THE
South African Council of Churches (SACC) added its voice to growing disquiet
about human rights abuses in Zimbabwe yesterday, saying it was doubtful next
year's general elections in that country would be free and fair.
The
SACC's concern about the situation in Zimbabwe follows criticisms by
two other top southern African clerics and signals the church's intention
to play a bigger role in pressuring the South African government to
act.
SACC spokesman Reverend Joe Mdhlela said yesterday the church
was particularly perturbed by the suppression of press freedom in
Zimbabwe.
He said if the current "muscling" of the opposition by the
ruling Zanu (PF) continued unabated, next year's election outcome would lose
credibility.
The SACC yesterday discussed a report compiled by a
delegation it sent to Zimbabwe last year to study the political and economic
situation in that country.
The report is said to be filled with
detailed incidents of human rights abuses. The findings of the report,
together with other resolutions, will be announced today.
Catholic
archbishop, Cardinal Wilfred Napier and his Zimbabwean counterpart, Bishop
Pius Ncube, recently hit out at SA's government and the African Union for
failing to take tough action against the repressive
Zimbabwean government.
Meanwhile, Mdhlela also said SA should move
fast to resettle its landless people.
He said the Diepsloot crisis a
week ago was symptomatic of the frustration of landless people in the
country.
The church, which owns vast tracts of land, also had to
relinquish ownership for this purpose, Mdhlela said.
Jul 14 2004
06:56:46:000AM Sphiwe Mboyane and Asha Speckman Business Day
1st Edition
Zimbabwe's colour TV may also ban pink, purple, white
and green July 14, 2004
By John Scott
"Red is
just the start," said Solly Solinga, spokesperson for Zimbabwean Television,
when I phoned him about the decision to ban that colour from the country's TV
screens because it symbolised the opposition Movement for Democratic Change
party. "We have other colours in mind, too."
"But there is red in
so many things," I argued. "You can't simply ban it out of the
spectrum."
"We can do what we like with the spectrum, whatever that
is," said Solly. "We are not bound by Western concepts. Besides, red also
signifies other hateful things to our revered president. It is the colour of
London buses, so beloved by our former colonial oppressors. There is also the
red herring of human rights abuses, when everyone knows our people have
never been happier. Worst of all is when our enemies claim our national
finances are in the red, so envious are they of our favourite colour,
black."
"What about red carpets?" I asked.
"The
president is prepared to make an exception in the case of red carpets, so
long as they are for him," said Solly. "Pink is also banned. It reminds the
president of homosexuals." "You mentioned other colours," I reminded
Solly.
"Purple is out," he said. "It's the colour of archbishops.
Yours were bad enough, but now our own Pius Ncube is going round
treacherously calling for sanctions against Zimbabwe with the false
allegation that the rule of law is being violated. Believe me, anyone who
pitches up on TV in purple won't be seen again."
"But the
rest of the spectrum is okay, is it? I mean the colours in it."
"Is white in this spectrum of yours?" asked Solly. "Because if it is, we are
probably going to remove it from our TV programmes, too.
"It is the
colour of racism. No one with a white face will in future be allowed to
infect our nation on screen, and that includes cricketers in white
clothing."
"But in the one-day internationals your chaps wear
red."
"That shows how closely the two colours are horribly
related," said Solly. "Did I mention green?"
"Not
yet."
"Green is the colour of the Greenies, the imperialists who
were opposed to our government's decision to nationalise all
wildlife conservation areas and who claimed that this spelt the end of
game protection. If they think their colour will appear on TV again, they
have as much hope as a red-light district for gays in downtown
Harare."
"You might as well revert to black-and-white TV," I
commented.
"Except for the white," Solly reminded me. "Viewers will
be happy with lighter shades of black, once we explain it's for their own
good that we are keeping them in the dark."
The shape of things to come is clearly
forming in Zimbabwe. The past few weeks have been instructive - to say the
least.
The first development on the democracy front was a meeting in
Pretoria called by the South African President and attended by a small
high-powered delegation from the MDC. They were asked to spell out what we
wanted in order to participate in the March 2005 elections and what we
thought was required to allow these elections to be validated by the world
community. We have been working on this subject for months and had no
problems in spelling out for the South Africans what needed to be done to
achieve this goal.
The South Africans are clearly concerned that the
forthcoming elections are held under reasonable conditions and are then
accepted by the global community, as a "free and fair" demonstration of the
peoples will in Zimbabwe. Right now the indications are that the UN and the
EU and the USA will not accept any result that comes out of an election held
under present conditions. That, Mbeki knows full well, would be a disaster
for the region and for Zimbabwe.
Mbeki agreed to talk to Zanu PF and
although we have no direct information on this meeting we do know it was held
and that the Zanu delegation was headed by the Chairman, John Nkomo - one of
the more reasonable characters in Zanu PF. The South Africans were
represented by all the heavies - so some tough talking went on. The South
African press reported that one of the things they discussed was how the ANC
could help Zanu PF win an election that was "free and fair". But I think the
tough bits were not leaked or reported.
To strengthen that view, Mbeki
issued a statement after the meeting with Zanu PF simply stating two things.
First, the Zimbabwe leadership was not moving fast enough in its efforts to
resolve the crisis, secondly, this was more a problem for the AU than South
Africa on a bilateral basis.
Then on the following Saturday, the AU gave
Mugabe and Zanu PF a slap in the face. Leaking a damaging report on human and
political rights abuse in Zimbabwe and refusing to back down. Even in the
plenary session, with Mugabe present, the AU agreed to publish the report -
and gave Zimbabwe 7 days to respond before they did so.
This very
public rebuke, the first in AU history, was preceded by a powerful statement
from the Secretary General of the UN who condemned leaders who held onto
power after their "retirement date" and States that were
blatantly undemocratic and abused universally held political and human
rights. There was no doubt as to who was his prime audience - he was sitting
in front of him trying to look bored.
To accentuate the statements
from the Secretary General, his senior staff have been attacking the Zimbabwe
government on every possible occasion over the food situation. Some very
strong statements have been made and it seems clear that Mugabe is not going
to be allowed to get away with "we have a bumper harvest".
Out of the
blue Zanu PF has committed itself to some reforms - they do not go far
enough, but they are a start and they also serve to demonstrate the pressure
the Party in under to conform to internationally accepted
electoral standards. Next month, SADC meets in Mauritius and there the Heads
of State will agree to standard SADC norms for elections in the region.
Mugabe knows well that at that meeting he will be required to commit himself
to adopting those same standards for the Zimbabwe elections. I sense that the
mood in the region has hardened against Mugabe and he can expect little
compromise.
So perhaps - just perhaps, we may have elections in March
2005 that are held under reasonable conditions. They still have a long way to
go and will delay the pain as long as possible but the reforms will have to
be in place by January or they will be too late to be credible. Obviously
they will continue with their secret preparations - but Zanu PF is like a
leaky boat right now - people are so fed up that they are talking about what
is going on in the Party and in government and their security is very
poor.
The challenge for the MDC is huge - our structures have been all
but destroyed in vast swathes of country, we have very little money and
few other resources. There are likely to be widespread gerrymandering
of electoral boundaries and the voters roll will be a mess - over 2,5
million ghost voters and perhaps a million who will not be allowed to vote on
one pretext or another. Then the big issue - what about the postal vote for
the millions who live outside the country?
But even so, if the
elections are conducted fairly and the vote rigging and the ballot stuffing
that took place in 2002 is restricted - then Zanu PF could be in for a
thrashing. It is important that they think they have a chance of winning -
but the people are really fed up with all the nonsense that is still going
on.
Now comes the determination part - how do we hang on until we get to
the elections and just how are we going to find the resources - intestinal
and other, to manage the electoral process next March. This is going to be
a massive exercise with over 10 000 polling stations to cover and
supervise.
Two other white Zimbabweans - Roy Bennett and Eric Harrison,
demonstrated determination of the highest order this week. Roy, as is well
known, is the MP for Chimanimani - a mountainous constituency in the Eastern
Highlands. No other MP has been so vilified and attacked as Roy. He and his
family have suffered at the hands of Zanu PF thugs as no other MDC MP in the
past year. His constituency and his workers have suffered beatings, killings,
and rape and yet they remain committed and supportive.
This past week
Roy was re-elected the MDC candidate by his constituency - unanimously. Then
over the weekend, in complete defiance of an order given out by the Zanu and
military leadership in Manicaland, he held rallies throughout the District
accompanied by Party leadership. At one point a crowd of 10 000 watched as a
group of about 50 elderly women came up to Roy and awarded him a "totem",
Tsoko. This is a clear statement by the community that he is really accepted
as one of their own. Roy was visibly moved by the gesture as was the
President, Morgan Tsvangirai.
Down in the Lowveld, Eric Harrison (we went
to school together) fought a running battle against a group of Zanu PF thugs
to protect his small irrigation farm. Eric grows sugar and citrus and exports
all over the world. He was busy reaping 2000 tonnes of citrus for export when
he was targeted. He has all the legal protection - Court decisions in his
favour, but it made no difference. The local community came to help and five
men have been barricaded in the farmhouse for three weeks resisting all
attempts to illegally evict Eric and take his property.
