expatriates in the first group. Some have left the UK
already, the rest are due to go in the next few weeks and they are all eager
to do their bit. Their initial task is somewhat modest. The intention is
that they will be working with women and children who have been affected by
Aids-related deaths. At first they will be in the field for around a
fortnight assessing the needs and possibly passing on some basic health,
sanitation or education skills. Gary Samungu is a social worker based in
London and he can't wait to leave. "I think Zimbabwe at the moment is at a
time of need," he says. "So if I offer my services I will have done my bit
as a patriotic Zimbabwean." Mary Kazangarare, who's a social worker living
in the eastern city of Ipswich, echoes his words. "That's my country," she
says, "and I know the plight of those children who have been affected by
Aids. I've seen them - an 11 year old looking after a seven year old and
he's the main bread-winner."

This begs the question of why, if they want to give something back, do they
not simply return home on a permanent basis. Mrs Kazangarare says that she
is in a better position to help from where she is. "If I go back
[permanently] I think I'll be worse off and I won't be able to help anyone.
Now, I'm able to send money to my niece and some orphans and help them go to
school. But if I go back to Zimbabwe I'm worse off because I won't be
employed, I won't get a job." The initial aims of the project are somewhat
modest, but Mrs Makuve has a more ambitious vision. She has been thinking
about the current cholera problem and imagines that one day her volunteers
could help out in such national emergencies. "If our programme was on the
ground and on a bigger scale we could have just sent nurses with the gloves
and all the equipment that is needed to go and help. And we're really going
to work with the government to see how we can help in hospitals, in social
services, in all areas that need the skills that have been lost through
migration." This may all be some time down the line. At the moment Everjoice
Makuve is concerned about helping one person at a time, and giving something
back to Zimbabwe. "We refer to the sankofa - the bird that looks back. And
in Shona we say: 'Ziwa koa kava (remember where you came from)'. It's a very
powerful word to say this and we are doing just that."

TelOne accounts

From: John Robertson

Date: 23/02/2009

E-mails claiming that I advised people last week to not pay their TelOne
accounts is nearly accurate, but my actual advice was to protest against the
charges and my hope was that we would all become actively involved in
protesting against the unfair demands being made by Zesa and the municipal
offices as well as TelOne. I do not recall saying "Don't pay", but I do
recall agreeing with a questioner that a token payment of a more reasonable
figure might help avoid disconnections.

I also remember making the point that these organizations are also hoping to
pay their staff in foreign currency and they were burdened by heavy
maintenance as well as capital expenditure needs. However, we, the buyers of
their services, could not be expected to pay as much as they needed to build
new exchanges, power stations or water treatment works.

With assistance from one very concerned citizen, I have gleaned the
following points that you might be able to use if you wish to throw your
weight behind the protest. I have concentrated on TelOne in these
observations, but perhaps the identical claims can be made about Zesa
accounts. The city councils might remain a challenge, but I would be glad to
hear your thoughts!

Some TelOne accounts have been charged out at a rate of US$0,30 per unit.
Section 6(5) of Statutory Instrument 6 of 2009 prohibits any increase in
prices when converting from the old to new currency to a level in excess of
the prices that applied on the 1st February 2009. This restriction also
applies to the conversion of prices to US dollars.

The termination of services for which no accounts have been sent to
subscribers will be totally illegal and proceedings could be brought against
TelOne to recover damages if such action were taken. TelOne operates under a
licence granted by the Postal and Telecommunications Authority, which was,
in turn, established in terms of Act 4/2000, Chapter 12:05.  TelOne is bound
by the conditions of its licence and also by the provisions of that Act.

Section 100 of that Act deals with the approval of tariffs by the Authority.
Subsection (1) of that Section states that "At the time of the issue or
renewal of any licence granted by the Authority, the licensee shall have its
proposed tariff approved by the Authority". Subsection (2) states that "The
licensee must obtain approval from the Authority if it intends to amend or
replace that tariff".  No approval has been publicised, but if one were
obtained, TelOne subscribers would have a right to the details of the
approved tariffs and notice of the date on which they would become
effective.

As a retrospective tariff increase would not have been permitted by the Act,
any attempt now to charge in US dollars for phone calls made before the yet
to be established approval was or is granted will be illegal. The most
recently gazetted tariff increase is contained in Statutory Instrument 319
of 2000.  Section 17(1) of that Statutory Instrument states that "There
shall be charged in respect of the telephone calls made by a telephone
subscriber or other person, the charges set out in the Eighteenth Schedule".

The Eighteenth Schedule sets out charges, which are in Zimbabwe dollars and
not in US dollars.  Those Regulations have not been repealed, so they remain
in force. The Corporation is only entitled to charge the rates set out in
that Schedule which are well below the proposed US$0,30 per unit, another
instance of acting illegally.

TelOne services are governed by the By-Laws set out in Regulations contained
in Government Notice No. 399/1973.  Part VI is headed "Accounts".  Section
71 states that "The subscriber shall be responsible for the payment of all
charges arising out of the use of his telephone, whether such charges have
been incurred with or without his knowledge or permission".

Section 72(1) states that "Charges for toll or trunk calls dialled direct by
a subscriber shall be included on telephone call accounts under the heading
of "metered calls"".  Section 73(1) states, "Accounts for calls, phonograms
and supplementary services shall be paid to the Corporation within 14 days
of the date of the account".  Subsection (2) states that "The account
rendered shall for all purpose be sufficient evidence of the amounts due by
the subscriber".

