2010 07 09
http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=128056
Zimbabwe- Germany- Diplomacy
APA-Harare
(Zimbabwe)
The Zimbabwe government has ordered a group of armed people
off three agricultural plantations in the east of the country following a
three-week standoff that was threatening Harare’s diplomatic ties with Germany,
APA learns here Friday.
An official from the German embassy in Harare said the illegal
land occupiers, believed to be supporters of President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF
party, were finally removed Thursday from Makandi Tea and Coffee Estate, Border
Timbers Estate and Forester Estate which are owned by German national Heinrich
von Pezold.
“The Zimbabwe government has agreed to stop the invasions and
the situation is back to normal at all three properties,” the official said.
The properties are covered by a bilateral investment promotion
and protection agreement between Zimbabwe and Germany in 1995 but which came
into force in 2000.
The agreement precludes any farms owned by Germans from
expropriation under Zimbabwe’s controversial land reform programme.
The Harare government had previously refused to act against
the illegal occupants who claimed they were allocated the properties under the
land reform programme.
Germany threatened to withhold aid to Zimbabwe, which totalled
more than US$ 50 million in 2009.
The illegal land occupiers are believed to have looted maize
and other crops valued at more than US$ 1 million since moving onto the farms
on June 18.
JN/daj/APA
2010-07-09
African Press Agency - Copyright upon prior authorization
______________________________________________
2010 07 08
http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/zimbabwe/5581.html
08 July, 2010 06:42:00
by Tanonoka Joseph Whande
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A white Commercial farmer confronted by Robert Mugabe's war
veterans
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
OPINION
About ten years ago, the so-called land reform programme in
Zimbabwe was initiated. It was, however, unleashed not because of necessity but
as a way of punishing some people.
The rank and file had just handed Robert Mugabe an
embarrassing defeat during a constitutional referendum.
Mugabe wanted the draft constitution to be adopted because it
left his powers basically intact and also skated around the issue of the number
of terms a president should be limited to.
But the Zimbabwean people rejected the draft constitution.
This was at a time when the newly formed Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) was making recruitment headway in its infancy.
White farmers, who felt neglected by Mugabe in spite of their
annual outputs of crops, beef and tobacco, queued up behind the MDC, cheque
books in hand.
This annoyed Mugabe further and he immediately made a u-turn
on his declared policy of reconciliation and urged his supporters, led by some
elements of war veterans, to invade and seize white-owned farms.
Many farmers lost not only their farms and property, but their
lives as well.
Up to this day, illegal farm seizures continue in spite of the
establishment of a unity government of which the MDC is part.
There was controversy and the debate still won’t go away.
Some people took a simplistic view and applauded Mugabe for
doing what he did.
I am one of those who have always maintained that what Mugabe
did was foolish, counterproductive and totally stupid.
First, there is no doubt that centuries-old land imbalances
brought upon by successive colonial regimes have to be corrected worldwide.
But Mugabe did nothing about this for more than twenty years
after coming to power, only acting after noticing that he was losing support
among the rank and file.
He was using land to try to regain back some of his evaporated
popularity, while at the same time punishing a particular sector of our
citizenry.
Land redistribution, like in all countries in the world, was
necessary. It is the way Mugabe went about it that defeats the intended expectations
and benefits.
Even today, the land redistribution exercise has not done
anything positive as millions are still not resettled as the farms were given
to Mugabe’s friends, relatives and cronies.
Secondly, Zimbabwe, like any other country on earth, is bound
by the same economic laws and regulations that other nations subscribe to.
That is why there are trade agreements, entered into by
governments.
Today, investment protocols entered into between South Africa,
Germany and Australia, for example, have been violated by Mugabe and some
countries have taken the legal route, which does not give much encouragement to
prospective investors.
The illegal and violent farm seizures warned investors to move
their investments elsewhere since the land seizures were proof that there were
no longer any property rights in Zimbabwe.
Indeed, many companies relocated to neighbouring countries.
Dispossessed farmers, meanwhile, also found themselves on the
move to Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia and to other
welcoming countries, which badly needed their expertise.
Within a few years after this chaotic land redistribution
exercise, Zimbabwe, which used to export food to many countries in the world,
found itself unable to feed its own people.
Ten years on, Zimbabwe is still importing more and more food
as the once highly productive farms, given to friends without agricultural
merit, are left to lie idle.
One of the countries that used to import food heavily is
Zambia, which used to import maize and other food items from Zimbabwe.
But this past Thursday, the Zimbabwe government confirmed that
it was buying food from Zambia.
What irks me about this business transaction is that Zambia
was the biggest beneficiary of Zimbabwe’s displaced farmers.
Zambia welcomed the farmers that Zimbabwe had kicked out, who
immediately went to work as their profession demanded.
Now, with the influx of some of Zimbabwe’s best farmers,
“Zambia is now producing a surplus maize crop at a time Zimbabwe has recorded a
deficit of 500,000 tonnes of the daily food staple this year”.
“Approximately 90 percent of these Zambian crops are coming
from ex-Zimbabwean farmers who were forced off their land here,” says Gerry
Whitehead, a surviving white farmer based in the Chiredzi area of Zimbabwe.
He called the situation “disgusting”.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Sipula Kabanje,
confirmed reports that negotiations with Zimbabwe were going on through
Zambia’s maize agent, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
“Zimbabwe also wants to import other food items like wheat,
beef and dairy products from Zambia,” he said.
So, here I sit, wondering which and what should be more
important than the other: giving land to people, even if they do not have
agricultural inclination, just to satisfy the expectations of land
indigenisation or letting only those who can productively use the land for the
benefit of the nation be given the land.
There is absolutely no doubt that indigenous people need land,
but is it land to farm or land to settle ?.
If it is land for farming, then only those who can
productively occupy the land should be allocated that land. The nation has the
right to be fed from its own soil by its own citizens.
Those of our compatriots who chose agriculture as a profession
should be given access to those farms and allowed to feed their nation, instead
of Mugabe trying to turn every Zimbabwean into a farmer by dishing out farms to
people who cannot use them.
If the land is for resettlement, there are plenty of good
areas that can be allocated to people, without interfering with those farms
that are expected to grow and harvest for national silos.
If Mugabe argues that what he did and how he did it is
nationalism, then he has lost his marbles.
What good has it done ?.
Now some black people have fertile land given to them by
Mugabe but spend endless hours in queues every month, waiting to be allocated
maize and cooking oil from Save the Children, Oxfam and from the United Nations
Food Programme.
Since this disorganized land reform programme, the war
veterans, who were allocated some of the farms, have been seen jostling for
positions of advantage to receive free donated food from outside Zimbabwe.
Land imbalances have to be corrected, not only in Zimbabwe and
Africa but worldwide. The disparity seems to be increasing, not diminishing.
However, it can be done in an orderly manner without the
murder of compatriots and without racial considerations, lest we become the
same as those we criticize for having caused the imbalances in the first place.
I have heard silly rumblings and threats to invade from South
Africans and Batswana.
Don’t even think it.
Let those misguided people who think of imitating Mugabe be
warned that they will only have themselves to blame if they follow in Mugabe’s
footsteps.
There are better ways of dealing with the issue without
bringing hardship upon your nations.
We, Zimbabweans, and our plight, are today the best example
and proof that Mugabe was wrong.
2010 07 09
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/local/27209-to-hell-with-western-aid-says-mugabe.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 19:50
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday said Zimbabwe does not need
Western funding to resuscitate its comatose economy.
Mugabe’s pronouncement flew in the face of the country’s
attempts to lobby for the removal of sanctions and the provision of financial
assistance.
A government delegation held a meeting with the European Union
in Brussels last Friday where the two agreed to intensify the re-engagement
dialogue in Harare.
Addressing an ordinary session of the Zanu PF central committee
at the party headquarters in Harare, Mugabe said Zimbabwe should not waste time
lobbying Western governments and donors for financial assistance.
He said the vegetative economy would be revived through
agriculture and mineral resources.
“Zimbabwe shall recover by her wits and resources,” Mugabe
said. “Zimbabwe will not be saved by any country or organisation, least of all
Western. Let our partners in the inclusive government get that so we do not
waste our efforts on useless initiatives.
“It is our mineral resources - all these helped by the
ingenuity and entrepreneurship of our people which will turn this economy and
country around.”
Mugabe said Zimbabwe will sell diamonds, with or without the
Kimberley Certification Process.
“We have been put in the dock because these same countries
have imposed illegal sanctions on us for our total ruin. Diamonds would thus
blunt their sanctions by enabling us to offset and checkmate their disastrous
effects on our people and on our economy,” he said.
Mugabe accused the Americans, Canadians and Australians of
trying to constrain the country economically and politically by lobbying for
the condemnation of Zimbabwean diamonds.
“Our diamonds are not only bright and clean, they are greatly
demanded worldwide. We have the technology to polish them. Let no one doubt our
resolve to sell them, with or without the KPCS, with or without the blessing of
the USA, Canada, Australia or their NGO pawns,” he said.
“We do not need the blessings of anyone, least of all nations
with chequered origins, and equally chequered profiles in spilling so much
blood to lay their filthy hands on resources of other nations.”
Turning to the constitution outreach programme, Mugabe said
his party would decide to either support or reject a draft constitution
depending on whether their position has been incorporated.
“While today they are the points we proffer to those gathering
views, tomorrow they become the test by which we measure the overall outcome,
and therefore our response and disposition towards the document will be put to
the nation in a referendum,” he said.
Mugabe said Zanu PF would not compromise on its fundamental
principles and ideals as a nationalist revolutionary party.
“Once the process is defended and secure, we must ensure the
product carries and consolidates our ideals…That coveted status must remain
solid, secure and unshaken for all time. Zimbabwe ndeyeropa; yakauya nehondo.
Haichadzokera kuvarungu zvakare. (blood was spilled to gain Independence and
Independence came through an armed struggle. This country will never go back to
the whites,” he said.
Mugabe said he was happy that his party’s voice has been
dominant during the outreach programme.
He said Zimbabwe should never condone homosexuality and should
ensure that gay rights are not included in the new constitution.
“These noble beasts do instinctively know male from female and
mate accordingly. What more with man created in the divine image of God and
accorded dominion status over all ?.
We abhor homosexuality and firmly resist any attempts to
defile our constitution with any recognition,” he said.
Today, Mugabe will address his party’s national consultative
assembly in the capital.
Faith Zaba
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/local/27211-nkomo-mpofu-battle-for-power.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 20:46
FRESH turmoil has hit Zanu PF in Matabeleland where
Vice-President John Nkomo and Mines minister Obert Mpofu are involved in a
power struggle that has sucked in regional bigwigs Jonathan Moyo, Sikhanyiso
Ndlovu and Jacob Mudenda.