At one stage
one of Eric's staff, a women, came up to him and hugged him to encourage him
to fight on. He is determined to see this through - because of his staff who
have nowhere else to go and many of which have been with him for 35 years.
The price these men are paying for their courage and determination is high.
Roy's wife Heather had a miscarriage in the early days of the struggle.
Eric's wife, Joan has been sent to a safer place while the battle rages on
the farm.
Have we got what it takes to run the final lap after a
four-year marathon? I think so, we do not have long to wait to discover the
reality, but for sure we fight on, we will win in the end.
House required urgently to rent - secure
and pet friendly house / cottage preferably in the northern suburbs required
by single lady at a reasonable rental. Phone Sue 04 4994848 - 091 237 577
or email suzie@zol.co.zw
Sue
Tabor Hunters Hill Rhino Close off Spring Heights
Road Umwinsidale HARARE Tel:04 494848 Cell: 091 237 577 email: suzie@zol co
zw ______________________________________________
2. Advert Received
9th July 2004
HELP NEEDED Long haired cat - very pretty, looking for a
good home. She is miserable where she is and daren't venture outside at all
as she is being beaten up regularly by the owners male cat who lives on the
same premises. She needs to be relocated. She is about 16 but still lively
and affectionate and would like a new home somewhere quiet, perhaps with
an older person (she doesnt like, and is not used to small
children).
Please phone Hazel on 750422 (b) 882366 (h) or 091-228
765 ______________________________________________
3. Advert Received
9th July 2004
I am looking for a complete swimming pool filter unit that
uses coarse salt instead of chlorine or the pill. In our town of Aldeburgh ,
we have a boating pond for kids and parents to sail toy boats and craft. It
has never had a filter so is pea green and stinks ! The swimming pool
sales experts here do not know about salt using filters We will pay in forex
and will pay delivery charges this end. What info can you give Phil
Brereton JBrerOH@aol.com _______________________________________________
4.
Advert Received 9th July 2004
Bed & Breakfast In Greendale North,
Harare. Twin bed cottage with ensuite bathroom and
kitchenette. Reasonable rates. Contact Mrs. Bown Tel: (263)0 4-702402
or (263) 0 23 316 739 (cell phone) E-mail: zatso@mweb.co.zw
Also Transit
Traveller Care and Transfers for International and South African
visitors.
______________________________________________
5.
Advert Received 9th July 2004
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO
INFORM YOUR CLIENTS ON EMAIL THAT WE'VE HAD A PET GO MISSING FROM OUR
HOME???
HE'S A MALE, BROWN AND WHITE JACK RUSSEL, WHO ANSWERS TO THE NAME
"SANDY". HE HAS SHORT HAIR, A LONG TAIL, AND NO COLLAR ON.
WE WILL BE
OFFERING A REWARD IF ANYONE FINDS THIS DOG.
HE WENT MISSING FROM OUR HOME
IN GREENDALE, NUMBER 72 ALFRED ROAD. PLEASE CONTACT NIGEL OR JO SAUNDERS,
ON CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS - 498292, 023-401822 OR 023-411377. OR EMAIL US
AT nesaunders@zol.co.zw.
I
REALLY HOPE YOU'LL BE ABLE PUT THIS NOTICE IN YOUR NEXT FLIER!
MANY
THANKS AND REGARDS NIGEL &
JO
______________________________________________
6. Advert
Received 11th July 2004
Wanted to Rent in Harare -
URGENT
Stephanie Berry, UK education consultant, seeks place to work
from in Harare for August & September
Requirements: Phone line for
exclusive use Parking for clients Good security Central safe location,
in quiet upmarket suburbs of Harare Facilities for tea/coffee making &
toilets 1-2 room (preferably 2) If you have a place to rent that you think
fits the bill please phone Jenny Jooste immediately on 04 862 197 or 023 417
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_____________________________________________
7.
Advert Received 11th July 2004
Ex Farmer's wife looking for a job either
running a Lodge, chalets or any business preferably out of Harare. She is
very efficient at organising functions and dealing with the public. She does
landscaping and has been working in a nursery. Please contact Carol on 011
201485 if you have
any offers ______________________________________________
8.
Advert Received 12th July 2004
WANTED
HIGH LEVEL JACK IN GOOD
WORKING ORDER. EMAIL maduma@earth.co.zw Phone
882142 _______________________________________________
9. Advert
Received 13 th July 2004
Caretaker for small estate - outskirts of
Harare. Suitable for retired couple or single male, preferably with farming
background, technically minded and over 50. Free cottage, lights, water and
telephone in lovely surroundings. For further details please fax 04 754411
or email: kileff@africaonline.co.zw
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10.
Advert Received 13th July 2004 WE HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH RECRUITEING SUITABLE
CANIDATES FOR AN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE IN THE REGION. WE ARE THREFORE LOOKING
FOR LECTURERS / INSTRUSTORS TO FILL THESE POSITIONS. APPLICANTS MUST BE
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All
candidates to send their CV's to: agricadvisory@zol.co.zw BY NO
LATER THAN 16 JULY 2004.
Salaries and packages will be discussed with
the successful applicants.
Volvo: 940 L 2.3 LPT. Low pressure Turbo.
MOT till 01/08/04. First reg. 01/08/95. Last change of keeper 01/09/02. 2
owners. 2316 cc petrol. Mileage 69983 miles. Value dealer retail £3870, I
have driven it and it runs and drives excellent. Tyres good. radio New tax
disc."
The trial of six
opposition supporters accused of the murder of war veterans ' leader Cain
Nkala finally closed in the Bulawayo High Court yesterday. The six - Sonny
Masera, Fletcher Dulini-Ncube, Army Zulu, Remember Moyo, Kethani Sibanda, and
Sazini Mpofu - have been on trial since February 2003. Stephen Musona, the
state's lawyer, closed the case for the prosecution, and the defendants'
lawyers immediately applied for charges against the accused to be dropped.
The state did not oppose this application with regard to five of the men -
Masera, Dulini-Ncube, Zulu, Moyo, and Mpofu. A lawyer who has been following
the case said that the state's lawyers had effectively admitted defeat by not
opposing the applications for acquittal. "They could have dropped the charges
themselves, but no-one from the prosecution wants to be seen doing that, so
they will leave it to the judge." The state's lawyers, however, continued to
argue that Kethani Sibanda had a case to answer. The evidence against Sibanda
rests largely on a broken shovel handle found on Nkala's grave, which the
state says is linked to Sibanda. Sibanda's lawyer argued that this evidence
was planted: "The State cannot expect the court to put accused on his
defence, when it had made a finding in the trial within a trial that the
police conducted themselves in a shameless way. The Attorney General's Office
should have abandoned this case months ago." Justice Sandra Mungwira, who is
hearing the case with two assessors, delivered a damning judgement in March
this year in a trial-within-a-trial to determine the admissibility of police
evidence. In that judgement, she labelled some state witnesses as liars,
others as patently unreliable, and the state's evidence as a whole as a work
of fiction. Justice Mungwira reserved judgement to a later
date.
The Cain Nkala saga dates back over four years to 19 June 2000,
a week before the last parliamentary elections, when Patrick Nabanyama,
an opposition polling agent for opposition MP David Coltart, was abducted
from his home in Nketa, Bulawayo by war veterans. Nabanyama has not been
seen since his abduction, and it is now almost certain that he was murdered.
The war veterans, whose identities are all known, were arrested in 2000
and charged with kidnapping. In 2001, the State changed the charges to
murder. One of those accused, Cain Nkala - then chairman of the war veterans
in Bulawayo - protested himself innocent of murder, and there were
strong indications at the time that he was threatening to reveal who, at a
senior level, had ordered the kidnapping and subsequent disappearance of
Nabanyama. On 6 November 2001, Nkala himself was abducted from his home
in circumstances very similar to Nabanyama's abduction. The police began
an urgent investigation, and on 11 November several MDC workers were
arrested. That evening, vice president Msika appeared on state television
accusing Coltart of being behind the disappearance of Nkala. Simon Spooner,
Coltart's campaign manager, was arrested the next morning. He subsequently
spent five weeks in solitary confinement. On the morning of 13 November, two
of the MDC workers who had been arrested - Khethani Sibanda and Sazini Mpofu
- were shown on state television "indicating" to the police the place where
Nkala's body had been buried. On 15 November, a private aircraft in which
Coltart was travelling from Harare to Bulawayo was forced down, and Coltart
and the pilot were detained for some time by armed police and members of the
CIO. Coltart and his family were forced to leave their home after threats
that it would be attacked.
The following day, a mob of Zanu PF
militia, led by a former Zanu PF cabinet minister, Dumiso Dabengwa, who had
lost his Bulawayo seat in the 2000 parliamentary elections, and escorted by
police, marched through the streets of Bulawayo. The MDC offices in the city
were burnt down. The fire brigade was prevented by the mob from attending the
blaze. MDC supporters retaliated, clashing with riot police and setting fire
to a building belonging to a senior Zanu PF official, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.
