"The Zimbabwe Situation" news page
MPs urge Mugabe to inject new blood into government
7/11/00 10:00:04 AM (GMT +2)
Sandra Nyaira, Political Reporter
Newly-elected Zanu PF Members of Parliament have asked President Mugabe to bring in new blood into the government by appointing winners of last month’s parliamentary election to cabinet positions.
The MPs told Mugabe not to bring back the old guard who lost heavily to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the last polls.
Mugabe, who met with the MPs last Thursday, was grilled for his failure to promote young people to senior positions and for delaying the announcement of a new cabinet.
The new Zanu PF MPs are demanding a cabinet of not more than 20 to steer the country out of its economic crisis and to ensure Zanu PF wins the presidential election in 2002. They told Mugabe that Zanu PF’s worst enemy during the election was the ailing economy, characterised by high interest and inflation rates, unemployment and the high cost of living.
Earlier, Mugabe had blamed the party’s loss of 57 seats to the MDC on the British government, which he said had mobilised the rest of Europe, the media and other political parties in the region against Zanu PF.
The most vocal at the meeting, according to impeccable sources, were Border Gezi the new MP for Bindura, Philip Chiyangwa for Chinhoyi and Charles Ndlovu for Chegutu, although all other MPs were given a chance to speak.
“We told him that we should not only point fingers at others but also look at what we have done wrong and move forward,” said one MP, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Yes, there was a lot of international pressure but the economy sold us out.”
Mugabe told the MPs, that Minister of Local Government and National Housing, John Nkomo, Zanu PF’s national chairman, and Vice-President, Joseph Msika would be appointed non-constituency MPs.
The two did not stand in last month’s election, saying their positions in the party were national.
Since the election two weeks ago, Mugabe has still not named a new cabinet.
“Almost all the new MPs told the President that there was need for the party to manage change rather than to wait for change to manage it,” another MP said.
Mugabe was told by his central committee, before the election, that there was need for change within the party but the committee’s recommendations were not adopted.
“The new MPs made it clear to him that the party will have to change or kiss goodbye to the presidency in 2002,” another source said, “but it’s a pity because it seems as if the President still believes everything is okay.”
“If Zanu PF was a company, with the poor showing we had during the election, then definitely the management would have been fired because they would have failed to deliver,” one MP is said to have told the closed meeting of new MPs and politburo members.
The new MPs ridiculed members of the politburo most of whom lost the parliamentary election to the MDC.
SA to help Zimbabwe re-build its economy
7/11/00 9:59:04 AM (GMT +2)
Political Reporter
THE South African government will soon send a team of ministers to assist Zimbabwe in rebuilding its economy and bring stability in the region.
The Minister of Local Government and National Housing, John Nkomo, who led a Zanu PF delegation to South Africa before last month's parliamentary election, confirmed South African ministers will come to Zimbabwe soon. But, he said, Cabinet still had to discuss the matter.
“The report has been presented to Cabinet, we have consulted and it's being formalised,” said Nkomo.
“My understanding is that the South African President has appointed that team of ministers. He wants them to interact with ministers in Zimbabwe, but I do not know how many they are and how soon they will be coming down,” Nkomo said.
Press reports from South Africa said President Thabo Mbeki’s cabinet had agreed to send a team of ministers to assist Zimbabwe re-build the economy after the conclusion of last month’s parliamentary election.
Zimbabwe, with its ailing economy, high levels of unemployment and high cost of living, is South Africa’s biggest trading partner.
A South African government spokesperson, Joel Netshitenzhe, yesterday said Mbeki would appoint the ministers to visit Zimbabwe to work with President Mugabe’s new team of ministers.
Mugabe still has to announce his new cabinet which is expected to have 18 ministers, down from the current 49, including deputy ministers, governors and ministers of state. The election and the run-up to it had a negative effect on South Africa’s economy, with foreigners selling South African bonds and the Rand sliding.
The Rand strengthened after the results were announced.
MDC CONDEMNS CONTINUED VIOLENCE
10 July, 2000
The primary aim of the MDC after the general election has been reconciliation and rebuilding the nation in a peaceful manner that respects people's choices, allows law and order to prevail. As a social democratic party we believe in the freedom of association and expression. We are tolerant and accommodating. That remains our persuasion.
However we note that the government of Robert Mugabe continues to refuse to accept the verdict of the people and is making concerted efforts to subvert it. Our membership, supporters and well wishers have since the end of election been subjected to acts of extreme provocation; physical assaults, verbal insinuations and outright retribution for the verdict they delivered at the parliamentary polls.