The party has been hit by suspensions and plots by both Nkomo
and Mpofu to position their lieutenants in powerful posts in the region, in
what sources said was part of a wider Zanu PF succession battle.
Sources said key in Mpofu’s camp are Moyo and former
Matabeleland North chairman Mudenda, while Ndlovu, Sithembiso Nyoni,
Sithokozile Mathuthu and Cain Mathema are working with Nkomo to stop the spread
of Mpofu’s influence in the region.
Moyo, a central committee member and Mpofu ally, is being
positioned for the Matabeleland North provincial chairmanship, where the
incumbent, Zenzo Ncube, is viewed as an associate of Nkomo.
Ncube told the Zimbabwe Independent yesterday that he was
aware of the plot. Moyo’s constituency, Tsholotsho, which is in Matabeleland
North, was the alleged centre of a 2004 unsuccessful plot to change the Zanu PF
leadership and the province has once again become a battleground.
Ncube told the Independent that Mudenda, a central committee
member, and Moyo were baying for his blood despite the fact he was the one who
“pleaded with Nkomo”, who was party chairman then, to accept the duo back into
the party after they were in trouble for masterminding the 2004 Tsholotsho
declaration.
“They (Obert Mpofu and Jonathan Moyo) want to remove me from
power. It’s sad that the same people I fought for to be accepted back in Zanu
PF are despising me,” said an emotional Ncube in a telephone interview from
Binga yesterday.
“The central committee members held a meeting at York House
(Bulawayo) and indicated that they want to push me out of office.”
Ncube accused Mpofu and Moyo of orchestrating a meeting last
month at the Mines minister’s York House offices in Bulawayo, where they asked
Ncube to step down. Under normal circumstances, Zanu PF meetings are held at
provincial offices.
The meeting was allegedly attended by Zanu PF central
committee members linked to Mpofu who include his wife Sikhanyisiwe, Fati
Mpofu, Melly Nkomo, Rebecca Fameli and Josephine Moyo, while those aligned to
Nkomo such as Sithembiso Nyoni, Sithokozile Mathuthu, Cain Mathema and Samuel
Mgande boycotted the meeting.
At the meeting, the Mpofu-aligned central committee members
allegedly resolved to replace Ncube with Jonathan Moyo.
Nkomo, who was not present at the meeting, is reportedly
resisting the move and is fighting back, the sources said.
In vengeance, Nkomo then drew a dagger against Zanu PF
Bulawayo provincial chairman Isaac Dakamela who belongs to the Mpofu camp.
Dakamela was suspended from the party on Sunday although he has refused to move
from his position. The Bulawayo provincial chairman was suspended after
politburo, central committee and national consultative assembly members in
Matabeleland agreed that Dakamela’s alleged theft of cows and insulting Nkomo
were good enough reasons for his dismissal.
The firing and attempted change of influential provincial
chairpersons, Zanu PF insiders say, has been used as a stage to fight for
personal political aggrandisement by Nkomo and Mpofu. The two leading
politicians from Matabeleland clashed last year as they competed for the position
of party vice-president.
Mpofu yesterday declined to speak to the Independent.
“I told you I don’t talk to the Independent,” Mpofu said
curtly. When a second call was made to him, the minister retorted: “What kind
of language do you understand?”
Nkomo could not be reached for comment at time of going to
press.
Moyo confirmed that he participated in the York House meeting,
but insisted that the gathering was convened by Mpofu “who is the most senior
central committee member and politburo member in Matabeleland North province”.
Moyo accused Ncube of incompetence and failure to articulate
party programmes, resulting in Matabeleland North ranked the least performer
out of the country’s 10 provinces.
Moyo yesterday said: “Why would I be a village pumpkin yet I
am a central committee member ?.
I don’t want to be a provincial chairperson because being a
central committee member is a higher rank?” said the former Information
minister who rejoined Zanu PF last year.
“We met at York House to look at problems bedevilling the
party in Matabeleland North and the number one problem is the chairman
(Ncube),” Moyo said. “He is ineffective and is even failing to sell party cards
in the villages. The central committee members told Ncube of his ineffective
leadership.
They all agreed that the chairman is not working well because
you will never hear of a party programme in Matabeleland North. The bottom line
is that Ncube has poor leadership qualities and I don’t think it’s a crime for
central committee members to express that they are not happy with the
chairman.”
Commenting on the problems dogging the party, Zanu PF national
chairman Simon Khaya Moyo, said the firing of Dakamela and attempts by Mpofu
and Moyo to ouster Ncube were “a storm in a tea cup”.
“Everything is under control. It was a whirlwind, but we are
in control of the situation,” he said.
Matabeleland North nominated Nkomo and Mpofu for the
vice-presidency while Mpofu was disqualidied in Bulawayo, which chose Nkomo for
the post.
Brian Chitemba
2010 07 08
http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/zimbabwe/5585.html
08 July, 2010 11:00:00 By
“We have been told that they want to keep him in detention up
to next year without a strong case like they did with Bennett (Roy), Jestina
Mukoko
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Harare
Troubled Zanu PF official and businessman, Temba Mliswa was
Thursday granted bail by a Harare magistrate but was snatched outside the doors
of Harare remand prison by plain clothes police officers from the dreaded CID
Homicide section, a few seconds after being released.
He was whisked away to Harare Central police station where he
was being questioned on unspecified fresh charges.
The Daily News crew was at remand prison when Mliswa was
released.
Mliswa walked about 15 metres from the remand prison door and
was immediately taken into a waiting blue, Toyota Corolla sedan registration
number AAO 3823 where he was sandwiched between two heavily built officers.
Relatives said four hours after he was released, police were
still to press charges against the controversial businessman amid reports that
senior police officers were scrounging for more cases linking Mliswa to crime.
Mliswa, who has been incarcerated for the past two weeks after
he attacked police commissioner Augustine Chihuri describing him as the most
corrupt individual in the country is likely to be pressed with more charges.
He was first arrested and charged with fraud over an ownership
wrangle of a vehicle repairs company, Noshio Motors.
He was released on bail but was arrested a few minutes later.
Yesterday, the state wanted to pin down Mliswa on 40 different
cases of fraud involving more than US$ 20 million allegedly committed in 2003
but magistrate Don Ndirowei granted him US$ 400 bail.
In granting bail, the magistrate said of the 40 cases brought
before the courts all of them had either been withdrawn or he had been
acquitted in court. He said this was not good enough to remand a person in
custody.
Presidential affairs minister Didymus Mutasa ,an uncle to
Mliswa has blasted police, in particular Chihuri for using state apparatus to
settle personal matters.
Mliswa also claims that he is being continuously arrested by
the police because he wrote a letter to Chihuri asking him to stop interfering
in Noshio Motors where he is having a dispute with co-owner Paul Westwood.
Mliswa accuses Chihuri of being a close associate of Westwood.
A Mliswa family member said: “The whole world can now see how
police abuse the system to settle personal scores and to satisfy hidden
agendas. In Zimbabwe it’s not about whether you are guilty or not but whether
you are in line with the so called top guys.
“Temba has been granted bail twice and each time, police
officers from the homicide section will be waiting for him. The police are
saying they are getting orders from the top. Why can’t they bring all the cases
together and charge him once.
“We have been told that they want to keep him in detention up
to next year without a strong case like they did with Bennett (Roy), Jestina
Mukoko and other human rights defenders. We hope he has leant his lesson that
these Zanu PF people are cruel,” said the family member.
Mliswa's case has torched a storm in government with police
last week accusing Mutasa and co-minister of Home Affairs ,Theresa Makone of
trying to intimidate officers to release Mliswa and his co-accused Martin
Mutasa who is minister Mutasa's son.
2010 07 08
http://www.swradioafrica.com/news080710/activist080710.htm
SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
By Alex Bell
08 July 2010
Notorious ZANU PF activist Themba Mliswa has this week been
charged with fraudulently acquiring assets worth US$ 25 million from two white
farmers, in one of the first legal cases against a beneficiary of unlawful land
acquisition.
Mliswa’s arrest and the subsequent charges brought against him
are widely believed to be connected a public clash with powerful Police Commissioner
General Augustine Chihuri. Mliswa, a close relative of ZANU PF politburo member
and Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa, last week attacked Chihuri in
newspapers, labeling the police chief as one of the most corrupt men. This as
the pair fought over shares in a white-owned car firm that the police say
Mliswa attempted to acquire fraudulently.
Mliswa was last week arrested over the car firm shares said to
be worth around US$ 1 million. He was released on Monday only to be re-arrested
the same day on fresh charges of fraud allegedly committed between 2004 and
2006. A bail hearing was expected on Thursday but the state had indicated that
it would oppose the application, arguing Mliswa was a flight risk.
Prosecutors allege Mliswa approached Karoi farmer Petros
Jacobs Van De Merwe whose land was gazetted for acquisition in June 2004 and
offered to help the farmer auction his equipment. Van De Merwe had been given
until October of the same year to wind down operations on the farm, but Mliswa
claimed authorities would not allow him to sell his equipment. The state claims
Mliswa then told the farmer he was “connected to influential people” and could
help dispose of the equipment for a 10% commission.
Mliswa allegedly then sold the property, which included a
large herd of cattle, vehicles, tractors and other equipment, altogether valued
at US$ 3.6 million. The profits he then apparently pocketed, turning himself
into an instant millionaire.
Mliswa is also accused of approaching Kwekwe farmer, Nico Van
Rensburg whose farm had also been gazetted for acquisition and offered to
“protect” him. The farmer was made to sign an agreement which claimed the
property had been sold to Mliswa in the vain hope this would stave-off
acquisition.
The case has exposed the kind of corruption at the heart of
the land reform programme, which has seen the destruction of Zimbabwe’s
agricultural sector. Mliswa is not the only ZANU PF top dog to benefit from the
land grab scheme in such a corrupt way.
Ironically it was Didymus Mutasa, who is currently believed to
be behind the fresh wave of farm attacks across Manicaland province, who rushed
to Mlsiwa’s rescue last week. Mliswa was arrested alongside Mutasa’s son,
Martin, in connection with trying to seize shareholding worth US$ 1 million
from a company owned by white businessman Paul Westwood. The incident saw the
involvement of new co-Home Affairs Minister Theresa Makone. State media
reported that Makone and Mutasa visited Mbare, Matapi and Stodart police
stations in Harare last week to demand the release of Mutasa’s son.
Makone told SW Radio Africa this week that Mutasa approached
her seeking help to locate his son who had been arrested the day before.
“Mutasa did not come to ask for assistance to have his son
removed from police detention. He came to ask for assistance to locate his son.