Another Bulawayo opposition MP, Fletcher Dulini-Ncube, was arrested. He was
held in atrocious conditions, denied treatment for his diabetic condition,
and as a result later had to have one of his eyes surgically removed. In May
2002 the remaining war veterans who had abducted Nabanyama were put on trial
for murder. In court, their defence was that while they had kidnapped
Nabanyama, they had then handed him over to Nkala. Since Nabanyama's body has
never been found, since Nkala was dead, and since there was no other
evidence linking them to Nabanyama's murder (as opposed to his kidnapping)
they were acquitted. They were never again charged with kidnapping
Nabanyama.
Gono's bid to raise forex from exiles fails Thurs 15 July
2004
HARARE - Zimbabweans living abroad have turned their backs on
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Gideon Gono's attempts to woo their
hard currency into the country through the official Homelink
system.
Gono went on a whirlwind tour of the United States, Europe
and South Africa early last month promising Zimbabweans in the diaspora a
good exchange rate of Z$5, 200 per greenback if they sent their money back
home through the Homelink system, which is administered by the RBZ through
other banking outlets.
"We are looking at realizing US$300
million a week from Zimbabweans in the diaspora and that amounts to US$1,2
billion per month," said Gono in an interview with the state-controlled
Sunday Mail after his tour."Can anyone fail to appreciate such an effort?
Then if so, God forbid," he added.
However, central bank sources
said foreign currency inflows into Zimbabwe through the Homelink facility
since Gono's trip averaged a total of only US$800 000 a week, way below his
projected estimates.
Central bank sources said although Zimbabweans
based abroad were still sending their money back home, they were not doing so
through the Homelink channel. "It is clear people still use the other non
official alternatives," said one source.
Gono could not
immediately comment when contacted yesterday. He said he was
busy.
Some of the 3,4 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora have been
waging a campaign against the Homelink facility, saying they don't want
their money to bankroll President Robert Mugabe's government. At one
presentation in South Africa the governor was shouted down by angry
protesters and had to abandon his mission. Some Zimbabweans have also been
sending out e-mails warning compatriots to "think before you homelink". Their
message has been well received by those who don't want Gono to access their
money. Zim Online
Rural electrification programme - an empty election
promise? Thurs 15 July 2004
HARARE - The Zimbabwe Electricity
Supply Authority (Zesa), reeling under huge debts that have led to incessant
power cuts in the country, has told government that it does not have the
funds required for the much-publicised rural electrification programme.
Campaigning for next year's elections, Zanu PF during the past three months
promised the rural electrification programme to its mainly rural support
base. Jingles on state controlled radio in praise of the project have
replaced those on land reform.
On 18 June Zesa's chief executive
officer Sydney Gata wrote a letter to government, which is in the possession
of Zim Online, saying that the authority needs Z$ 1,3 billion (US$ 2.6
million at the unofficial exchange rate) for the project. Zesa owes regional
power suppliers in excess of US$56 million - debts accumulated over the last
three years.. It has been warned by HCB of Mozambique, Eskom of South Africa
and SNEL of the Democratic Republic of Congo to pay up or risk
disconnection."For us to be able to go beyond the little on the ground so
far, we require $1,3 billion for the rural electrification programme. In the
wake of the arrears we have to clear with our suppliers in the region,
government's assistance is needed," Gata stated in his letter.
Contacted by Zim Online, Gata refused to comment "Where is your interest in
this?," he asked, "there is no news at all. The subject has no urgency at
all". Sources at Zesa told Zim Online that no progress has been made with the
project so far. "We understand that government had promised to fund the rural
electrification programme in full."
Gata recently told a board
meeting that the project as it stands could not even cover one province.
Zimbabwe's demand for power presently stands at of 2 100 megawatts per annum,
bit it generates only 1 200 megawatts itself. The remaining 900
units have to be imported and the regional power utilities have so far
been bailing out the country by delivering mainly on credit. Zim
Online
New group splits Zim business Racism allegations
surface Thurs 15 July 2004
BULAWAYO - The formation of a new
business organisation Association of Business in Zimbabwe (ABUZ) has upset
existing associations. Formed five months ago by a group of mainly white
business people in Bulawayo, ABUZ aims, among other goals, to "play a
representative and active role in making Zimbabwe a better place in which to
live, work and do business".
Office bearers with the association
are reluctant to grant press interviews, citing a need to maintain political
neutrality. But one of its founder members, industrialist Tony Rowland told
Zim Online, ABUZ "is more forthright about the situation as it unfolds in
our economy (than other associations)."
Rowland, a former
president of the Matabeleland Chamber of Industries, who runs a major export
company for agricultural equipment, said he is disappointed with the
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries' tendency to"couch important issues
using diplomatic phrasing". The result, he said, is that the government then
under-estimates the urgency of issues.
As an example, Rowland cited
a class action suit, initiated by ABUZ on behalf of its members, that
resulted in a reprieve for exporters whom the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply
Authority (Zesa) had wanted to pay for power in foreign
currency.
"The Zesa issue was abysmally handled by CZI," Rowland
said. "CZI, which is headquartered in Harare, sat on their laurels. The only
group that got on their hind legs were us here in Bulawayo."
The
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) accuses the association of being
racist and needlessly confrontational. Anthony Mandiwanza, CZI president,
accuses ABUZ of dishonesty, equating it to the combative agricultural
pressure group, Justice for Agriculture (JAG).
"If there is such an
element (ABUZ), why are they operating in the dark?" asked Mandiwanza, and
criticised ABUZ as a "racist group of so-called entrepreneurs who make
outrageous claims". Mandiwanza defended his organisation saying it has
effectively engaged government on several critical issues. Through "genuine
dialogue" with the government, the CZI's input is always taken seriously, he
said. The result, he added, is that the body has "moved mountains in a very
difficult environment".
Mandiwanza cited CZI's recent successes,
among them a new monetary policy that paved the way for the liberalization of
fuel imports, the partial freeing of the foreign exchange market as well as
the unfreezing of prices.
But Rowland is not impressed. He said
the CZI "congratulates itself" on the foreign currency auction system yet
since its introduction rates had not moved. "You need to have an auction
system that is reflective of the inflation rate," he said.
According to Rowland, the major reason why many problems persist in the
country, is a failure to accept that having a different opinion is not being
confrontational. "The CZI says it is non-confrontational,
but non-confrontation does not mean you can't disagree."
Business executive Phil Whitehead conceded there has been "disquiet" over how
the CZI has handled issues. But he says some industrialists maintain dual
membership in CZI and ABUZ. Rowland's own company is a member of both
organizations.
Eddie Cross, the economic adviser of the Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) said he has "regretfully" withdrawn the
companies he runs from CZI because "we were getting nothing out of it". One
of his companies has since joined ABUZ. Cross had been a member of CZI for 15
years and is also a past vice-President of the organisation.
In
a report on its activities, ABUZ said it wrote to Reserve Bank Governor
Gideon Gono protesting against what it described as "highly damaging
interference in the affairs of private schools". This followed
the government's imposition, in May, of a ceiling on fees and levies
that private schools are allowed to charge. ABUZ is concerned that
business executives who find they are not able to educate their children to
an acceptable international level will be forced to leave the
country.
ABUZ has also written to the government expressing concern
over what it said are "grossly inflationary wage increase" being awarded by
many industries. The association singled out the printing and packaging
industry, where it says minimum wages have shot up by over 2000 percent in
one year. Such increases, the body argued, are in direct contradiction to
government efforts to reduce inflation.
The association says it
intends to establish branches in the country's major centres, in Harare in
particular, when its membership warrants it. Zim Online
Desperate refugees pull down electric fence Thurs 15 July
2004
FRANCISTOWN, BOTSWANA - The 500 kilometre electric fence
erected by Botswana last year along its border with Zimbabwe at huge cost is
not serving its purpose - to keep out refugees.
Botswana has
officially maintained that the fence is meant to curb the movement of
animals from Zimbabwe and contain foot and mouth disease. However, the fence
was also erected to try and keep border jumpers at bay. But the border
jumpers have started destroying the barrier and are finding their way into
Botswana territory regardless.
Botswana's Vice President Seretse
Khama Ian Khama this week expressed disappointment that his government's
efforts to electrify the border fence had borne no fruit as people cut the
wires and stole solar panels.
Addressing a meeting of traditional
chiefs near the Botswana border with Zimbabwe, Khama said strategies to
control the destruction of the fence were now being developed. The Vice
President called on Botswana chiefs in villages along the border to
urge their communities to be "vigilant against people who destroy the
fence".
Last month Minister of Local Government Michael Tshipinare
encouraged locals living along the border to form vigilante groups and track
down illegal immigrants who tampered with the fence. He told police officers
in Tshesebe, a few kilometres from the Zimbabwe border, that
illegal Zimbabwean immigrants posed "a major security risk". The minister
said police officers were overwhelmed by the high number of illegal
immigrants from Zimbabwe.
A Zimbabwean resident, Tendai Dzimiri,
blamed the situation on President Robert Mugabe's government. "We have been
made refugees in other countries. We risk our lives entering this country
illegally to try and make ends meet," Dzimiri told Zim Online.
Zimbabweans who cut the electric fence risk their lives as they might be
electrocuted. Zimbabwe protested the construction of the fence last
year comparing it to the wall Israel is erecting along its eastern border
with the West Bank. Zim Online
HARARE: ZIMBABWE's annual inflation rate slowed to 394.6 percent in June from
448.8 percent in May, according to figures released by the
Central Statistical Office (CSO) yesterday.