Abuse of the State Apparatus
It is unfortunate that in engaging in these acts of retribution on the MDC membership and its supporters government is using the state apparatus. Under the pretext of preventing post election violence high density suburbs of Harare have been placed under virtual martial law. The police have been replaced with the mechanized sections of the army. We have received reports of arbitrary beatings of people suspected by these soldiers. Reports have been received from Dzivarasekwa, Kambuzuma, Mufakose, Mabvuku, Sunningdale, Tafara and other townships of arbitrary nightly beatings of innocent people by the soldiers deployed in the area. We note that contrary to what government would have us believe that they are trying to prevent post election violence no deployment of these soldiers has been witnessed in the rural communal lands and the commercial farms, where the massive pre-election violence was prevalent. We note instead that efforts are not being made to restore law and order on the commercial farms.
On Sunday July, 9 2000, we noticed yet another flagrant violation of the rights of Zimbabweans during the Zimbabwe vs S. Africa soccer match. It is not a secret that action of the police that resulted in the death of 12 innocent people was a politically motivated. There can be no justification for this irrational behaviour. But a government that refuses to accept the verdict of the people treads on illegitimate ground and deserves condemnation by the people.
Conclusion
We wish to state here that the government has tested the patience of Zimbabweans to the limit. Let government be reminded that the people have the capacity in their numbers to see to it that their collective will prevails.
In the face of this provocation and sustained state sponsored violence the MDC shall engage its structures and stakeholders with a view of receiving a clear mandate of what form of collective action to take in order to confront this flagrant violation of people's rights.
An economics agenda for the new MPs
7/11/00 9:18:55 AM (GMT +2)
Ndaba Mpofu
I have been reading with interest the Press interviews with the new Members of Parliament regarding their priorities.
Almost without exception, the MPs are talking about developing their constituencies, initiating income-generating projects etc. Some have even gone on to reveal how they will be looking for donor funding for such projects.
I would, however, like to try and focus their attention on the broader issues of economic growth and stability at national rather than constituency level, which, if addressed, will not only lead to the development of their areas and the attendant employment creation, but will also do so in a sustainable manner.
There are many examples of MPs who did sterling work in their constituencies in the last Parliament but have not made it into the new Parliament because the broader economic policy environment was not addressed.
Not all of us have formal training in economics. However, there are some pretty basic principles of economics which the MPs can pick up from day-to-day business reports and publications. It is imperative that our MPs take the time to understand how a modern economy works, and, if need be, attend some basic training course on this subject.
Perhaps the political parties themselves or the government might organize such basic training courses for our legislators who will be responsible for setting policies for the development of our country. A growing economy is the only assurance that we can have for peace and stability in our country, and it should, therefore, be the top priority for those in positions of authority.
For many years, industry and the business community have been asking the government to create a stable and conducive economic policy environment.
What do we mean by this? A conducive macroeconomic environment is one in which there is low inflation, a stable currency and a high level of investment which in turn lead to economic growth and employment creation. It is an environment that is attractive to business and the labour that they employ, who work together to create wealth.
Zimbabwe currently has an inflation rate in excess of 60 percent per annum.
Perhaps we should expand somewhat on this subject of inflation. Without sounding too simplistic, inflation refers to a situation in which there is a continuous rise in the level of prices.
Inflation results from what has been loosely described as “too much money chasing too few goods”. It is generally accepted that in Zimbabwe the high rate of inflation is a result of excessive government expenditure in non-wealth creating activities. This high government spending in turn leads to Budget deficits, whereby the spending far outstrips the revenue, and government ends up borrowing from the banking sector to finance its expenditure.
The standard method of controlling inflation is to reduce the level of expenditure in the economy, by raising interest rates (monetary policy) and reducing government spending (fiscal policy).
In the past, the efforts to control inflation in Zimbabwe have been concentrated on monetary policy and not fiscal policy. As a result, the anti-inflation measures have failed to have the desired effect of reducing inflation. In addition to the high interest rates, the high rate of inflation is, therefore, a severe destabilising factor in any economy that needs priority attention from its government.
There is no denying that Zimbabwe is an agricultural economy. At the same time, the country has a fairly well developed industrial sector. These two sectors are dependent on each other, and one cannot promote the development of one at the expense of the other. To illustrate this point further, the agricultural sector depends on the industrial sector for a market for its produce.
The industrial sector, on the other hand, supplies the machinery and inputs (seeds, fertilisers, chemicals etc) needed by the agricultural sector to enhance its productivity. So when one talks about a conducive macro-economic environment for business, it should not be seen as an argument for promoting industry alone, but also the development of agriculture.
Every Zimbabwean agrees about the imperative need for land reform, but this needs to be done in a manner that does not threaten productivity in both the agricultural and industrial sectors.
Let us then go back to the broader agenda of economic stability and growth.