So it was in that spirit that as co-Home Affairs Minister I actually went about
locating the son of the Minister,” Makone said.
Commentator Tanonoka Whande on Thursday lashed out at Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s for allowing a member of his party to flaunt rule
of law in such a way. He criticised the efforts to release Mutasa’s son, when
rights activist Farai Maguwu is still behind bars, one month since his
controversial arrest. Whande accused the Prime Minister of being “out of touch
with the people who put their faith and confidence in his promises of change.”
Whande added that the Prime Minister should be going out
2010 07 09
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/local/27205-mliswa-in-deeper-trouble.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 19:50
BUSINESSMAN Temba Mliswa, arrested three times in just over a
week, is in even deeper trouble.
The controversial former Zanu PF official faces over 70
charges, mostly related to his alleged drive against white farmers during the
ongoing often-violent land reform programme.
This came as Mliswa’s lawyers wrote to police
commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri to intervene and charge the Zanu PF
member with all charges at once.
Police sources said Mliswa is likely to face 30 more charges.
These exclude the 40 cases that the police told Harare magistrate Don Ndirowei
on Wednesday that they intend to bring to court.
Police sources told the Zimbabwe Independent last night that
Mliswa could end up answering 78 cases in all, ranging from extortion, assault
and fraud - some of the cases dating back eight years.
“The cases arise from his activities in Mashonaland West,
Harare and Manicaland and involve activities on farms,” said a police source
who declined to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the press.
“All the cases we are talking about were reported to the police who did not
take action because they were afraid of his political connections.”
Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena confirmed that Mliswa,
described by a detective in court this week as “untouchable”, would face
additional charges.
“He is facing many more charges. More complainants are coming
forward, but I don’t have the exact figures right now,” said Bvudzijena.
Asked why the police had taken so long to arrest Mliswa,
Bvudzijena said: “There is no reason for us to ask the complainants why they
are only coming forward now. But once a crime has been committed, it is up to
us to investigate.”
Mliswa was arrested yesterday at Harare Remand Prison, barely
two hours after he was granted bail by Ndirowei on fraud charges involving 3
000 head of cattle and farm equipment allegedly defrauded from Graham George
Davis van Rensburg, who lost his farm in Kwekwe to the land reform programme in
2004.
Mliswa is a former Zanu PF lands secretary in Mashonaland
West.
He was whisked away in a blue Toyota Corrolla by three
officers from the criminal investigation department.
Mliswa’s relatives who had brought him fresh clothes watched
in shock as he was driven off. Detectives sped off ignoring desperate attempts
by Mliswa’s relatives to wave the police car down and ask about the
circumstances surrounding the businessman’s latest arrest.
Mliswa was taken to Harare Central Police Station and it was
not clear at the time of going to press last night what fresh charges he was
facing.
Charles Chinyama, Mliswa’s lawyer, had on Tuesday written to
Chihuri asking the police to stop bringing allegations against Mliswa in
instalments.
“In the interest of finality to litigation, please can we
kindly request through your good offices to have all the outstanding charges
brought to finality,” wrote Chinyama.
Mliswa’s nightmare started on June 28 when he was arrested
together with Martin Mutasa, the son of Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus
Mutasa, and George Marere for allegedly attempting to take over a Harare
vehicle accessories company. The trio spent four days in detention, despite
reported attempts by Mutasa and Home Affairs co-minister Theresa Makone to
facilitate their release. Police picked Mliswa up again on Monday, this time on
the cattle and farm equipment fraud charges.
Farai Mutsaka/Faith Zaba
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/local/27203-zim-requests-debt-relief-imf.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 19:39
ZIMBABWE is working on a hybrid strategy involving a request
for debt relief under the highly indebted poor country (HIPC) scheme to honour
external debts and an injection of fresh financing from multi-lateral financial
institutions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.
In a statement released on Wednesday following the Article IV
consultative meetings in March, IMF said the country would also use “mineral
wealth to achieve sustainable development”.
The IMF statement came a week before next Thursday’s highly
anticipated mid-term fiscal policy review by Finance minister Tendai Biti.
“The authorities (Zimbabwean government) also expressed strong
interest in a (IMF) staff-monitored programme (SMP),” said the IMF. “In this
regard, they will seek to strengthen policies and data reporting, as well as
improve relations with the international community.”
IMF said the SMP would be a stepping stone towards debt relief
and new international financial institution lending.
However, this was subject to strengthening of economic
policies, particularly Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governance, reporting and
financial management, and public sector wages.
During the Article IV meetings which ended on March 17 in the
country, Zimbabwe agreed that making timely quarterly payments to IMF and
increasing them over time would strengthen the credibility of the country’s
commitment to normalising relations with the fund.
The IMF added that there was “intense debate within the
government” on possible use of mineral wealth to resolve external debt arrears
and “consensus is emerging among key government officials that mineral wealth
alone would not be sufficient to achieve debt sustainability”.
The IMF recommended that government urgently forge political
consensus for addressing significant policy challenges to support the fragile
economic recovery.
Despite showing signs of recovery, the country’s economy has
stalled with certain sectors going into reverse.
It was also recommended by the IMF that the government return
to cash budgeting, where it is only the revenue that is realised that would be
used as well as reducing the wage bill which accounts for close to 67% of
government expenditure.
Government had to contain rapidly rising risks to the banking
system through a reduction of banks’ exposure to the financially distressed
RBZ.
It was also important that the central bank’s governance was
strengthened as well as downsizing it, the IMF said.
“Although reaching consensus on the recommended measures is a
major political challenge, speedy implementation of the recommendations is
essential for reducing significant macro-financial vulnerabilities and avoiding
higher costs of a forced delayed adjustment,” added the bank.
This is the second time this year that the IMF has warned of a
possible banking crisis after another delegation which was in the country from
June 2-10 to review recent economic developments and assist the government in
the preparation of the mid-year budget statement made similar observations.
In its report, the IMF said monthly exports, credit money and
government revenues suggested the economy was decelerating, while the banking
sector vulnerabilities were growing due to lower liquidity and severe
undercapitalisation of banks, especially the weak and smaller ones.
Meanwhile, anticipation is high that Biti will announce new
measures to put the economy back on track when he presents the mid-term fiscal
review on Thursday.
Biti presents the budget review at a time when industry is
showing signs of fatigue. Capacity for industry, which is reeling from high
productive costs, has stagnated at between 20% and 40%.
Economic commentator John Robertson said the mid-term review
provided Biti with an opportunity to arrest the downturn caused by the
announcement of indigenisation and empowerment regulations in January.
Foreign investors, key to economic recovery, have become
jittery following the announcement of the regulations, which force companies
with a net value of US$ 500 000 or more to dispose majority shareholding to
blacks.
“What we would like to hear him (Biti) say is that he has
revised the indigenisation regulations; not in the manner that Saviour (Kasukuwere,
the Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment minister) has been doing
because the discouragement (for investors) which has been there remains,” said
Robertson. “There are no new investors coming and this means there won’t be
money and no development.”
Robertson said despite showing strong signs of recovery in the
first three months of this year, the economy had suffered because of the
confusion surrounding the indigenisation regulations, whose implementation
could be as chaotic as the often violent invasions of white-owned farms.
“There should be policy changes and the most important thing
is that Biti should overwhelm the damage that has been done by Kasukuwere,”
added Robertson. “Another issue is that the minister is expected to revise expenditure.”
On Thursday, Biti faces the same MPs to whom he presented the
2010 budgetary statement in November last year and promised a windfall in
Constituency Development Funds (CDF).
The US$ 50 000 fund per constituency is yet to be released to
the lawmakers six months on. MPs who spoke to the Zimbabwe Independent
yesterday said Biti should immediately avail the funds, noting that community
development should be a priority for the inclusive government.
“Obviously we would want to have something,” said Innocent
Gonese, the MDC chief whip. “We are not sure if the CDF would come, but this
time around we hope it would come. When we receive the funds, we have to sit
down with the stakeholders in the constituency as it is something which has to
be done collectively.”
Apart from explaining the state of the fund as well as how the
economy would be revived, Biti is also expected to show how the country would
meet the gap left by the failure of donors and foreign partners to support
Zimbabwe’s budgetary requirements.
Zimbabwe is unlikely to receive support from donors because of
the slow pace of economic and political reforms.
Biti, in his 2010 budget statement, had banked on donors and
international financial institutions to fund 36% of the national expenditure.
At least US$ 810 million of the US$ 2, 25 billion national
budget was supposed to come from external sources, but they have remained
tight-fisted, prompting the minister to look for alternative sources.
Biti is expected to tell the nation how the anticipated budget
deficit would be met as well as issues around the remuneration of the public
service.
Leonard Makombe
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/local/27201-property-breaches-germany-threatens-aid-withdrawal-.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 19:39
THE formation of the inclusive government has eased relations
between Germany and Zimbabwe, but continued breaches of property rights
threaten future support, a top diplomat has said.
Matthias Schumacher, Germany’s acting ambassador to Zimbabwe,
on Wednesday said President Robert Mugabe’s previous government lacked
legitimacy and had isolated the country from the international community.
“We are of the opinion that the former government did not
really represent the will of the people, therefore, our hands were tied as far
as our support was concerned,” Schumacher told the Zimbabwe Independent after
he had handed over information and communication technology equipment worth US$
80 000 to Zimbabwe’s struggling public examinations body, Zimsec.
“Things have changed with the new government. We consider it
being an entity which more justly represents the will of the people of
Zimbabwe. We are very happy and open to help Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwe has steadily been rebuilding ties with Europe and
North America following a decade of icy relations caused by allegations of
human rights abuses, invasion of white-owned farms by Mugabe’s supporters and
electoral fraud.
Schumacher, however, said while relations had improved, issues
relating to property rights and the respect for international agreements could
retard progress.
He spoke as Zimbabwe and the European Union opened
re-engagements talks whose success is threatened by Harare’s continued takeover
of commercial farms, including those protected by bilateral investment
agreements.
The invasion of three farms owned by a German national last
month caused uneasiness between Harare and Berlin.
The three farms, Makandi Tea Estate and Coffee (Pvt) Ltd,
Border Timbers Ltd and Forrester Estate (Pvt) Ltd, are protected by a Bilateral
Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between Zimbabwe and Germany that
came into force in 2000.
Despite two protest letters from the German Embassy, one
threatening to cut aid, the Zimbabwe government was yet to respond to the
diplomatic notes, Schumacher said, noting, however, that the invaders had
inexplicably since left the farms.