The fifth
consecutive slowdown in inflation, after hitting a record peak of 622.8
percent in January, offers a glimmer of light for a country grappling
with an economic crisis widely blamed on years of government
mismanagement.
Central bank govenor, Gideon Gono, has vowed to
reduce the inflation rate to 200% by year end. The authorities have
attributed the slowdown to stabilising commodity prices and a steady Zimbabwe
dollar, which tumbled to around 7,000 per greenback last December, before the
central bank moved to suppress a thriving black market for scarce U.S.
dollars.
Analysts nonetheless say new price increases are likely to
begin soon in tandem with the local currency, which has steadily weakened to
5,352 against the dollar on increased import demand at bi-weekly
central-bank controlled currency auctions introduced in January.
The Zimbabwe dollar traded around 4,200 when the auctions started."We are
going to see inflation going up in the second half of the year because we
have already seen prices of bread, sugar and drinks go up and there's also
going to be pressure from July wage adjustments," said David Mupamhadzi,
group economist at Trust Bank.
"The govenor, Gideon Gono, is going
to have to come up with more incentives for exporters to increase inflows
into the auctions when he presents his next monetary policy review next
week," Mupamhadzi said.
The decline in the inflation rate might
also be short lived if the company studying the country's electricity sector
recommends that power utility Zesa, hikes its tarriffs. The study is being
conducted by Sad-elec, a South African based firm. Zim Online
Zimbabwe rebels hope to return next year Wed 14 July, 2004
18:59
By Tristan Jones
LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's
rebel cricketers do not expect to play in September's ICC Champions Trophy
but hope to be playing international cricket again next year, Heath Streak
said on Wednesday.
"We're going to be hard pushed to have a change in the
Zimbabwe team by the ICC trophy," former Zimbabwe captain Streak
said.
"But we hope that by the start of Zimbabwe's summer we're near a
resolution and can get back to playing as citizens of our country and without
any prejudice about what race we are."
Streak was speaking at the
launch of the Red Lions team, which is made up of rebels and is touring
England this month to raise money for charity and help fund the legal battle
with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU).
The row started when 15 leading
white players, angry at Streak's removal as captain after he criticised
selection policies in April, made themselves unavailable earlier this year
and were sacked.
The players are currently involved in a dispute
resolution process with the ZCU and the International Cricket Council, the
sport's governing body which has postponed all of Zimbabwe's test matches for
the remainder of the year.
ACT FAST
If the ZCU wants their
players back they will need to act fast, since some of them have found
cricket positions elsewhere and some are starting to consider other career
options, Heath said.
"Their livelihood was cricket and they've been
forced into other avenues in the interim, and the longer that goes on the
less chance we have of getting them back into cricket," he said. "People need
to get on with their lives and have some stability and plan
ahead."
"We don't want to play in an environment where there's
discrimination," he added.
"We're not against integration but picking
someone because he's black or white is not the right way to do it. We've got
to help players get to the standard where they can be picked, by offering
scholarships and so on."
The rebels were almost joined by some of
Zimbabwe's black cricketers but those players came under more pressure to
stay, said Red Lions captain Stuart Carlisle, one of eight rebels who has
been unemployed since the dispute.
"It's not nice being unemployed but
we believe in the cause, and we did it to save Zimbabwean cricket," he
said.
"It was a very big risk factor that we took, being 15 white people
in Zimbabwe, but it's been amazing -- a lot of black people have supported
us and always approach us in the streets to ask about cricket and
what's happening."
MORE than 60 bodies
awaiting post-mortems are still lying at Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary amid
allegations that doctors at the hospital are demanding incentives to clear
the backlog.
Police yesterday said the bodies were of people suspected to
have been murdered and, in terms of the law, cannot be buried unless a
post-mortem has been conducted.
They said most of the bodies were
brought in last year but the hospital had turned down their plea for
post-mortems.
"As a result relatives are not able to take their beloved
ones for burial as it would be difficult for us to substantiate evidence of
murder in court," said a senior police officer, who declined to be named,
saying it was a sensitive matter.
He said in a meeting with the
hospital officials in May, the hospital doctors made it clear that they were
willing to do the post-mortems as long as they got something in
return.
"We know that they are able to conduct the post-mortems but are
just being difficult. We have no problems with bodies at Harare Central
Hospital, why then should the problem always feature at
Parire-nyatwa?"
He said it was necessary for those working in the health
sector to understand that other professionals were working tirelessly and
making huge sacrifices for no incentives.
"Not everyone working
tirelessly is being adequately rewarded, so to take it upon dead people does
not make anyone a hero. It only strains operations of the hospital and
negatively impacts on families."
Parirenyatwa Hospi-tal chief executive
officer Mr Thomas Zigora yesterday confirmed there were about 66 bodies being
kept at the mortuary.
He, however, dissociated the hospital from the
problem, saying it had nothing to do with the institution.
"The police
had employed their own forensic scientist who has since retired on medical
grounds. Police should resolve their problems because as far as we are
concerned it is not our responsibility. We are doing our own post-mortems
without any problems," Mr Zigora said. He said the hospital was only
responsible for carrying out post-mortems for table deaths and for people
involved in road accidents.
FELINE Immunedeficiency Virus, the equivalent of the
HIV in human beings, has infected lions in Kruger National Park in South
Africa, threatening the viability of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier
Park.
The megapark, joining Gonarezhou in Zimbabwe, Kruger in South
Africa and Gaza in Mozambique, is the world's biggest wildlife sanctuary,
but veterinary workers in Kruger say between 60 and 80 percent of the lions
in South Africa are now under threat.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife
Management Authority was aware of the disease on the other side of the
Limpopo but said it was closely monitoring its development.
The
authority's chief warden, Mr Lovemore Mungwashu, said the disease was still
in the southernmost part of Kruger National Park and that Zimbabwe was still
safe.
"Yes, the Aids-like disease has been discovered in South Africa and
we are carefully watching it.
"Although Kruger is part of the
transfrontier park, the disease is still confined to the southern- most part
of the park and Zimbabwe is still safe," said Mr Mungwashu.
The
primary mode of FIV transmission is sexual contact and bite wounds.
On
rare occasions infection is transmitted from mother to cub, usually
on passage through the birth canal or when newly-born cubs ingest
contaminated milk.
Infected animals usually appear normal for a few
years until infection eventually leads to the gradual collapse of the immune
system, resulting in the animal failing to protect itself from
infections.
Common among the symptoms are persistent fever and diarrhoea
with a loss of appetite, poor coat condition, chronic or recurrent infection
of the skin and urinary bladder, abortions and behaviour change, including
seizures.
All this is followed by slow but progressive weight loss and
neurological disorders.
Zimbabwe shares a long stretch of the border
with South Africa's Kruger National Park in Gonarezhou National Park, the
verdant wildlife sanctuary, where lions roam wild and free.
Given the
long-range migratory habits of lions and the territorial dominance of huge
males, there are fears that the disease will spread to Zimbabwe
and Mozambique.
Other felines, the leopard and cheetah, also have FIV
but are said to be less susceptible because they are more
solitary.
Lion prides are more affected by the disease because they are
highly sociable and are in constant physical contact with each other.
Please
send any material for publication in the Open Letter Forum to justice@telco.co.zw with "For Open Letter
Forum" in the subject
line.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAG
OLF
284 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it
whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong
remedy"
_______________________________________________
OPEN
LETTER FORUM
Letter 1 Subject: Window of Opportunity
Dear
JAG,
The Presidential Powers on Land Acquisition has expired. The new
act replacing it has not yet been gazetted, therefore is not yet in
force. Any farmer who collected equipment would not in fact at the moment
be breaking the law. What the situation is on the ground though, maybe
a different matter.
Thank you so much for giving Jean and I your time
the other day. I will come back to you with anything that Doris manages to
write.
Regards,
Val
_____________________________________________
Letter
2 Subject: Thanks
Hi All,
My English is so bad that I cannot find
the words to thank you all enough for the physical and supportive assistance
that you all have given to myself and Eric during these troubled days.
Remember as time moves along the situation will swing in our favour, because
we are right to fight these evil people, we do have god on our side and I am
sure that he expects us to fight evil.
We are tackling this situation
through several different avenues and I am sure, will soon be seeing some
positive action from those cowardly people who have the cheek to call
themselves police. You all should feel very proud of what you are doing for
your people and your country. Believe me you have really touched the
Harrisons.
Just to inform you and
dear Cathy , who we admire tremendously, there are many of us passing on
first hand news from farmers and Zimbabweans to a "Group" that writes a
monthly news letter that is sent to every MP in the house of
Parliament.
I have sent copies of articles to Geoffrey van Orden , our
MEP who has been a great supporter of Zimbabwe and who has led the
implementation of sanctions from the EU
The news is not getting to
you, but we are trying
Yours
sincerely Bwana
______________________________________________
Letter
4
Dear JAG
In 1971 I spent six months in what was then Salisbury,
training as a nurse. Zimbabwe has been a beautiful memory ever since and I
long for the day when it can be stable and peaceful again. I remember
especially Norman Travers' family, Barbie who was nursing with me, and their
highly productive farm where I was made very welcome. We lost touch but I
have never forgotten these good people and the country that most deserves the
epithet, 'God's Own Country'.