What needs to be done? The solutions that have been proffered by the government, which include fixing the exchange rate and controlling prices, try to address the symptoms and not the cause of the problem and have not worked here or elsewhere in the world before. They only result in shortages and the development of parallel markets.
To illustrate this point, one needs look no further than the foreign exchange market at present where the Zimbabwe dollar is trading at 60 to 1 to the US dollar, against the official rate of 38 to 1.
There are some tried and tested and universally accepted principles of economics that Zimbabwe needs to apply to its economic problems without resorting to policies that have failed.
The central theme of the new MPs' agenda is, therefore, to press for a drastic reduction in non-productive government spending in order to stabilise the economy, that is bring down inflation and protect the value of the currency. It is unlikely that this can be achieved without regaining the support of the international community and institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Most countries in Africa who had initially made heroic resistances to these institutions have since found this out, and have now stabilised their economies with their help. It is my hope that the MPs will broaden their perspectives beyond constituency development to national economic development. The benefits of such developments can then be cascaded to constituency development.
•Ndaba Mpofu is an economist by training and is an executive director with Batanai Capital Finance.
MDC denies rift over cabinet posts
7/11/00 10:00:47 AM (GMT +2)
Political Reporter
THERE is no rift in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) over whether its members should accept cabinet posts when President Mugabe finally announces the new government, Learnmore Jongwe the party's publicity secretary said yesterday.
Jongwe told The Daily News the MDC was a “united party which is loyal to a set of core values which have brought us together to fight for democratic change”.
The Sunday Mail on Sunday reported differences within the MDC over the party's announcement that none of its members should accept cabinet posts in the new government.
“Reports of a rift are just a figment of their imagination,” said Jongwe, “and it will remain a wish. The allegations are baseless and have no foundation.”
He said the MDC executive had unanimously resolved that no individual MDC MP would accept a position in Mugabe's government.
“This was resolved and explained to all MDC MPs and all of them unanimously endorsed it, so there is virtually no person among MDC MPs who is desirous to being part of Robert Mugabe's discredited government,” said Jongwe.
He said the MDC believed the story was “aimed at attempting to lure individual MDC MPs but obviously the story will not succeed because everyone does not want to be part of the mess that was created by Robert Mugabe”.
Role of international election observers raises eyebrows
Sunday Mail Reporter
THE Organisation of African Unity and the Southern African Development Community should investigate the role of international observers and Western non-governmental organisations in regional elections, it has been said.
This comes in the wake of revelations that some of the international observers and NGOs were instrumental in the outcome of elections in countries such as Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
They are said to be now focusing on the Tanzanian and Zimbabwean presidential polls.
Government sources said a high level initiative was being mooted by the five regional governments to counter the infiltration of Western governments and super powers into the political processes in Southern Africa.
One source said the regional governments had discovered the plot to oust most liberation parties from power through massive financial sponsorship of puppet opposition movements and giving them logistical support through non-governmental organisations.
Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa raised the alarm recently when he charged that there was a deliberate ploy to remove the current African governments and replace them with those that paid allegiance to international capital.
In Mozambique, the source alleged, there was a similar attempt to rig the elections by the opposition Renamo party with the assistance of some American organisations.
The sources said if the Cold War had not ended the blitz on Zimbabwe’s elections and land reform programme by the international media and western governments would not have happened.
"It is now very easy for these countries to undermine those governments they do not like using things like human rights, democracy, and so on.
"The OAU and regional organs such as Sadc need to wake up to this new challenge and examine the relationships between so called civil society and international organisations.
"The OAU and Sadc should put this on their agenda and look carefully at the Zimbabwean experience to see whether these international organisations and Western governments are not subverting the democratic process," said one source.
The controversial European Union Election Observation Mission, which monitored the country’s recent parliamentary elections, recommended in its report that it be allowed to soon send international observers to monitor the Zimbabwean presidential elections scheduled for 2002.
"The European Union should make a particular effort during the coming weeks and months to monitor events in Zimbabwe closely, and provide assistance and support where appropriate.
"For that purpose our central election unit in Harare remains for some time, as well as 25 EU observers deployed throughout the country.
"Add to that our 14 Heads of Mission who will be on red alert," said the head of the EU observer team, Mr Pierre Schori.
There were fears that election monitors or observers were going to be used to rig elections by opposition parties.
The Election Supervisory Commission recruited over 20 000 monitors who were said to be linked to the National Constitutional Assembly and the Movement for Democratic Change.
Funding for this mammoth task including their training, which was done by the opposition groups and NGOs, was provided by some international organisations known to be opposed to Zanu (PF).
Zimbabwe farmers offered free holiday break
Under-fire farmers in Zimbabwe are being offered free holidays by their British-based counterparts in a move which could save hundreds of lives.