“We were protesting against the farm invasions. Officially,
the government has not responded to our protest. At the moment they (invaders)
have withdrawn and now the farm is up and running again,” he said. “We don’t
want this to somehow influence negatively our relationship with Zimbabwe. The
farmers are okay, but there is of course some damage, you know because there
was two weeks in which the farmers could not operate and some of the coffee
which had dried could not be processed. For the time being, it’s just good now
that they are continuing to work.”
Wongai Zhangazha
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/local/27199-zim-railway-network-faces-total-collapse.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 19:37
ZIMBABWE’S entire rail network faces collapse because of
neglect, dealing a blow to the country’s economic recovery efforts, Mike
Karakadzai, the general manager of the state-owned National Railways of
Zimbabwe (NRZ), has said.
Karakadzai on Wednesday said the government should speed up
the opening of the country’s rail sector to private players to ease the burden
on NRZ, which is the sole operator of the rail system.
“NRZ has limited resources to maintain the rail network which
is in bad shape,” Karakadzai said. “The rail network is fast deteriorating and
on the verge of collapse due to lack of periodic maintenance. As NRZ we don’t
have enough financial resources to undertake such a huge task. If other players
come on board, the burden of maintaining the rail network would be shared.”
Zimbabwe’s rail network, once a hub of the regional transport
network, stretches for 3 077km. So dilapidated is the network that the World
Bank in December recommended the closure of some lines.
Karakadzai said his firm was lobbying government to quicken
the process of inviting new players because, unlike the road sector, the NRZ
was receiving no support from treasury.
“The trading environment is uneven,” he said. “Currently the
state is contributing heavily towards maintenance of roads, but for us we are
in it alone yet we have no resources for it. So the players in the road sector
are in some way subsidised by government.”
He said private players would be charged an access fee similar
to airport tax and port tax. All players, including NRZ, would contribute funds
that would be channeled towards maintenance of infrastructure, according to a
plan being lobbied for by NRZ.
Government has drawn up its own plan to revive the rail
sector.
Under the 2010-2015 Medium Term Plan, which the government is
using to benchmark economic recovery, the state should review current
regulatory policies governing railways in a move that could bring competition
to the loss-making NRZ.
According to the 212-page draft, government is considering “a
separate body to own/operate infrastructure while the rail services are opened
up to a number of sector players for a fee”.
The revival of the rail infrastructure is pivotal to the
country’s economic turnaround programme as investors require such
infrastructure if they are to pump money into the economy.
Currently NRZ is operating at between 30% and 50% capacity
because of a myriad of challenges.
Nqobile Bhebhe
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/local/27197-dabengwa-lifts-zapu-suspensions.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 19:15
ZAPU interim leader Dumiso Dabengwa has closed ranks with
founding party officials after lifting suspension on three members who were
axed due to intra-party clashes, as he focuses on strengthening the party ahead
of its August congress.
Lazarus Ray Ncube, Charles Makhuya and Nhlanhla Ncube were
accepted back into the party this week while Charles Mpofu and Smile Dube were
suspended for a further six months.
The Zapu officials were suspended earlier this year for
bringing the party into disrepute and speaking to the press without clearance
from the party leadership.
The suspended members were also charged with driving a wave of
intra-party violence that rocked Zapu last year. Zapu was formed from the ashes
of the late vice president and one of Zimbabwe’s founders, Joshua Nkomo’s PF
Zapu.
Zapu spokesman Methuseli Moyo confirmed that the three
officials were back in the party and would take part in next month’s congress.
The congress is expected to elect a new leadership with Dabengwa tipped to
remain president.
“Lazarus Ncube, Makhuya and Ncube were found not guilty and
are free to participate in party programmes. However, Charles Mpofu and Smile
Dube were found guilty and remain suspended for a further six months,” the Zapu
spokesman said. Moyo said the sixth suspended member, Evans Ndebele, failed to
show up for the disciplinary hearing, arguing he would have his case dealt with
by the Midlands province leadership. Dabengwa, Zapu sources said, lifted the
suspension on the trio because of
their influence in the Matabeleland region.
Their return, sources said, would bolster the former
liberation war intelligence supremo’s support at the August congress. Moyo said
although dates were yet to be finalised, Bulawayo would host the congress set
to be attended by delegates from the party’s 14 provinces.
Zapu has 10 local provinces as well as four from the Diaspora
- United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and the United States.
The congress will be held under the theme: “Freedom of
Democracy Through Devolution.” The theme is in line with Zapu’s lobby for the
devolution of power in the new constitution. “The congress will look at
electing a substantive party leadership, that is the president, chairman and
other party leaders."said Moyo.
Brian Chitemba
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/local/27185-villagers-want-former-presidents-liable-for-crimes.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 18:55
ISSUES related to power transfer and transitional justice took
centre stage at an outreach hearing in Domboshawa this week, where villagers
offering views on the planned new constitution were frank and fearless.
Reports of intimidation and rehearsed contributions had marred
the first three weeks of the constitution-making outreach programme, as
participants at the hearings failed to express themselves fearing a backlash
from suspected Zanu PF activists pushing for the wholesale adoption of their
party position.
But at Molife Primary School, 40km north of Harare, villagers
appeared enthusiastic and keen on accountable leadership and a smooth transfer
of power - issues that have plagued Zimbabwe for years.
Though sometimes offering views unrelated to
constitution-making, the villagers were still able to say how fed up they were
with the current system that entrenches power in a select few and allows the
breeding of dictatorship through unlimited presidential terms.
Most participants, however, did not give their names, but
still offered what seemed like uncensored opinions.
“Power should be frequently rotated. A president must stay in
power for only five years to give other people a chance,” said a participant in
Shona who identified himself as Owen Sithole.
Most people at the meeting called for limited two-five-year
terms for the president and proposals for any outgoing president to be
prosecuted for crimes committed while still in office received widespread
support.
“This (planned) new constitution should allow for the outgoing
president to be investigated and prosecuted for any crimes that he would have
been accused of committing,” said one participant to loud cheers from fellow
villagers, most of them middle-aged males.
“I think the one who deputises the president should take over
office temporarily in a situation where the sitting president is no longer
suitable or able to continue in office. Elections should then be held after
three months and I mean free and fair elections,” demanded a dreadlocked woman
who attended the hearing held for four hours.
People at this meeting emphasised the need for efficient
systems to safeguard transparency in public funds and allocation of natural
resources.
Perhaps representing an older generation, one ageing
participant said the incumbent president should stay on for three months in a
consultancy capacity, “while teaching the incoming president to understand the
running of the presidency”.
Forty-seven-year old Angeline Soko concurred, and suggested an
even longer term for the outgoing president.
“What if the president is young and he needs more years to
complete his programmes?” asked Shoko. “Don’t you think it’s too little a time
for a leader to have made progress?”
Asked how many years she would prefer for presidential
term-limits: “40 years”, she responded.
“You are not serious,” was the counter-response from a member
of the crowd. “Forty years and what will he still be doing ?.
Five years is enough and he should get in through a vote.
No-one should just be declared a president or prime minister without the
citizens’ support.”
The issue of devolution, whereby provinces run their own
economic and judicial affairs with minimum interference from central
government, was topical.
The issue first gained currency in the Matabeleland provinces,
but appears to have transcended to other areas because of what citizens say is
an unfair allocation of resources.
Despite being over 450 km from Marange, villagers appeared
acutely aware of how people there were being forcibly moved following the
discovery of diamonds in the area.
They said the planned new constitution should protect
community members in whose areas precious resources were found.
“If I find gold at my house leave it there. I don’t expect to
be shoved out and harassed at my home by some greedy people,” said a
participant. “I would want it to benefit me first, then the local people and
the whole country. I am not happy with what is happening in Chiadzwa. People
should be allowed to benefit from local resources.”
The villagers supported more rights for striking workers and
called for the easing of citizenship and voting restrictions.
“I was born here of a Zimbabwean mother and a Malawian father,
but I haven’t been able to vote,” said Christopher Zitunge, citing his age as
71. “They say I am an alien, but I am a true Zimbabwean. I want to vote.”
Zimbabwe has embarked on an outreach programme to solicit the
views of the people that would culminate in the crafting of new a constitution
that would be expected to lead to free and fair elections.
The programme is being held in line with the global political
agreement signed by the country’s three main political parties.
Wongai Zhangazha
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
Thursday, 08 July 2010 18:44
THE recently appointed Minister of Economic Planning and
Investment Promotion, Tapiwa Mashakada, has a Herculean task to craft a
national economic development strategy that is pro-poor and to attract
investment for a country that has experienced a decade-long economic and
political crisis.
The Zimbabwe Independent editor, Constantine Chimakure, met
with the minister in the capital on Wednesday to hear his vision and plans.
Below are excerpts.
Chimakure: When do we expect your ministry to come up with a
national economic development strategy and what will it encompass ?.
Mashakada: The role of development planning is to provide the
necessary trajectory and framework that is required in order to achieve
sustainable growth and development. The first order of business is clearly to
chart our national economic vision which will then provide the pedestal for
rolling out a robust national economic development strategy.
A national economic development strategy must of necessity
address issues like poverty reduction, capacity utilisation by industry,
infrastructural development, resource utilisation and beneficiation, export
promotion strategy and social sector balance. The list is not exhaustive. But
the long and short of it is that national economic development strategy must be
guided by a transformative agenda. For example, we should ask ourselves the
question: what was the key plank of the East Asian miracle ?.
Clearly, these countries chose an export-led development
strategy. As a result they were able to transform their economies from
developing economies to transitional economies.
The time line for implementation will depend on the
consultative and galvanising process. At this stage we can only talk about the
task at hand.
Chimakure: You have spoken of a pro-poor economic strategy;
what is it and how can it be implemented in an economy slowly emerging from a
vegetative state and in need of massive financial support from the private
sector, especially foreign direct investment ?.
Mashakada: Building an economy from ashes is a big challenge.
There is always a looming danger of neo-liberalism. Therefore, it is always
important to have a conversation on our policies so that they are
human-centred.
Development is about pushing off the frontiers of poverty.
Zimbabwe does not need jobless growth. So, a pro-poor economic strategy ensures
that economic growth can bring along with it jobs, more disposable incomes,
better health, better education and better livelihoods. In other words, the
principle of pro-poor growth questions the trickle down doctrine.
In this regard, my colleague, the Minister of Finance (Tendai
Biti) should be commended for his pro-poor approach so far, even against a
background of a shoe-string budget.
Chimakure: What measures are you putting in place for
investment promotion and why are investors shunning the country ?.
Mashakada: Investment pundits will tell you that foreign
direct investment or for that matter investment capital is timid. In the
context of Zimbabwe, my view is that we have to be more serious about
addressing the investment climate so that it becomes investor-friendly.