Angela
Godwin
_____________________________________________
Letter 5
Subject: JAG Open Letters Forum 5th July 2004 OLF 281
Dear Jag - could
you please send me the E/mail address, or phone no, for Simon Piribright so
that I can personally congratulate him on his letter, and get in contact with
him ? Rgds - Don Lapham. lapham@mweb.co.zw
______________________________________________
Letter
6 Subject: Annual Farmers for Jesus Convocation FARMERS FOR
JESUS
ANNUAL CONVOCATION 2004 We extend a warm welcome to everyone to
join us on
THURSDAY 22nd JULY 2004 at 9am
At RESTHAVEN CHRISTIAN
RETREAT, HARARE Our keynote speaker this year will be LANGTON GATSI, with
Pete Goosen, Brian Oldreive and Philip Ligthart also sharing what God is
doing in Zimbabwe !! We will also enjoy Praise & Worship and good
Fellowship over Tea and Lunch (provided). Should you have any queries
please contact Brian Oldreive on 04-336526 or 011-602626, or Pete Goosen on
09-240527. Directions to Resthaven: Take the Borrowdale/Domboshawa Road
past Hatcliffe. Just after the 21.5km peg (by Clouds End Stud with tall
fir trees) take the left turn Glenforrest Road and then the second road
right (about 2km), Weston Road which also has a Resthaven sign next to it.
Drive to the end of this road and you will go down into the Resthaven
valley. Follow the signs to the main
Hall.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- All
letters published on the open Letter Forum are the views and opinions of the
submitters, and do not represent the official viewpoint of Justice for
Agriculture.
Political Tensions Rise in Zimbabwe as Election Campaign
Begins Peta Thornycroft Harare 14 Jul 2004, 14:33
UTC
Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for
Democratic Change are busy selecting candidates to compete in general
elections next March. Opposition legislator Roy Bennett, who was recently
involved in a scuffle with a cabinet minister, has just been chosen by his
party to run again. The political temperature is rising in Zimbabwe as the
two main political parties hit the campaign trail for primary elections to
choose candidates who will run for parliament in seven
months.
President Robert Mugabe told Zanu-PF youth members last weekend
he will hold them responsible if the party does not win. He called the
opposition a puppet of the British government.
Meanwhile, the
opposition Movement for Democratic Change has confirmed that Roy Bennett will
run again in his home constituency, Chimanimani, a poor and remote rural area
in eastern Zimbabwe.
Mr. Bennett is widely acknowledged by human rights
monitors as one of the most persecuted legislators in Zimbabwe's
parliamentary history.
He is also a white man, and a commercial farmer by
trade, although all his property has been seized by the government as part of
its land reform program.
Zanu-PF is also angry because he holds the
parliament seat from an area that has strong historical links with the ruling
party dating from the beginning of its war to end white colonial rule nearly
40 years ago.
Independent observers who went to Mr. Bennet's district
last weekend say record numbers of people came out to hear him speak at a
rally.
This was the first time he has been home since national and
provincial leaders from Zanu-PF declared he was banned from the area. The
statements were made after he pushed Justice Minster Patrick Chinamasa to the
ground during an argument in parliament two months ago.
Mr. Bennett is
in the middle of a disciplinary hearing for his behavior, and if found
guilty, he could be banned from parliament.
Movement for Democratic
Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai traveled with Mr. Bennett to Chimanimani last
weekend as part of the party's campaign to select its candidates. He said
there is no doubt that the people want Mr. Bennett to continue to represent
them.
SA bomber asks to come home 14/07/2004 17:05 -
(SA)
Johannesburg - One of the so-called "Harare three" imprisoned in
Zimbabwe since 1988 for bombing an ANC facility in Bulawayo, in the 80s, is
pleading with the government to secure his return to South Africa so he can
serve his life sentence near his family.
Kevin John Woods, thought to
have been recruited by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in 1980,
provided the explosives used in a car-bombing that killed a civilian and
injured several African National Congress personnel.
Woods and his
co-conspirators, Zimbabwean Philip Conjwayo and British Mike Smith, have been
incarcerated in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison for the attack since 1988.
They had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment during a 1993
appeal.
In a letter published in the Citizen newspaper on Wednesday,
Woods wrote that he had made numerous appeals to the Zimbabwean government
which were rejected.
"I cannot help but be envious, the 'Harare 70' as
they're called have pride of place in the political agenda. It seems, as
apart of the 'Harare 3' I am no longer of consequence," he
wrote.
Seventy alleged mercenaries, several of them South Africans, have
been detained in Zimbabwe for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government
of Equatorial Guinea.
Pleas for clemency rejected
Woods said he
was in his 17th year of imprisonment for his part in the old National
government-sponsored raids on ANC guerrilla facilities in Zimbabwe during the
mid 1980s.
"As my numerous petitions for clemency in Zimbabwe have been
rejected, I appeal once again for the SA government to intercede on my behalf
for my transfer to prison in SA, where I can complete my sentence near to
my family."
Asked for comment, foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie
Mamoepa said President Thabo Mbeki had indicated in parliament last year that
Woods was responsible for crimes against not only South Africans, but
against Zimbabweans.
"The president said in parliament last year that
we must understand that Zimbabwe is an independent sovereign state. The
president indicated that South African would continue to engage with Zimbabwe
on this," Mamoepa said.
Asked if any South Africa had engaged Zimbabwe on
Woods's situation recently, Mamoepa said: "Not as far as I know. Maybe you
want to contact our ambassador in Harare about that."
Human rights
groups have raised concerns about the conditions in which the men were
imprisoned.
Southern Africa: Commission to Manage Zambezi's Water
Resources
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
July
14, 2004 Posted to the web July 14, 2004
Kasane
An
eight-country commission to manage and develop the Zambezi river's
water resources was launched on Tuesday in the town of Kasane, northern
Botswana.
The Zambezi Watercourse Commission, comprising Angola,
Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe will
manage one of the largest watercourse systems in the world, covering a basin
area measuring over a million square kilometres with a total annual flow
estimated at 40,750 million cubic metres.
Besides managing the
Zambezi's resources, the Commission, consisting of three organs - a council
of ministers, a technical committee and a secretariat drawn from all eight
countries - will advise member countries on planning, utilisation, protection
and conservation issues around the longest river in Southern Africa. Country
representatives will also protect national interests in actual or potential
disputes.
The river flows through western Angola, western and southern
Zambia, into Lake Kariba, and from there across northern Zimbabwe and central
Mozambique into the Indian Ocean.
Observers said the Commission was
expected to be in a position to contribute constructively to the spread of
peace, the amelioration and ultimate eradication of poverty, and integration
of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region through more
efficient and environmentally sustainable use of the natural resources at the
region's disposal.
The commission came into being after the SADC Protocol
on Shared Watercourse Systems was signed in 1995, to enable sustainable use
of the region's water resources.
SADC Executive Secretary Dr Prega
Ramsamy said, "In the not so distant past, in 2000 and 2001, there were
devastating floods in this river basin, which destroyed lives and properties
of the people in the various member states sharing the basin."
He said
the Commission was of critical importance "in the context of disaster
prevention as a result of natural extreme occurrences, such as droughts and
floods."
Botswana's President Festus Mogae commented at the launch,
"...there will be a need for a significant shift in mindset on the part of
[the Commission's] council members. Obviously they must represent the
interests of their countries, but council members must also have the capacity
to progress from the role of national representatives to the higher plane of
promoters of regional development".
Developing the Zambezi watercourse
holds great potential, not only for the estimated 31 million people living
within the basin, but also for the total population of the eight member
states, currently estimated at around 103 million people.
Mogae noted
that the commission could, by "thinking as one, determine the best place to
grow food, generate power and create other benefits in the Zambezi
watercourse, which can then be distributed throughout the basin and beyond,
through negotiated agreements focused on sharing the benefits created from
sustainable utilisation of the Zambezi waters".
Signing the agreement is
expected to bring benefits across all sectors, including trade, industry,
energy production, food security, transport and communication, tourism,
regional security and peace.
RESERVE Bank of
Zimbabwe governor Dr Gideon Gono says the institution is looking at
establishing a taskforce to supervise the usage of funds obtained from the
foreign currency auction system.
"The bank is setting up a taskforce to
look into the utilisation of foreign exchange obtained from the auction," Dr
Gono told exporters attending last Friday's industry-concerned conference,
but could not give a time frame under which the unit would be
instituted.
Dr Gono's announcement comes on the back of a widening gap
between demand and supply at the auction system, where the former has been
outweighing the latter in the last month.
The governor says such
disparity has not only been a resultant effect of rising requirements for
foreign exchange, but has been catalysed by speculative buyers of the
much-needed hard currency.
"There have been people coming to the auction
masquerading as exporters and buying foreign exchange at the auctions for
speculative purposes," Dr Gono said.
"It has been seen that these
people are still holding on to their foreign currency and are subsequently
causing unnecessary increases in demand levels for foreign
exchange."
The foreign exchange auction system was introduced by the
Reserve Bank on January 12 this year targeted at restoring normalcy in the
trade of foreign currency in the country while simultaneously seeking avenues
of boosting the nation's declining foreign currency reserves.