Farmers in Carmarthenshire, west Wales are signing up to a scheme offering free food and accommodation and a complete break from the violence.
Peter Davies, secretary of the Farmers' union west Wales, said: "What we want to do is offer people a reprieve from the pressure, violence and danger of their lives in Zimbabwe.
"We don't want to enter into the politics of the situation but if we can do anything that might save just one life it will all have been worthwhile.
Thirty-seven white farmers have been murdered in or close to their own homes since the troubles in Zimbabwe began. Hundreds more have been beaten and members of their families tortured or raped over the same period.
Mr Davies added: "Five or six farming families in Carmarthenshire have already signed up to offer free holidays to farmers out there and we certainly expect more to follow suit.
"It is very early days yet and the response so far is very encouraging. We will now be contacting the Commercial Farmers Union in Harare and letting them know about the scheme.
Flight rumour swamps NZ diplomats in Zimbabwe
12.05.2000 - By PATRICK GOWER
Rumours that New Zealand was offering free flights out of strife-torn Zimbabwe caused a deluge of inquiries to the New Zealand High Commission in Harare.
Acting High Commissioner Gerald McGhie told the Herald that up to 400 inquiries a day were being fielded from Zimbabweans wanting to emigrate.
"We usually get about three or four calls a week so take it from me there has been a high level of interest," he said last night.
"At times the telephone does not stop ringing and we have queues out the door."
Mr McGhie said the rumours about free air travel had added to an already heavy load of inquiries from people trying to leave.
The High Commission had employed an extra staff member to help with the flood of letters, phone calls and people arriving at the building.
He said the rumours had even been reported in the Zimbabwe media, who had now been informed of New Zealand's position on immigration.
Zimbabweans can come to New Zealand temporarily without visas and stay for three months, with the option of extending this another six months.
Other waivers are available to people with family here.
A spokesman for Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel said last night that exact figures were not available on how many of the inquiries had resulted in people coming to New Zealand.
Mr McGhie said there was a wide range of people keen to leave Zimbabwe since the farm invasions began.
At least 19 people have died during three months of political violence by black liberation war veterans who are demanding the land they say was stolen during the British colonial era.
"Many Zimbabweans have decided that they would like to pursue a life elsewhere and we're certainly getting our fair share," Mr McGhie said.
"It's been all hands to the pump here. Our facilities are extremely stretched even though inquiries have started to steady at 200 to 300 a week."
Journalists held hostage
The Media Institute of Southern Africa
July 10, 2000
Windhoek - On Friday July 7, war veterans in Mashonaland Central held a "Herald" reporter, George Soko, and photographer William Mafunga, hostage for almost three hours at a farm at the town of Centenary. The two journalists had earlier visited two other farms and talked to war veterans without any problems.
However, when they got to the third farm, the war veterans' leaders demanded to see the team's identification cards before agreeing to an interview. One war veteran then ordered the others not to talk to the journalists as anyone from Harare and Bulawayo "was a member of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)". The MDC won all seats in Harare and Bulawayo in the just-ended parliamentary elections. The war veterans told the journalists that their press cards were not enough proof that they were journalists and accused them of being sent by the MDC under the guise of being journalists.
Some war veterans also demanded to see the journalists' Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF ruling party) membership cards and threatened to beat them up and overturn their vehicle. The journalists were ordered to drive to Mt Darwin (another constituency in Mashonaland Central) where they were going to be vetted by the leaders of the war veterans. The "Herald" newsmen had to drive 60km to Mt Darwin before they were "released" and allowed to go.
The war veterans are currently spearheading a campaign to occupy commercial farms in the country.
Zimbabwean ambassador to Austria resigns
ZIMBABWEAN ambassador to Austria, Evelyn Kawonza, is believed to have resigned last week from her post, The Standard has been informed.
Foreign affairs staffers said yesterday that Kawonza was expected to be back in the country soon.
The same sources said they learnt of Kawonza’s departure from the foreign affairs department last week, but could not give her reasons for quitting.
Kawonza was instrumental in boosting the country’s tourism industry through publicising the sector in Austria. She recently brought a big delegation of Austrian businesspeople in that country’s tourism industry, to Zimbabwe.
Recent press reports claimed that several diplomats were not receiving their salaries due to the country’s acute shortage of foreign currency. The reports also claimed that some of the staff abroad were engaged in part time work, so as to make a living. Zimbabwe’s foreign currency reserves are almost nil.
Contacted for comment, deputy foreign affairs minister, Nicholas Goche, said the matter had not yet been brought to his attention.
“I don’t know anything about that. Maybe you are better informed than me,” said Goche.