In this regard, our main focus will be centred on measures to
improve investment and investment facilitation.
There are three imperatives. First, we have to establish a
one-stop shop for investors - Zimbabwe’s gateway for investors. Second, we have
to come up with legislative reforms around investment - an investment
regulation and third, investment road shows that showcase our investment
opportunities. But more importantly, Zimbabwe needs a national investment
policy to guide investors.
Let me hasten to add that, when we talk about investment, that
also includes domestic investment which is highly correlated with savings and
other macro-economic fundamentals. In generic terms, investors are normally
worried about investment promotion (bilaterally and multi-laterally), and
expropriation. They also get concerned about incentives and issues relating to
flexibility in licensing and registration, among a host of other best practices.
My ministry is proposing the establishment of a Foreign
Investors Roundtable to periodically discuss investment barriers. I am aware
that concern has been expressed regarding the protection of bilateral
investments as well as economic empowerment regulations, but these are matters
which the inclusive government is already seized with.
A Foreign Investors Roundtable would enable investors to
channel their proposals to government so that in the end, there is continuous
dialogue to address all the challenges.
Chimakure: What is your position on the laws and regulations
that worry investors ?.
Mashakada: Laws are made by men and women and are therefore
reviewed from time to time depending on the circumstances. The Indigenisation
and Economic Empowerment Act should not be an exception in so far as this
principle is concerned.
Chimakure: Can you give us statistics on the volume of
investment into the country in the first half of the year and your end of year
projections ?.
Mashakada: Our major statistical problem is that the inflow of
investment into the country has not been coordinated. Therefore, you will be
dealing with soft data which may be spurious.
This is an area which needs legislation and my ministry will
propose the channelling of all investments through the Zimbabwe Revenue
Authority.
In other words, the law should make it mandatory that no
investor can invest in Zimbabwe without getting an investor licence from the
Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA).
However, in general terms, the flow of foreign direct
investment has been dismal and the share of investment in gross domestic
product is below 10%.
Chimakure: The World Bank Doing Business report ranks Zimbabwe
on the tail-end saying it takes close to three years to set up shop in the
country. How effective will the proposed one-stop concept of the ZIA speed up
the process of starting a business ?.
Mashakada: Our target is that initially it should not take
more that 10 days to get an investor licence provided the application is a
complete application. Otherwise, it must eventually be a matter of hours,
thanks to information communication technology. Why not ?.
This can be achieved.
Chimakure: How different is your job from that of (Finance
minister Tendai) Biti ?.
What exactly do you do ?.
Mashakada: I am not here to redefine the mandates of other
ministers. My job is to do economic planning and promote investment. Is it not
self-evident ?.
Planning is not a new concept. Zimbabwe has a long tradition
of economic planning. In the early 1980s we had the Growth with Equity Plan,
followed by the Transitional Development Plan and then five-year plans and so
on.
The role of my ministry is to set up overall socio-economic
development goals and targets together with the estimated funding requirements
across the whole economy in order to achieve our national vision. Therefore,
planning is a cross-cutting issue. It is the architectural design of the
economy, so to speak. Planning and implementation are two different things. We
do co-planning with line ministries who will then do the plan implementation.
Chimakure: Let’s turn to the controversial Chiadzwa diamonds.
Did Mbada Diamonds and Canadile fulfill their investment commitments to ZIA ?.
We are made to understand that the capital they have injected
falls far short of their initial commitments.
Mashakada: You seem to have the answer to your own question so
why ask me a leading question ?.
What is not in dispute is firstly the need for accountability
and transparency in the sale of diamonds, which can be enhanced by the KP
certification process, and secondly the issue of revenue accruing to the
fiscus. In the final analysis, the diamonds must not trap Zimbabwe into a
resource curse.
Chimakure: What do you think Zimbabwe should do to come out of
the current economic crisis ?.
Mashakada: Economic recovery is a process which starts with
doing the little things that are right.
Macro-economic stabilisation is a sine qua non for economic
turnaround and I am glad we have achieved that. Of course we still need to
achieve sustainable growth rates which will enable us as a as a nation to fend
for ourselves.
The menu of policies is diverse and there cannot be a
simplistic answer, otherwise I can do a whole thesis on your question.
Chimakure: How many Bilateral Investment Protection and
Promotion Agreements (Bippas) have been violated over the past decade and the
cost of such violations to investment ?.
Mashakada: We shouldn’t be talking about quantities, but
principles. My view is that all Bippas must be honoured and respected. It has more
to do with respecting the rule of law than anything else.
Chimakure: When is Zimbabwe going to sign a Bippa with
Botswana which we understand is on the table ?.
Mashakada: Negotiations are still in progress.
Chimakure: How many new deals were taken on board since last
year’s inaugural international investment conference ?.
Mashakada: If you had delayed your question and deferred it to
next week I would have been in a much better position to have gathered the
facts. And I still challenge you to do that.
Chimakure: What advice are you giving to parastatals to
operate efficiently and what kind of reforms do you intend to undertake on
parastatals ?.
Mashakada: Feasibility studies and due diligence analysis have
already been done in regard to parastatal reforms.
The exercise has identified parastatals which require
divesture and those which do not. Some just need new capital injection while
some need managerial shake-up.
So, the restructuring has been approached on a case by case
basis rather than on a one-size-fits all basis. This is all I can say from a
planning point of view. Further details would require the minister in charge of
parastatals to proffer.
Chimakure: What is the status of the Medium Term Plan that was
supposed to build on the Short Term Emergency Recovery Plan ?.
Mashakada: The status of the Medium Term Plan will be in the
public domain at the appropriate time.
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/local/27167-economy-sick-biti.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 18:22
THIS month, the Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti (pictured
left), will announce his mid-year economic statement.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Newsletter spoke to the
minister last week to find out which issues are likely to influence the review.
Q: Update us on the first half economic performance.
Biti: The economy went through a period of sickness and there
were a number of key things that were the architects of that sickness. First,
was the issue of lack of capital. Lack of capital in the form of foreign direct
investment which was affected in particular by the publication of the indigenisation
regulations.
The regulations had a major effect on the capacity of the
economy to attract investment and an immediate multiplier of capital flight. We
had huge capital flight in the first quarter of the year and that manifested
itself sharply and acutely in movement of share prices on the stock market. The
prices were depressed and continue to be depressed.
The second deficit of capital was in respect of lack of lines
of credit. There were no lines of credit in the economy in the first half of
the year impacting on the cost of money, interest rates shot up to as high as
70%. This money was short term, 90-day facilities. This affected the capacity
of industries to recover. We aimed at 60% capacity utilisation by December
2010, but this does not look likely.
The third aspect of lack of capital was the Vote of Credit,
that is, budgetary assistance from donors and partners. As I indicated in my
statement at the end of April, we had only received US$ 2, 9 million out of a
target allocation of US$ 810 million.
The fourth challenge was inflationary pressure from a target
regime of under 1% to the current 6,1%. Inflation offsets economic reward.
The fifth challenge was the lack of fiscal space. We had a
situation where 70% of government revenues went towards salaries, which
salaries were in fact challenged because the average salary for civil servants
is US$ 150.
So we had a situation where civil servants went on strike, but
we had no capacity at all to improve their salaries.
The other challenge had to do with bank supervision while the
capacity to attract cheap credit to Zimbabwe was also a challenge in the first
half.
I made a trip to China and I came back empty handed and part
of the problem is Zimbabwe’s US$ 6 billion debt. We have to deal with this as a
matter of urgency.
The bottom line is that the first quarter of 2010 was a very
challenging one. There were spikes that were put in the path of economic
recovery, challenges that threatened to derail even the little stabilisation
matrix that we had put in place this year. What it means is that the mid-term
statement which I will be delivering is going to be very critical.
Q: What is really affecting this economy ?.
Biti: The biggest structural issue that is affecting this
economy is a false accumulation model that is based on economic activity that
doesn’t generate sufficient rent, which is profit or surplus. When an economy
cannot develop sufficient surplus then it cannot develop. The false
accumulation in Zimbabwe is premised on agriculture and mining. We are
producing goods in raw value, there is no value addition and the same applies
to mining.
We have to move to an accumulation model that creates surplus.
So technology must come into it, value addition and increased manufacturing
too.
Unless and until this economy fundamentally graduates from
these non-rent accumulation models, we have got a problem. The second
accumulation model is a capital deficit, a capital kwashiorkor, a marginal
disinvestment that has taken place in this economy since 1965, since the
Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI).
There has been marginal disinvestment and we are paying the
price for that in the form of a collapsed infrastructure and enablers. For
instance, if you look at the electricity sector, Kariba was built in the 1950s,
after that there was no major investment in electricity. And yet there has been
marginal disinvestment from this economy and that is a problem. So we have got
a 45-year deficit of marginal capital disinvestment in the country.
What it means is that the current infrastructure is hardly
different from the infrastructure that was there in 1965, whether we talk of
roads, railway any other sectors.
The third major challenge is technology. We are 23 years behind
in technological development. There are some companies in Zimbabwe that are
using outdated software.
The other major structural issue is to do with our politics.
We have got a cyclical political base. We go through cycles of crises, every
short-term period we encounter a political bomb.
When politics is too cyclical it affects the economy. We have
not delinked our politics from the economy so much so that when politics
sneezes, the economy does not just catch a cold, but goes straight into
intensive care.
Part of the solution to these structural issues is to have a
common vision. This country does not have a common vision. That is why at any
given time the decision making in government is dialectic - that is reflective
of an absence of a common vision.
Q: How are we performing in terms of revenue collection ?.
Biti: We have met our target of US$ 120 million revenue
collection per month, but for this economy to be normal we must collect about
US$ 300 million per month.
The reason why we are not able to collect the kind of revenue
we need is because of the marginal disinvestment and the net effect of the
disinvestment is that this economy has been terminal. It has slowly been dying.
Q: But Minister, how can we fail to raise only US$ 300 million
per month when ZMDC and the Mines ministry have confirmed selling diamonds ?.
Biti: The government of Zimbabwe has not received a single
cent from diamond sales. It’s important that we get a certificate from the KP.
Our diamonds cannot be categorised as blood diamonds. Blood diamonds are
conflict diamonds and used to fuel conflict as in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
That is not the case in Zimbabwe.
However, this is not to say that there are no issues of
non-compliance around the KP process, alleged issues around forced labour,
human rights abuses, smuggling and inconsistent records between what has been
exported and what is alleged to have been mined. There is a legal dispute with
ACR. All these issues must be resolved in the context of the KP process.