The
system also attempted to bury activities of the illegal parallel market that
had become the order of the day during the last three years.
However,
other schools of thought have raised concerns over RBZ's apparent attempts of
managing the auction system in order to keep a tight leash
on inflation.
Dr Gono announced in his monetary policy statement in
December last year that inflation was the country's number one enemy and
needed to be contained at all costs.
However, the demand for foreign
exchange has continued to soar steadily over the past few months and rapidly
in the past four weeks, as supply could not match the number of
bidders.
The amounts on offer at the auction have remained at levels just
under US$10 million while demand is three times as much.
The mismatch
between demand and supply at the auction is feared might result in the
resuscitation of the once-seemingly moribund parallel market practices.
By Richard
Musazulwa Last updated: 07/14/2004 23:31:40 POPULAR Zimbabwean musician
and Sungura king, Alick Macheso has distanced himself from politics and
ruling party top officials who tried to use his name to woo crowds during the
recently held Joshua Nqabuko Nkomo gala.
Meanhwile another musician Simon
Chimbetu is embroiled in a farm ownership wrangle with two war veterans in
Chegutu.
The dispute has now been taken to the High Court as the war
veterans are seeking the eviction of the musician from Doddington Farm in
Chegutu, which measures more than 400 hectares.
In an interview
shortly after his performance at the gala at Ascot stadium in Gweru, Macheso
said he was surprised to hear his name being chanted by Speaker of Parliament
Emmerson Mnangagwa.
"The chefs should not try to use me. I was only hired
and like a ordinary Zimbabwean I could not refuse to play at the gala because
it is a national event for our Father Zimbabwe.
"I have never played
at any political rally and I don't want to be associated with any political
party," said Macheso.
Macheso, who broke-up from Nicholas Zakaria to form
his own band, Orchestra Mberikwazvo in 1999, said his was not there to serve
certain politicians but the people of Zimbabwe and all those people in the
world who liked his music.
"I will not fall in the foot steps of some
musicians who have become politically excited. "Ini ndinoda kuimbira vanhu
ende ndinoda kuti ndisvike mberikwazvo ikoko," (I want to play music for the
people and I want to end up there at the top), said Macheso.
At the
Gala, even Nkomo's daughter, Thandi, after realising that Msipa and Mnangagwa
had spoiled the show by chanting Zanu PF slogans, instead of taking time to
thank the over 25 000 crowd, also followed suit and chanted: "Pamberi negala,
pamberi naMacheso, Macheso ndizvo." Standard
Zimbabwe's jailed Finance Minister said 'very
ill'
By Staff Reporter Last updated: 07/14/2004
23:31:08 ZIMBABWE'S jailed Finance Minister is 'very ill', reports
said.
Christopher Kuruneri who is in remand prison facing FIVE graft
charges has been examined by doctors who say he suffers high blood pressure
and it would be unwise to continue holding him, the privately-owned Daily
Mirror reported.
Unnamed sources told the paper that Kuruneri was
examined by doctors late Tuesday afternoon and recommendations made for him
to be moved to a private hospital before his condition deteriorates
further.
"His blood pressure is too high for him to remain at remand
prison....he needs constant attention preferably at a private hospital," said
the source.
Appearing in court for the first time in April, Kuruneri
through his defence counsel led by Bruce Mujeyi sought to be remanded at a
special ward at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
He argued that he suffered
chronic back pains, which would make it very uncomfortable for him to remain
at remand prison. It would not afford him the constant checks he required,
went the appeal.
The application was however, scoffed at as it was argued
that remand prison had sufficient capacity to handle his problem. An official
from the prison 'laughed off' the request, saying it was unheard of that an
accused could be taken straight from court to the comfort of a hospital
bed.
Ever since, attempts at getting bail have hit a brick
wall.
Zimbabwean authorities are charging Kuruneri with four counts
of externalising foreign currency through payments in foreign currency to
South Africa where he bought a Mercedes Benz valued at more than R500
000.
He also allegedly externalised 5,2 million Rands, acquired US$58
261; £34 371 and 30 000 Euros using unauthorised dealers. The Finance
Minister also stands accused of being holder of dual citizenship without the
authority from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Kuruneri is alleged to be
in possession of a valid Canadian passport.
Last Thursday, defence
lawyers gave the State an option to either give their client a trial date or
withdraw the charges levelled against him before plea. They argued that
Kuruneri had been on remand for a long time and the State had to prove its
case.
But magistrate Memory Chigwaza turned down Kuruneri's application,
saying it was premature. "The accused person has been in remand prison for
less than three months and he is facing five different counts. It is rather
a complicated case and this is a premature application. Therefore
the application for short remand is dismissed and the accused person is
hereby given the normal two weeks in remand," ruled Chigwaza. Additional
reporting Daily Mirror
By Oswald
Sibanda Sports Editor Last updated: 07/14/2004 19:41:40 NEW
Zimbabwe.com today takes you into the heart of the biggest scandal in the
history of Zimbabwean football, revealing how some of our best players have
altered their ages and duped a whole nation with false names.
Driven by a
desire to present a young face and appeal to European clubs, or simply fit
into the junior teams, players have assumed identities of relatives including
their SISTERS, we can reveal.
Our Sports Editor Oswald Sibanda (former
Highlanders juniors and later, Wankie) lived and played alongside some of
these cheats, and today he puts his friendship with some of our stars on the
line to expose the greatest football scandal of our time.
Football
authorities have ignored this scourge for a long time, and our Sports Editor
blames this for our national teams' pathetic and feeble challenge for
football honours on the continent.
"We are a nation of cheats," he writes
today. "I have evidence that the Premier Soccer League is aware of this, and
some of our top coaches have tacitly approved or even assisted the
cheats."
"Did you know, for instance, that AmaZulu and former national
team star midfielder Master Masiku is in fact Thomas Masiku? Master is his
young brother who now goes by the name Mtewa Masiku. Does name sound
familiar? Of course, it should, Mtewa plays for Premiership club
Railstars.
The Masikus' case illustrates how our game has been corrupted
to the core. We are all jointly and severally responsible for allowing cheats
to represent us at all levels of our football because the authorities know
it is happening but no-one dares talk about it.
Take the case of
former Highlanders goalkeeper Pope Moyo, who also represented the national
Under 20 team. His real name is Sijabuliso Moyo, and Pope is his young
SISTER.
This might sound funny but it's real. I remember an incident when
I was playing for Highlanders juniors when legendary junior coach Ali 'Baba'
Dube was asked about 'Pope' and the fact he was over the 17 years age
limit.
Dube just turned and said to 'Pope': 'Don't you have a sister?'
and 'Pope' muttered something inaudible. Dube then said to him: 'Kuyafanana
angithi ngowangakini (It makes no difference, she is your sister).' And so he
became Pope!
I still find this incident funny today, but it shouldn't
be. This was football being corrupted in front of my eyes -- a young
footballer past his age being made to adopt a new name and a new image,
effectively taking the place of those that qualify for that
position.
When Wieslaw Grabowski was confronted about some dodgy birth
certificates for his Darryn T players in 1996, Stewart Murisa and Alois
Bunjira to be precise, he arrogantly retorted: 'Do I look like a parent to
these boys?'
That's the arrogance or 'I don't wanna know' attitude that
has met allegations of cheating in our football. No-one wants to be
responsible. Our football administrators prefer to sit in lush offices,
plotting who to squabble with next when the game is being raped and maimed in
front of our eyes.
Take the case of my former team-mate at Wankie,
Richard Nyathi. He played an entire season under the name Hasmon Banda. The
matter DID reach the PSL and as an investigation intensified, he reverted to
his name. The matter died a natural death - just like that! Yes, ONLY IN
ZIMBABWE.
Have you tried to imagine what would happen if, for instance,
England goalkeeper David James just decided to change his name to Wilfred
Jones, and his age drastically reduced just before a youth
tournament?
Of course it's unimaginable. But in Zimbabwe, it's
commonplace. Step forward Zimbabwe Saints goalkeeper Reuben Chandata. He
represented Zimbabwe's Under 17 national team using the name Pressmore
Moyo.
The scandal of this whole episode is that both the Premier Soccer
League and the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) could have simply checked
the original player records and confirmed this man was a cheat.
There
are several other cases. Former Highlanders striker Noel Cele used his young
brother's identity. His real name was Roy.
We have the case of
Highlanders striker Gift Lunga (jnr). Without taking away anything from this
hugely talented young man, the truth is he changed his identity because his
real name is Makheyi Lungu. Sundowns' Kelvin Maseko is Mandla Maseko, Caps
United's Melusi Ndebele is Phephisani Ndebele and Highlanders' Melusi Sibanda
is Shepherd Sibanda. The list is endless.
All the players listed above,
save for Melusi Sibanda, played in the Under 17, Under 20 and Under 23
national teams on fake identities. If the Confederation of African Football
(CAF) had obtained this information Zimbabwe would have been
BANNED.
Ever wondered why our players stop playing football at the age of
25 or 27? The answer is simple; they will already be 33 or 36 years old. Ever
wondered why our players haven't stayed in the game as long as Arsenal's
Martin Keown or former England number one keeper David Seaman? Now, stop
wondering.