From this it is clear that the Corporation is obliged to send out an account
to each subscriber and that it would not be entitled to pre-date the
accounts in order to bring forward the date of payment.  It is clear from
this that a subscriber should be entitled to 14 days to pay his account.  It
is also quite clear that the Corporation is obliged to send accounts.

Subsection (3) states that "If a subscriber fails to pay his account for
calls, the Corporation may summarily suspend the service". TelOne therefore
has no right to suspend the service until an account has been sent out and
the subscriber has been given 14 days within which to pay.

As a parastatal organisation, TelOne's conduct is governed by the
Administrative Justice Act. In this Act, an Administrative Authority is
defined as any person who is an officer, employee, member, committee,
council or board of the State or local authority, or a parastatal that has
the lawful authority to carry out the administrative action concerned.
TelOne's decision to charge all of its subscribers in US dollars was clearly
an administrative decision, as was the decision backdate the application of
the decision.  No announcement has been made about this administrative
decision, and there is no evidence to suggest that people with the necessary
authority took the decision.

Section 3(1) of the Administrative Justice Act states that "An
administrative authority, which has the responsibility or power to take any
administrative action which may affect the rights, interests or legitimate
expectations of any person, shall act lawfully, reasonably and in a fair
manner".  The Section goes on to say that they must act timeously and that,
"Where an administrative authority has taken an administrative action, it
must supply written reasons within the relevant period for that
administrative action". In fewer words, every authority could be held to
account. TelOne's administration appears no longer to believe it is
accountable for its actions.

Section 3(2) states that, "For an administrative action to be taken in a
fair manner as required by Subsection (1) the administrative authority shall
give any person who will be affected adequate notice of the nature and
purpose of the proposed action and a reasonable opportunity to make adequate
representations".  This TelOne has not done, so it appears that it is acting
not only illegally, but unfairly as well.

Section 4 states that "Any person who is aggrieved by the failure of
administrative authority to comply with Section 3 may apply to the High
Court for relief".  This course of action might be expected of TelOne
subscribers if they are not given notice of the intended charges and time to
make representations about these charges.

Subsection (2) of Section 4 states that the High Court has the power to
confirm or set aside decisions, or refer any issue back to the
administrative authority for consideration. It can also give directions to
achieve the administrative authority's compliance with the requirements of
Section 3. Statutory Instrument 5 of 2009, which authorises payment for
services rendered by a parastatal to be made in foreign currency, also
states that Zimbabwe dollars can also be used. Accordingly, payment of any
account can still be made in Zimbabwe dollars.

Zimbabwe musicians inspire through song

NEWARK, New Jersey (CNN) -- Her powerful voice resonates through the music hall, delivering an unlikely message of hope.

The musical group Liyana has completed its U.S. tour but is wary of returning to Zimbabwe.

The Afro-fusion melody comes from an unlikely source -- the small, wheelchair-ridden body of Prudence Mabhena, a woman from Zimbabwe who has overcome her physical disabilities and the hurdles of daily life in her home country.

"Some people don't even get you and take you as a person," Mabhena said. "And with us singing right now, we're not giving up -- we're pushing up."

Mabhena is the lead singer of Liyana, a group of eight musicians who are all physically disabled and from Zimbabwe. Their message of hope has been drowned out in their home country, which is suffering from an economic collapse, a cholera outbreak, and a political power struggle that has erupted into violence.

Mabhena was born with arthrogryphosis, a muscle and joint disorder, and had to have parts of her arms and legs amputated as a result. She said her mother was told to kill her rather than have her face life as a physically disabled woman in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe was once a center for disability rights after it gained independence in 1980, according to recent report on Public Radio International. It was one of the first countries to recognize the rights of the disabled, who are sometimes shunned by communities in rural Africa who fear they are touched by witchcraft.

But the gains for the disabled in Zimbabwe have been erased by the country's current crisis, according to Dr. Raymond Lang of the London-based Cheshire Center for Conflict Recovery who spoke to PRI's Lonny Shavelson.

Mabhena said the group is apprehensive about returning to Zimbabwe after its U.S. tour, which wrapped up this month.

But none of the members of Liyana dwells on the despair.

"'Never give up' -- it's one of our biggest and strongest mottos," said singer Tapiwa Nyenger, explaining one of the band's song titles. "We have the capability to go on stage and at the end of the day make people smile. It's a good feeling."

All eight band members, who are between the ages of 17 and 23, met at the King George VI school for disabled children in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The band describes their music as a fusion between "myriad geographic, cultural, and musical genres including gospel, reggae, and traditional Zimbabwean Shona music."

Liyana means "rain" -- a Shona term for good luck.

"Music makes you think of something positive," Nyenger said. "For me, music is rehabilitation."

Mabhena has said her voice is a gift from god.

They had long dreamed of performing in the United States, and their multi-city tour included more than 20 performances in California and the New York metro area, including the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

"We have been received in an overwhelming, heart-filling way," Nyenger said. "Everywhere we go, every place we go, we [see] new things, we meet new people, we learn new stuff."

The band's U.S. tour coincided with President Barack Obama's inauguration, which has also been a source of inspiration for a new song, "Obama."

"When we heard Obama was going to be the American president, the first black American president, we were so excited," Mabhena said. "Through that joy that we had, there came a song."

Liyana is also the subject of a new documentary, iThemba -- My Hope -- which is scheduled to be released worldwide later this year. The band's singers perform in seven languages -- Shona, Ndebele, English, Dutch, German, Hebrew, and Spanish -- allowing them to reach a wider audience.

"We want to leave a message to everyone in the world that no matter what circumstance you are in, you can make it," singer Marvelous Meulo said.