The KP must allow us to sell our diamonds, but must then come
to Zimbabwe to help resolve these issues. It will be very unfortunate if the KP
does not allow us to sell the diamonds because they will be punishing the
people of Zimbabwe. We can’t pay for electricity, we can’t pay our civil
servants and yet we are sitting on one of the finest find of alluvial diamonds
in the history of mankind.
You cannot punish ordinary citizens because of the omissions
and commissions of the political leadership. If you have issues with an elite political
leadership, allow diamonds to be sold, but rein in on the political elite
because they will still sell diamonds outside the KP at the expense of the
poor.
Q: As a lawyer, how does the ACR legal issue affect the sale
of diamonds from Chiadzwa ?.
Biti: As a disciple of the rule of law, I believe court orders
must be respected. We are in this struggle for the rule of law, democracy and
justice, so there should be no excuse for breach of the rule of law.
Q: In the past you have complained about parastatals milking
the fiscus, what is the position now ?.
Biti: The majority of parastatals are ill-run. They are being
treated like little kingdoms. The disaster at Noczim proves beyond reasonable
doubt that these entities are little fiefdoms of inefficiency and arbitrage.
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/local/27161-dumping-kp-too-costly-for-zim.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 18:15
ZIMBABWE will sell Marange diamonds at far below market prices
if it abandons the Kimberley Process (KP), while relations with international
partners - key to economic recovery - will be further strained.
The KP, a 75-member voluntary grouping of governments, civil
society and industry players formed to stem the flow of blood diamonds, meets
in Russia on Wednesday to try and resolve an impasse over whether to authorise
Marange stones to trade under its stamp.
The mini-summit on Zimbabwe, to be held on the sidelines of
the World Diamond Council Annual Meeting in Russia’s second largest city of St
Petersburg on July 14 and 15, follows a deadlock on a similar issue in Israel
last month.
Civil society members of the KP say the continued
incarceration of diamond monitoring activist Farai Maguwu will likely force
another impasse, leaving Zimbabwe’s threats to sell outside the KP coming one
step nearer.
Gabriel Shumba, an exiled rights lawyer who has used the
international platform to campaign against military-led rights violations in
Marange, said next week’s meeting was unlikely to provide a solution because of
Maguwu’s victimisation.
“If Zimbabwe chooses to unilaterally sell the diamonds, it
would only augment the perception that the country has no respect for
international law and institutions, even those that it goes into voluntarily,”
Shumba said from Pretoria, where he now heads the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, a
group working for the rights of Zimbabweans fleeing political and economic
turmoil in their homeland.
“This could lead to the country being suspended or banned from
the KP, meaning that diamonds that should have benefited the country would now
have to be sold clandestinely, thus stunting the benefit Zimbabwe could reap
from such a national resource.”
The KP controls over 90% of the rough diamonds market, and
most major diamond-producing and trading countries are part of the
organisation.
Eric Bloch, a Bulawayo-based analyst, said Zimbabwe could
still find ready buyers for Marange diamonds outside KP-controlled markets.
“We will have those rebel countries such as Iran and many
others in the Far East ready to buy, but only because they will be buying the
diamonds at a bargain. They will get the diamonds for next to nothing,” said
Bloch.
“Zimbabwe won’t get fair value because those who buy outside
the KP, virtually illegally, will only buy if they buy at low prices. The
diamonds will be disposed of at heavily discounted prices.”
Government, which runs two joint venture mines with some South
African investors in Marange, has said it has stockpiled over four million
carats as a result of delayed KP certification.
Government estimates this stockpile to be worth US$ 1,7
billion - money enough to finance about 60% of the US$ 2,2 billion 2010
national budget after private investors take their share. Government, through
shareholding and taxes, should end up with 80% of sales, according to
agreements used to set up the joint mining firms, Mbada Diamonds and Canadile
Miners.
Global Witness, a group that campaigns to end resource-linked
conflicts, alleged that Marange diamonds were already being smuggled out, and
urged KP members to increase vigilance to stop the controversial stones from
reaching international markets.
“Zimbabwe has everything to gain by playing by the rules and
exporting its diamonds within the Kimberley Process,” said Annie Dunnebacke, a
Global Witness resources campaigner who opposed certification of Marange
diamonds at the KP Israel meeting.
“If Zimbabwe does not address the concerns around human rights
and militarisation of mining in Marange, and exports diamonds outside the KP,
these will be tainted diamonds sold at a cut-rate on the black market and will
not be acceptable to consumers worldwide,” Dunnebacke said in an interview on
Wednesday.
Leading economic consultant John Robertson said any loss from
selling outside the KP would hardly make a difference to ordinary Zimbabweans
whose fortunes have not changed since the discovery of the Marange diamond
fields.
“The real measure of the loss is difficult to say because we
have no trace of where previous money from diamonds went to and we don’t have
many answers to those dealings,” he said.
Robertson suggested that Zimbabwe should copy the example of
Botswana. Debswana, a joint venture between the Botswana government and De
Beers, a private investor. The venture is making profits and contributing to
that country’s economy through jobs and taxes that are used to fund social
development.
Bloch said effects of selling Marange diamonds
unconventionally would have ripple effects on the economy, worsening prospects
of recovery.
“It would mean long delays in getting re-admitted to the KP
and that would translate to many years of black-marketing (of Marange
diamonds),” he said. “It would impact on the relationship with the
international community and would send us straight back into being a pariah
state.”
While Marange stones cannot be technically defined as blood diamonds,
selling them to underworld dealers could provide a secure link with rebel
groups in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo who use diamonds
mined in war situations to fund conflict.
Farai Mutsaka
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/business/27145-van-hoog-thwarted-again-over-board-nominations.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 17:57
BUSINESS tycoon Nicholas van Hoogstraten has once again failed
to appoint his nominees to the Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) board after
shareholders voted against his proposal.
Shareholders also rejected the statutory redenomination of
shares, a first since companies started redenomination following the adoption
of multiple currencies last year.
This is the second time the British business tycoon has failed
to push his trusted lieutenants onto the board after a similar bid hit a snag
last year.
RTG shareholders, at an annual general meeting held in Harare
on June 14, resisted van Hoogstraten’s bid to have three directors, namely RM
Hamilton, AS Hamilton, I Haruperi and S Chibanguza, on the board.
Management at the hotel group said they could not comment on
the outcome of their 11th AGM as “it was shareholders’ issue”.
The elevation of three directors, as the Hamiltons would have
been alternate directors, would have left the RTG board with 12 members.
Van Hoogstraten, who controls an effective 35% through a
number of investment vehicles, has in the last two years been pushing for the
inclusion of his proxies onto the board.
Van Hoogstraten’s stake in the hotel group is held through
Banhams Investments (Pvt) Ltd, Messina Investments and Willoughby’s Finance
(Pvt) Ltd.
At the hotel group’s AGM last year, the business tycoon pushed
for the dismissal of the entire board, then chaired by Grace Muradzikwa,
arguing that directors did not have the required experience and skills to drive
the hotel and leisure group.
Other board members included Pascal Changunda (group finance
director), Cannan Dube, Charmaine Daniels, Godfrey Manhambara, Yardim Mariuma,
Elliot Nyoni and Chipo Mtasa, the chief executive officer.
Analysts say the latest rejection of nominees to the board as
well as passing a resolution allowing directors to redenominate shares was
“curious”.
Almost all companies are switching their authorised share
capital from the Zimbabwean dollar denomination to the US dollar.
Redenomination is the conversion of the whole or part of the
total authorised share capital, the total issued share capital or the total to
be issued share capital from one currency to another.
In the case of local companies, it is a reflection of the
switch from the use of the local unit to multiple currencies last year.
Redenomination does not change or affect any rights or
obligations imposed on shareholders where such rights or obligations existed
prior to the passing of the resolution.
All the other companies which have tabled the issue of share
redenomination before shareholders have received overwhelming support, leaving
the RTG board pondering over their next step.
RTG is the second largest tourism group in the country and it
owns Rainbow Towers Hotel, Harare International Conference Centre, a number of
hotels across the country as well as 60% stakes in Touch the Wild Resorts and
Tourism Services Zimbabwe.
Leonard Makombe
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/business/27141-economic-diversification-sustains-growth-.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 17:52
THE Zimbabwean economy has always had the heavily
“agro-based’’ tag as agriculture to a large extent has been the main driver of
economic growth.
Agriculture, according to some estimates, contributed about
41% of the country’s exports as well as 18% of GDP just before “land reform”
started in 2000/1.
There was a reversal of fortunes over the last decade as most
farming skills emigrated and agricultural finance declined, sending the economy
into a protracted period of contraction. The reliance on this key sector and
subsequent overall economic decline is evidence of the risk of economic
activity concentration on one sector.
Several African economies have also experienced volatility in
growth as a result of over-reliance on one sector. The Zambian economy in the
1970s strongly relied on mining for its sustenance. The “party continued” as
long as copper prices spiralled upwards. When the global copper prices tanked
the economy went into a tailspin resulting in external debt defaults and
subsequent economic decline. Recently the economy of Botswana, which is almost
solely dependent on diamonds, was also adversely affected by the globally
economy going into a recession, as prices went southwards.
As the economy moves out of the doldrums it is essential that
we take a cue from the global economic trends and the key drivers of
sustainable growth for the world’s fastest growing countries. The majority of
the G7 countries have benefited immensely from a deliberate strategy to move
away from economic concentration in one sector.
The Asian economies, especially the United Arab Emirates, have
taken a deliberate strategy to reduce concentration on oil to other sectors.
The oil revenue generated in Dubai for example has been channelled towards
massive infrastructural development including the construction of the world’s
tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. This has been a deliberate shift to
diversify the economy and dilute the oil revenues to incorporate other sectors
such as tourism and the services industry. The oil price decline since the
beginning of the recession was a hard lesson for most of these countries and
forced the strategy shift.
There has also been a more sophisticated approach amongst
these Asian countries such as the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar who have established
Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) specifically tasked with diversifying the
country’s reserves from oil. This has seen the funds completing transactions
across sectors including real estate, listed and unlisted entities globally.
Among the notable transactions was the purchase of a 4, 9%
stake (worth US$ 7, 5 billion) in Citigroup by ADIA, Abu Dhabi’s SWF which is
the world’s largest with funds under management estimated at US$ 800 billion
and the Kuwait Investment Authority which invested US$ 2 billion in Merrill
Lynch in 2007. Abu Dhabi has also gone as far as buying football clubs with the
purchase of the English Premiership`s Manchester City Football Club in 2008
being a high profile case.