It pains me to say it, but I admit that WE ARE A NATION OF
CHEATS. Our junior teams have travelled the continent using fake documents
and adopted names. It's even more scandalous that our top coaches and
football administrators have tacitly approved or even assisted the
cheats.
We approached Zifa for comment, and a spokesman said they had no
evidence of cheating, adding that they would investigate if specific leads
were given."
Four
white rhinos will be relocated to the new Mapungubwe National Park
near Musina next week, Limpopo tourism and parks said on
Wednesday.
The rhinos would to be relocated to Mapungubwe from the Kruger
National Park on July 21 and July 22, spokeswoman Eva Ratau said in a
statement.
"Three will be transferred on the first day, and the remaining
one the next day."
The Mapungubwe National Park, previously known as
the Vhempe Dongola Park, was officially launched under its new name earlier
this year during the Indaba International Tourism Exhibition in
Durban.
The new name derives from the world-famous Mapungubwe hill which
falls with in its boundaries.
Ratau described the arrival of the
rhinos as "a piece of unique history".
Recent archaeological discoveries
confirmed that rhinos roamed the region two thousand years ago.
Ratau
said that during the excavations by the University of Pretoria a gold rhino
artefact which had since become a central emblem personifying the character
of the region was found.
Other finds indicated that a well-developed
smelting and trading industry existed in the area during that
period.
Ratau said due to its enormous tourist potential Mapungubwe could
form part of an emerging transfrontier park in the region in co-operation
with Zimbabwe and Botswana.
"It will be an important strategic and
economic component of the transfrontier park."
Ratau said SANParks
indicated that the introduction of the rhinos was only the first of a number
of rare or endangered species to be introduced into the
park.
Accommodation and other tourist facilities in the park were also
nearing completion.
"The park was scheduled to be opened to tourists
early next year," Ratau said. Sapa
Herewith Friday 2nd July 2004 Listing of Section 8 Acquisition
Orders published in the Herald under Lot No. 10 pertaining to 22
properties. Collection of Section 8 Orders for lodgement of Section 5 Notice
objection letters can be effected at the following address which is not given
in the Herald:
Block 2 Makombe Complex cnr. Herbert Chitepo
Street/Harare Street Harare See Mr.
Pazavakombewa --------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAND
ACQUISITION ACT (CHAPTER 20:10) Vesting of land, taking of materials
and exercise of rights over land
NOTICE is hereby given, in terms of
paragraph (iii) of subsection (1) of section 8 of the Land Acquisition Act
(Chapter 20:10), that the President has acquired compulsorily the land
described in the Schedule for resettlement purposes.
J L
NKOMO, Minister of Special Affairs in the President's Office in Charge of
Lands, Land Reform and
Resettlement.
______________________________________________ LOT 10
SECTION 8 9TH JULY 2004 Hartley 9.7.2004. 1. 668/75. The Management
Committee of the Local authorities Pension Fund: Hartley: The Remainder of
Essex: 687,8972 ha 9.7.2004. 2. 3160/81. Local Authorities Pension Fund:
Hartley: The Remaining Extent of Risboro A: 1176,8321 ha 9.7.2004. 3.
5032/75. The Management Committee of the Local authorities Pension Fund:
Hartley: Bosbury Extension of Oldham: 350,5871 ha 9.7.2004. 4. 5032/72.
The Management Committee of the Local authorities Pension Fund: Hartley:
Remaining Extent of Bosbury: 1046,0072 ha
Lomagundi
9.7.2004. 5.
733/92. Span Farming P/L: Lomagundi: Dembwe of S/D L of Donington: 387,2800
ha 9.7.2004. 6. 1067/96> Allan George P/L: Lomagundi: Allan Goerge:
3098,8100 ha 9.7.2004. 7. 4849/87. Arthur Johannes Scholtz: Lomagundi:
Euthopia: 441,8600 ha 9.7.2004. 8. 8897/71. George Alfred Pio:
Lomagundi: Hare Field Estate: 858,8648 ha 9.7.2004. 9. 1767/99. P E N
Nicolle and Sons (Private) Limited: Lomagundi: Lot 3 of Hunyani: 1488,2713
ha 9.7.2004. 10. 2274/80. P E N Nicolle and Sons (Private)
Limited: Lomagundi: Remainder of Hunyani: 3356,225 ha 9.7.2004. 11.
5435/79. Palmerston Estate P/L: Lomagundi: Lot 1 of Hunyani: 4959508
ha 9.7.2004. 12. 4860/91. PTA Farming P/L: Lomagundi: Bassett: 518,0221
ha 9.7.2004. 13. 7562/72 Mawmae P/L: Lomagundi: Clydesdale: 1 442,4800
ha 9.7.2004. 14. 9794/97. G P S Pope and Sons P/L: Lomagundi:
Brendon: 5,746,400 9.7.2004. 15. 4859/91. Nyarapinda Farm (Private)
Limited: Lomagundi: Nyarapinda Extension: 354,25 ha 9.7.2004. 16.
2521/48. Buckstone Estates Ltd: Lomagundi: Buxton:
854,4000 ha
Mazoe
9.7.2004. 17. 1530/68. Komani estate
(private) Limited: Mazoe: The Remaining Extent of Glenara: 691,2097
acres
Mrewa
9.7.2004. 18. 7167/95. P Robert-Morgan&Sons
P/L: Mrewa: Craigielea Estate: 768,2929 ha 9.7.2004. 19. 508/90. Zebec
Farming P/L: Mrewa: Twist: 627,8277 ha
Salisbury
9.7.2004. 20.
1530/68. Komani Estates Private Limited: Salisbury: Komani: 2900
acres 9.7.2004. 21. 224/96. Hortloac P/L: Salisbury: The Glebe: 669,19
ha 9.7.2004. 22. 4909/03. K G Mangenje: Salisbury: Remainder
of Guensey: 743,8355
ha --------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE
JAG TEAM
JAG Hotlines: (011) 612 595 If you are in trouble or need
advice, (011) 205 374 (011) 863 354 please don't hesitate to contact us
- (011) 431 068 we're here to help! 263
4 799 410 Office Lines
Please
send any material for publication in the Open Letter Forum to justice@telco.co.zw with "For Open Letter
Forum" in the subject
line.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAG
OLF
283 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY
"The limits of tyrants and oppressive people are
prescribed by the endurance of those whom they suppress."
--- Che
Guevera ______________________________________________
OPEN LETTERS
FORUM
Letter 1. This message from Albert Gumbo - a young business
executive with a family - is worth reading. ................. HANG IN
THERE.
It is getting more difficult to stay isn't it? Every week, one
hears of bad news, a robbery here, an arbitrary arrest, a car jacking, a
failed auction bid, and school fees (the kind you are not allowed to pay) and
school fees (the kind you cannot afford to pay)
I traveled to Bulawayo
with a colleague yesterday and he told me he was robbed Friday night at 8:30
pm. Four blokes walked in armed with his garden tools and proceeded to
relieve him of hid decoder, cell phone, VCR and a few other household items.
He was alone with his wife at the time. They slapped him around a bit but did
not touch his wife, except to warn them not to look at them. What impressed
(surprised?) me was his and his wife's, both in their late forties,
philosophical reaction: "Albert, this could have happened anywhere, New York,
Australia or South Africa."
True is it not?
Is that reason enough
to stay? That is up to you. I find people have left for different reasons:
Non-political activists have claimed political asylum and wealthy people have
left for economic reasons and quite a lot of other people have left for
equally genuine reasons. No hidden meanings there. So I am not going to
dismiss this robbery, in which fortunately no one was hurt, as a non -event
and therefore a reason not to leave.
Rather, I will just bore you with
the same story as in my previous messages. Things will improve and someone
has to turn off the lights. It is not just about the great weather and the
great education that Zimbabwe has to offer. It is not just about the fact
that we have the infrastructure in place to help revive the economy when all
other things become equal. The reason, and I say this as much to myself as I
say to who ever is reading this, is: It is our country damn it and somebody
has to stand up for it. Somebody has to help put pressure on the municipality
regarding the water cuts, on Zesa regarding the power cuts, on politicians
regarding law and order, human rights and democracy, on cell phone service
providers regarding the poor customer service. In short, we get the
government, the customer service etc we deserve if we create a laissez-faire
attitude through our unwillingness to stand up and reject unacceptable
service or behaviour. Do we not?
I have argued before that the problem
is not the bad guys because they are simply being true to self! The problem
is the few good men and women who refuse to be true to self and choose
cowardice and convenience over experience for the sake of peace and quiet.
Well it has not worked has it? Zimbabweans rarely complain about or refuse to
accept bad service, poor teaching, not enough/too much homework for the
children, not enough drugs in the hospital, waiting too long in a queue at
the hospital, bank etc. How many of us call ZESA straight away when there is
a power cut? Simply lighting a candle in this instance is not in the spirit
of "light a candle instead of cursing the darkness." (First time readers will
be confused by that last bit) If we cannot lift a finger about straight
forward everyday issues*
On the flight to Bulawayo, I read in the
in-flight magazine about Nancy Wake. Look her up on the internet, I do not
have the time and space to tell you about her except to say her personal
contribution to the Nazi demise was immense. You should read her story and
perhaps then we will understand that just like Rosa Parks, Ghandi and now the
Greek team at Euro 2004, every individual must pull together for the
collective's sake and then we will have no reason to debate whether we stay
or not.
A Greek friend of mine, in an exuberant moment of patriotic
fervour sent me this quote from Churchill the other day: "The Greeks did not
fight like Heroes, it is the heroes who fought like Greeks!" I am sure my
friend will come back to earth by the time the Olympics are over but the
lesson is there and as the Greeks light up the Olympic torch next month, do
not forget to "light a candle, instead of cursing the darkness" in your
country what ever form that darkness takes for you. Make that change in
your attitude, hang in there and use your voice to help improve the
situation around you.
Albert Gumbo 7 July 2004
P.S. I urge
you to read about Nancy
Wake.
_______________________________________________
Letter 2.
Subject JAG Open Letters Forum 5th July 2004 OLF 281
Dear Ben
I
hope this is passed onto you. Zambia is moving forward and I am sure there
are some of us who would look at having youngsters in their holidays. In fact
we have a young Zambian doing just that at present. I must warn you that as
we are all trying to re-establish ourselves the work is hard and the
conditions not always that great to say the least. It therefore would give
youngsters an insught to how life is on farms outside Zim. It is nice to see
you have not lost your concern for others or your urge to promote young
farmers.
With best wishes Peter
Mac. _______________________________________________
Letter 3 Subject:
JAG Open Letters Forum
1. Thank you for your Open letters Forum. Which,
along with it, ZWNEWS and SWRADIO AFRICA I couldn't do without.
2.
Thought for the Day. 7 July 04
This morning I went to buy a work suit and
boots for our new gardner. I went to a wholesale shop in town. I had a
general chat to the sales person as I was waiting. I asked him about his
life.
Born into a poor family aged ± 45 5 children (aged 6 -
22) family live in Chinoyi he rents 2 rooms in Kuwadzana Rent: in June
04 - $75.000 00; now, in July 04 - $130.000 00 per room i.e. $260.000.00 per
month Transport: daily ± $3.500 Hours of work: Has to get up at 4.30 (must
have been terrible today) to get to work for 7.30 and arrives home
6.30 Salary: he told me confidentially ±$300.000.00 per month
Later on
this morning I spoke to a delivery driver. He confided that he had to borrow
or dig into his families savings in order to continue working.
This is
what I am thinking about today
Best wishes from
Carrie
Lapham --------------------------------------------------------------------------- All
letters published on the open Letter Forum are the views and opinions of the
submitters, and do not represent the official viewpoint of Justice for
Agriculture. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE
JAG TEAM
JAG Hotlines: (011) 612 595 If you are in trouble or need
advice, (011) 205 374 (011) 863 354 please don't hesitate to contact us
- (011) 431 068 we're here to help! 263
4 799 410 Office Lines
HARARE, July 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Zimbabwean
President Robert Mugabe met with Chinese State Counselor Chen Zhili here
Wednesday, focusing on cooperation between the two
countries.
Mugabe said during the meeting that his government
would use agriculture to achieve economic revival with the help of partners
like China.
"Agriculture is now going to be the main program
to cause us to transform our economy," he said. "We are emphasizing that at
the moment."
The president said the country welcomed friends
willing to provide it with agricultural inputs such as tractors and
irrigation equipment.
"We are only a small country but we are a
determined people, agriculture people, very hard working and now we feel we
are very well skilled," the president said.
Cooperation with
China would see Zimbabwe strengthen its skills,thereby giving real impetus to
the agricultural thrust, he said.
Mugabe said Zimbabwe was glad
to have Chinese companies that had constructed such buildings as the giant
National Sports Stadium, the Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital and the cement
factory in Midlands province.
There were still many areas that
China could participate in theeconomic development of Zimbabwe, he
said.
Chen said there was great potential for cooperation in
the fields of politics, economy and culture between China and
Zimbabwe.
The Chinese government would ensure that Chinese
companies would adopt preferential trading conditions when dealing with their
Zimbabwean counterparts, she said.
Chen said discussions on
increasing cooperation between the twocountries were currently going on and
an agreement on a joint Economic Cooperation Commission on Communications
would be signed in two months.
Chen arrived here Wednesday
morning for a three-day official visit at the invitation of Zimbabwean Vice
President Joseph Msika.Enditem
Herald Reporter WAR
veterans yesterday condemned the eviction, early this month, of 48 families
at Guernsey Farm in Goromonzi.
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans'
Association vice-chairman Cde Joseph Chinotimba said it was disheartening to
note that the evictions were a result of a fellow black Zimbabwean who should
have been sensitive to the plight of his fellow countrymen.
"As war
veterans we do not seek to fight a fellow Zimbabwean but when someone acts in
a manner that seeks to reverse the gains that we have made in the land
resettlement programme then that is a different matter.
"How can he
advocate for the removal of those people and their property, especially their
produce. It was painful to see maize being thrown around when, in actual
fact, it is one of the most sought after commodity in
the country.
"What we have done is that we have declared that the farm
is now our base and as someone who does not own a farm, I have also decided
to reside there myself," said Cde Chinotimba.
He scoffed at the fact
that a Mr Mangenje was claiming that he bought the farm and the equipment at
the farm.
"If he is a genuine Zimbabwean, why did he proceed to buy the
farm which was already occupied? Didn't he know that Government was
proceeding to acquire it for resettlement?
"If he was genuinely in
need of land why did he not apply for resettlement like anyone else? As far
as we are concerned no farm equipment will be removed from the farm in
accordance the with Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Acquisition of
Farm Equipment or Material) 2003," he said. The 48 families at Guernsey Farm
were evicted early this month and had to spend three days sleeping in the
open after the Deputy Sheriff served them with an eviction order from
Harare.
The families had their belongings forcibly removed from their
houses and dumped several kilometres away from their dwellings along Arcturus
Road.
Private security guards contracted by the new owner of the farm
locked all the gates to the property.
A spokesperson for the families,
Cde McDonald Tome, said they were only given 30 minutes to vacate the
farm.
The families, who came from far-away places such as Bulawayo,
Mutare, Marondera and Mutoko, were legally resettled on the farm in 2001
Reveal names of all interfering politicians:
court
Court Reporter A HARARE magistrate yesterday ordered the
Attorney-General*s Of-fice to investigate and reveal the names of the
politicians and senior Government officials alleged to have interfered with
investigations in the case of Chinhoyi businessman Cecil
Muderede.
Magistrate Ms Me-mory Chigwaza made the order soon after
dismissing Muderede*s applications for refusal of remand and bail on the
grounds that he was likely to abscond.
The businessman is being
accused of contravening the Grain Marketing Board Act and Exchange Control
Regulations.
Investigating officer Chief Superintendent Sarashana Mabunda
claimed on Monday that some politicians and senior Government officials
were interfering with investigations during Muderede*s initial remand
hearing.
Chief Supt Mabunda told the court that the politicians and
senior Government officials were ordering him to stop the prosecution and
investigation of Muderede.
"(The) court orders the Attorney-General*s
Office to investigate the senior Government officials and their identities
revealed by the State on the next remand date," Ms Chigwaza
said.
Muderede was remanded to today. This means that the State is
expected to name the politicians and senior Government officials
today.
Ms Chigwaza said Muderede had been properly brought to court on
the charges of theft, contravening the Exchange Control Regulations and Grain
Marketing Board Act.
"On the fourth charge (theft charge), the police
do not need a warrant and accused is placed on remand.
"The fifth
charge (contravening the Exchange Control Act) accused is placed on remand
since he was properly brought to court," Ms Chigwaza said.
However, Ms
Chigwaza refused to remand Muderede on the other three charges.
In
dismissing the charges, Ms Chigwaza said Muderede could not be placed
on remand since he had already been brought to court on the same
charges.
"After careful consideration of submissions the court noted that
accused has already appeared in court in Chirundu.
"Accused cannot be
placed on remand.
"The second and third charges (contravening two
sections of the Customs and Excise Control Act) were not covered in the
warrant. It is not procedurally correct to place accused on remand," she
said.
Charges against Muderede, who was rearrested last Thursday soon
after his release from remand prison, arose between August 2000 and August
2001 when he allegedly exported 6 400 metric tonnes of cotton seed to PJC
Raw Materials, a South African company.
It is alleged that Muderede
instructed the company to pay US$527 500, which was due to him into a South
African account.
The money, it is alleged, was not repatriated to
Zimbabwe in accordance with exchange control regulations.
The State
further alleges that during the same period Muderede exported 2 000 metric
tonnes of soyabeans to PJC Raw Materials and instructed them to deposit a
total of US$390 000 into his Absa Bank account in Sandton,
South Africa.
The money was never repatriated to Zimba-bwe, the State
alleges.
It is also alleged that in October 2003 Muderede exported 2 000
tonnes of maize to South Africa*s Industrial Commodities Holdings and advised
the company to pay US$344 767,74 into his Absa account.
On the theft
charge, the State alleges that in 2002 Muderede stole 62 bales of tobacco
valued at $6 million from the Tobacco Sales Floor Limited in Willowvale,
Harare.
The State further alleges that on August 26 2003 Muderede sold
US$20 000 to Telecel Zimbabwe using the parallel market rate.