Economic diversification mitigates against the shocks and
volatility arising from external and internal changes in the demand for the
product or service which is the main driver of activity. This will guarantee
sustainable growth as other sectors will be able to carry the economy forward
during the “lean years”. There is also a risk of structural unemployment if a
specific industry collapses if it’s the main driver in an economy. The skills
utilised by a specific sector such as mining may not be able to move across to
other economic sectors in the event of a decline. Global legislative changes
also pose a risk of economic decline if there is concentration. The
environmentalists are advocating for cleaner energy uses which will in future
adversely affect economies heavily dependent on commodities such as coal. Other
commodities such as asbestos may also be affected by potential global bans due
to health concerns.
The Zimbabwean economy has slowly started to emerge from the
“lost decade” and there is need for a concentrated and deliberate effort to
grow all economic sectors simultaneously. The mining sector, for example, is
largely expected to be one of the key growth drivers. Revenue generated from
this sector can then be used to jump-start other sectors such as manufacturing
and other downstream industries linked to the sector. The strategy will also
entail the development of stand alone industries with a huge export potential.
Growth in the overall economy can also accelerate the
development of sectors such as the services sector including financial services
through the creation of liquidity. The adoption of a focused approach can to a
large extent ensure the sector becomes a key driver of economic activity and
overall output. The developed world has successfully created financial services
hubs and nothing preludes the country from doing the same if a forward thinking
and determined approach is adopted.
By Precious Mhlandhla
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/business/27139-lonzim-to-list-on-stock-exchange.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 17:52
LONZIM, a company with interests in Zimbabwe and listed on
AIM, will soon list on the ZSE, businessdigest has established.
Market sources say LonZim has approached a local corporate
finance firm to assist in the listing
LonZim, an investment company focused on the recovery of
Zimbabwe, has previously announced plans to list on the ZSE in the last half of
this year.
The company is said to have engaged Premier Banking
Corporation Ltd to act as its financial adviser.
Sources say LonZim hopes the listing would improve its growth
plans by facilitating direct investment.
“The listing is definitely on track and Lonzim is keen on
floating on the ZSE,” a source said.
This will be the second such IPO in almost three years after
Philip Chiyangwa’s ZECO went public in 2008. The ZSE has seen two reverse
listings this year.
LonZim will be the first listing on the ZSE since
dollarisation brought economic stability in Zimbabwe, as well as the first
secondary listing of a European company on the ZSE in over a decade.
The group is said to have filed its application with the ZSE
but CEO Emmanuel Munyukwi refused to comment.
LonZim chairman David Lenigas was quoted recently as saying:
“The proposed dual listing of LonZim in both London and Zimbabwe with full
fungibility is an important step forward for the company and positions LonZim
with strong foundations as the Zimbabwean economy recovers.”
LonZim reported a rise in turnover to £2, 68 million in the
six months to February from £495 000 during the same period in the prior year,
reflecting benefits of last year’s acquisition, dollarisation and economic
growth.
The company recorded a pre-tax loss of £2, 38 million in the
same period compared to a £746,000 loss previously. As at February 28 2010, the
company had net assets of £32, 7 million.
But the company said economic recovery would take time after
years of economic ruin.
LonZim has built a portfolio of businesses in Zimbabwe that it
believes are well positioned to benefit from the country’s economic recovery.
The company is considering investments in the tourism, accommodation,
infrastructure, transport, commercial and residential property, technology,
communications, manufacturing, retail, services, leisure, agricultural and
natural resources sectors.
Lonrho holds a 24, 61% stake in LonZim.
Chris Muronzi
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/business/27137-ppc-invests-us195m-.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 17:48
DUAL-LISTED cement producer PPC has invested US$ 19,5 million
at its Colleen Bawn kiln plant in a move expected to boost production by 20%.
PPC finance director Gavin Stephens on Tuesday told
businessdigest that cement production would soon increase to 2 200 tonnes per
day from 1800 tonnes in March at its Bulawayo factory.
The company secured credit from its South Africa-based parent
company before embarking on a four-month recapitalisation exercise. This comes
on the back of prevailing shortages of the construction commodity and
subsequent price hikes on the market. Cement prices have in the past few weeks
almost doubled from US$ 9 per bag on the informal market as supplies become
erratic at most hardware shops across the country.
During the exercise, the company shut down its kiln plant at
Colleen Bawn to facilitate replacement of obsolete machinery. The plant has a
capacity to produce one million tonnes of cement per year. It is understood
that PPC acquired the new equipment in the last two years.
Cement kilns are used in processing of cement when calcium
carbonate reacts with silica-bearing minerals to form a mixture of calcium
silicates.
“The kiln plant at Colleen Bawn was shut down from March 8 to
facilitate major work being undertaken with the replacement of the cooler and
repairs to the kiln itself. The plant is due to start operations from July 11,”
Stephens said.
“PPC Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo cement factory has not stopped
production during this period. It faces considerable milling and loading
difficulties due to heavy load shedding, and since July 1 it had exhausted
clinker stocks for the milling of cement product. This has resulted in a temporary
local shortage, which is being addressed through the importation of clinker and
cement from our South Africa parent company, PPC Ltd,” Stephens said.
He added that the exercise would reduce the firm’s energy
requirements by 15%. The company, according to Stephens, expects production to
be on an upward trend should energy supplies remain uninterrupted. Zimbabwe is
generating 1100 MW of electricity a day against peak demand of 2200.
He said production at PPC, currently between 40-45%, would
meet local cement demand, adding that production would be managed on a three
month cycle of start-ups and shut downs which he said was inefficient and
costly.
Meanwhile, PPC is planning a further investment in equipment
which would boost daily production to 2 500 tonnes.
The PPC finance chief said rival cement producers - Lafarge
and Sino-Zim are also facing production problems faced by the entire
manufacturing sector.
Only few manufacturing companies with strong financial back-up
mainly from foreign companies have since last year’s dollarisation successfully
managed to recapitalise. Zimbabwe companies have in the past 10 years failed to
acquire new machinery due to an economic recession. Despite economic reforms
that have resulted in the use of multiple currencies, manufacturing companies
continue to face a plethora of problems that include underfunding,
unsustainable utilities and a prolonged energy crisis.
“However, like all cement plants, the facility is totally
dependent on a constant uninterrupted supply of electricity and this has not
been the case this year. We have however received assurance from Zesa that we
will receive the required power for the start-up and commissioning of the new
plant”, Stephens said.
PPC is a leading supplier of cement in Southern Africa, with
eight manufacturing facilities and three milling depots in South
Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. These facilities are capable of
producing more than seven million tonnes of cement products each year.
Bernard Mpofu
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/business/27133-bourse-stuck-in-reverse-mode.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 17:46
THE Zimbabwe Stock Exchange traded low last month, worsened by
cosmetic changes to indigenisation and economic empowerment regulations and low
liquidity on the market.
The mainstream industrial index lost 1.94 points.
This is the third consecutive month the ZSE’s benchmark
industrial index dropped because of uncertainty caused by government’s
announcement in February of measures compelling companies valued above US$ 500
000 to “dispose” part of their shareholding to “indigenous” Zimbabweans.
Last month, 451 737 381 shares valued at US$ 29 229 860.65
were traded on the ZSE. Foreign trade accounted for around 8.96% of traded
shares valued at US$ 6 667 649.33.
The mining index fell 10% during the same month to close at
143.08 points.
ZSE is now going in reverse after registering positive growth
when it resumed trade in February last year.
Analysts said the decline in volumes traded was a reflection
of the liquidity crisis that faced the country since trade resumed as well as
the dampening effect of the indigenisation policy.
“As we get deeper into corporate activity, the depressed
market seems likely to remain unabated as we have already seen some impressive
performers failing to put some impetus into the market,” said an analyst with a
stock broking firm. “As usual, activity is likely to remain concentrated in
those counters whose business models and fundamentals are undoubtedly strong
for investors’ interests.”
In May, both the industrial and mining indices showed signs of
stuttering, with the former closing at 129.40 points.
At the beginning of this year, the industrial index opened at
151.88 points, a growth of 4.64 points.
When the bourse appeared to maintain the upward growth,
government doused the flames by announcing the new Indigenisation Regulations
which were roundly dismissed as vague and investor unfriendly.
The market retreated 16.15 points on the January figure in
February as the market responded harshly to the Indigenisation Regulations.
Analysts say changes to regulations such as wording last week
will not excite the market.
Analysts further argue that the changes were merely cosmetic
as they merely touched on semantics, such as removing the word “cede”, but the
content remained scary to investors.
Leonard Makombe
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/business/27129-econets-wily-talent-strategy.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 17:40
THE global war for talent is no fluke.
A Harvard-bound 21 year old Zimbabwean shared with me his
incredible story. How a poor boy like him got a place at the prestigious Ivy
League university’s revered Law School is a lesson in the subtlety and
sophistry of a global talent identification machinery run by the world’s
powerful and smart think-tanks.
The US runs a masterly world-wide network of innocuous looking
schools debate affiliates. The highlight of that network’s activities is the
annual world debate tourney, pitting the world’s best high school and college
debaters. The journey to world recognition for the then form four pupil began
when his headmaster, unimpressed by the quality of written responses to a
national selection questionnaire by his senior students, turned to a sharp form
four pupil. Little did he know his pupil’s responses would earn first place
country-wide. The pupil, with a declared first love in public speaking, who had
hitherto not debated, had a face-off with 11 other top-of-the-pile Zimbabwean
debaters, coming out tops each time. That won him the ticket to Washington to
tussle with more than 200 teams representing the best-in-class from around the
world.
To cut the long story short, his two-member team survived
elimination reaching the finals, having eliminated the reigning four-time world
champions from Britain in the semis, the tournament’s most-feared. He explained
to me how he crafted a strategy to outwit the reigning champions - fascinating
stuff that belies his age. The Zimbabweans fell to the South African team in
the finals by the narrowest of margins, two points, attributed to the
team-mate’s sudden collapse on stage, losing crucial points on deportment.
Despite the painful loss, the young man was voted the tournament’s best speaker
and for his troubles he was awarded a scholarship to enrol at the elite Harvard
Law School.
The following year, the world finals were in Sweden. Guess
what ?.
The same Zimbabwe team managed to reach the finals and fell to
the same team. Again our young man was voted the tournament’s best speaker.
They could not give him another scholarship. Instead, he was given a
sponsorship package to cover his travelling and medical expenses. Our young
man, who has had a heart condition from childhood, got a serious heart-attack
that needed hospitalisation and an operation. Through his second sponsorship, a
jet was chartered for him to take him to one of the Asian countries for a heart
operation. He has fully recovered and will be leaving for Harvard shortly.
Behind an innocent looking debate tourney is a
well-orchestrated stratagem to identify global leadership talent for the
future. If we thought brain-drain is about skilled professionals leaving in
droves we need a rethink.
Through early identification of the world’s finest upcoming
talent and ushering that talent into the world’s most influential and powerful
socio-political and economic networks in what I have come to refer as the
identify-an-Einstein scheme, the pool of future world leaders is growing year
by year. That talent pool is within the influence and direction of the world’s
prime-movers. To the extent of chartering a jet for an obscure, sick, orphaned
Zimbabwean boy, we get a glimpse into the level of seriousness powerful global
forces invest in nurturing premium talent. That is leadership. Leadership is
not only about possibilities in projects. Equally, it is about possibilities in
people.
I turned my telescope to the local skies. I could not help but
try to search for a local scheme that is a faint resemblance of the wily and
shrewd global scheme we have been discussing. After some hard thinking and
research I had a clue. A month ago I was presenting a seminar at one of our
universities. Afterwards a young man wearing a T-shirt written “JM Nkomo
scholarship Fellow” came to chat with me. During our conversation I came to
learn that he was a recipient of the JM Nkomo Econet-run scholarship programme.
Econet, in its 2007 annual corporate report describes this scheme as part of
its corporate social investment programme. A close-up look at this scheme shows
that is not just corporate investment. It is part of a grand talent management
strategy.
Though not stated as such, we contend that Econet is hitting
two birds with one stone. Let us assume Econet has no intention of employing
graduates from its scholarship scheme. If one day Econet happens to be
searching for talent and one their scholarship Fellows is the most suitable,
what are the chances of Econet failing to woo that talent into its fold on the
basis of the strength of the almost familial bond established with its fellows
?.
In Zimbabwe we say a good turn attracts another. The reality
is that any one who employs a JM Nkomo fellow with skills needed by Econet is
practically renting talent from Econet. Be warned.
Here is an excerpt from the Econet 2007 annual report, page
31. “Once selected, the Joshua Nkomo Fellows are developed by means of a focused
personal development programme through a series of well-structured workshops.
In addition, the Joshua Nkomo scholarship fund, in partnership with the World
Vision Zimbabwe (WVZ), further exposes its fellows to community development
programmes that are run by various Area Development Programmes (ADP) of the
WVZ. University Level fellows serve internships with WVZ ADPs as part of a
‘Peace Corp’ model of exposure to community and personal development and the
essence of dignity and labour’’.
It does not need a software engineering guru to decode that
Econet’s programme is part of a well-designed talent development strategy. Who
would resist such well-grounded talent academically, technically, socially and
spiritually sound ?.
That is a recruiter’s dream.
France-based INSEAD School of Business recently crafted a
strategy development model they call blue ocean strategy. In the model, “blue
oceans” are contrasted with “red oceans”. Red oceans are markets where there is
fierce cut-throat competition leading to “bloodbaths”, hence the red oceans.
Blue oceans refer to un-entered markets where competition is absent. Blue
oceans are created when strategists question existing industry boundaries or
rules and set new rules of play.
Through its JM Nkomo fellowship scheme, Econet has
successfully created a blue ocean for talent whether by design or default. At
the time when the report was compiled a total of 107 fellows had been
recruited. That is practically an uncontested talent pool, more correctly a
“blue ocean pool”. It is not surprising if Econet’s future leadership at
executive and board level will come from this pool.
By continually questioning the relevance of today’s industry
boundaries and rules of competition HR can come up with a strategy canvas that
can create blue oceans for business.
lDo you think Econet’s social responsibility programme is a
subtle response to the war for talent ?.
Feedback to brettchulu@consultant.com
.
By Brest Chulu
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/opinion/27163-eric-bloch-inflation-imf-gets-it-wrong.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 18:17
NO ONE can be right all the time, but the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) has a remarkable record for accurate assessments of
economies, their future, and for giving good and sound advice (albeit that the
post-Independence Zimbabwe governments have almost always contended otherwise).
However, some of its most recent evaluations of Zimbabwean
economic circumstances, the causes of those circumstances and the consequential
recommendations on future policies, are suspect or ill-considered.
In a recent report, IMF alleges that the primary cause of the
resurgence of inflation in Zimbabwe is principally attributable to wage
payments in general, and by government in particular. This evaluation arises
after Zimbabwe had achieved almost a year of continuous deflation after
suffering prolonged hyperinflation, but in 2010 began to experience inflation
once again.
That resumption of inflation is necessarily of concern and
needs to be addressed, but is not of such magnitude that over-reaction can be
justified. In contrast to the 10 and more digit inflation of 2008, current
inflation is in low to medium single digit levels. But it is specious in the
extreme to attribute the recurrence of inflation to wages. If wages have
contributed to inflation, such contribution is minimal, as compared to other
causes.
Whilst it must be acknowledged that government’s wage bill is
excessive (to a major extent because of the undoubtedly vast number of “ghost
workers” allegedly in the state’s employ), the reality is that because of the
state’s impoverished circumstances, wage increments have been minimal and below
rates of inflation.
Similarly, in commerce and industry and other economic
sectors, actual wage increments have been relatively small, notwithstanding
vociferous demands from labour, and despite most wages being markedly below the
Poverty Datum Line. Admittedly, were employers to succumb to the wage demands
of labour, inflation would soar upwards, in addition to massive increases in
numbers as would become unemployed, and economic collapse would be assured, as
distinct from the slow recovery otherwise attainable.
The reality is that wage increments and payments have been so
constrained that very few are able to fund anything but absolute bare
essentials, and often not even that.
Therefore, wages have not fuelled consumer purchasing power to
any meaningful extent, and hence could not conceivably have been a major impact
upon inflation, other than very indirectly so.
The indirect effect has been, and continues to be, that as a
result of the general inadequacy of wages in relation to workers’ essential
needs, almost all workers are very demotivated and demoralised.
In consequence, their productivity has increasingly declined,
and the fall in productivity levels has contributed to inflation, for
businesses have had to recover fixed costs and overheads from reduced volumes
of production, with consequential increased charges per unit produced.
This has also been compounded by the extent that there has
been an intense upward surge in commodity thefts from employers by labourers
resorting to crime in their struggles to survive.
The key causes of resumed inflation are not wages, but:
=Inadequacy of wages, with resultant worker disillusionment and an
associated reduction of the work ethic, and consequentially reduced
productivity and increasing recourse to theft and fraud;
=Endless losses of production as a result of irregular and erratic energy
and water supplies.
= Declining consumer demand for domestic products not only as a
result of inadequate increases, but also because of intense competition (for
that limited demand) from imported products, yet further eroding production
levels of domestic industry. Most of those imported products are extensively
lower priced because of the magnitude of export subsidies given by the supplier
countries, and due to large-scale evasion of customs duties;
=Unsustainably high finance costs borne by Zimbabwe’s highly
undercapitilised enterprises, grievously inflating operational costs;
=Charges by parastatals and local authorities being excessive in extent,
vastly greater than prevailing elsewhere within the region.
Irrespective of wage movements, ongoing inflation is
inevitable unless these key inflation-triggers are vigorously addressed.
The IMF has also recommended that Zimbabwe’s government not
utilise the Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) accorded it by the IMF last year, but
retain them as a boost to Zimbabwe’s international reserves.
Whilst it is desirable and necessary that Zimbabwe
progressively accumulate reserves, thereby restoring confidence in the minds of
international financiers and suppliers, doing so is meaningless if, in the
meanwhile, the economy wholly collapses.
Those SDR funds could, to a small extent, enable economic
recapitalisation and recovery which, in time, would yield far more substantive
reserves, whereas ongoing economic collapse would render such minimal reserves
meaningless. It is a long-established maxim that it needs capital to generate
capital, and those SDR resources could be a small contributor to that future
capital generation, and to assuring the survival of presently endangered
elements of the economy.
Yet another IMF recommendation is that the South African rand
should be Zimbabwe’s principal currency. Acceptance of this recommendation
could be catastrophic. Although doing so could marginally enhance currency in
circulation, and especially so of currency of low denominations, including
coins, the potential prejudices to Zimbabwe could be immense.
The South African economy is sadly in grave risk of
contraction in the forseeable future. Excessive and unjustified expectations of
the economic benefits of the Fifa World Cup 2010 precluded adequate attention
to diverse needs of the South African economy. Over the last year there has
been a substantial increase in unemployment in South Africa, and especially so
in the textile and clothing industries, and recently also in the construction
sector. As a result it is inevitable that South Africa will have to resort to
economic recovery policies. Those policies may be right for South Africa, but
not necessarily so for Zimbabwe.
By being linked to a basket of international currencies,
instead of just one currency, Zimbabwe minimises the risks of being negatively
impacted upon by the monetary policies of any one of the countries whose
currency is being used. The multi-currency basket provides a hedge against
negative impacts of monetary policies of any one of those countries.
Therefore, although so often right on so many issues, the IMF
has apparently erred in those aspects of its recent advice to Zimbabwe, and on
these issues it needs to think again.
NO ONE can be right all the time, but the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) has a remarkable record for accurate assessments of
economies, their future, and for giving good and sound advice (albeit that the
post-Independence Zimbabwe governments have almost always contended otherwise).
However, some of its most recent evaluations of Zimbabwean economic
circumstances, the causes of those circumstances and the consequential
recommendations on future policies, are suspect or ill-considered.
In a recent report, IMF alleges that the primary cause of the
resurgence of inflation in Zimbabwe is principally attributable to wage
payments in general, and by government in particular. This evaluation arises
after Zimbabwe had achieved almost a year of continuous deflation after
suffering prolonged hyperinflation, but in 2010 began to experience inflation
once again. That resumption of inflation is necessarily of concern and needs to
be addressed, but is not of such magnitude that over-reaction can be justified.
In contrast to the 10 and more digit inflation of 2008, current inflation is in
low to medium single digit levels. But it is specious in the extreme to
attribute the recurrence of inflation to wages. If wages have contributed to
inflation, such contribution is minimal, as compared to other causes.
Whilst it must be acknowledged that government’s wage bill is
excessive (to a major extent because of the undoubtedly vast number of “ghost
workers” allegedly in the state’s employ), the reality is that because of the
state’s impoverished circumstances, wage increments have been minimal and below
rates of inflation. Similarly, in commerce and industry and other economic
sectors, actual wage increments have been relatively small, notwithstanding
vociferous demands from labour, and despite most wages being markedly below the
Poverty Datum Line. Admittedly, were employers to succumb to the wage demands
of labour, inflation would soar upwards, in addition to massive increases in
numbers as would become unemployed, and economic collapse would be assured, as
distinct from the slow recovery otherwise attainable.
The reality is that wage increments and payments have been so
constrained that very few are able to fund anything but absolute bare
essentials, and often not even that. Therefore, wages have not fuelled consumer
purchasing power to any meaningful extent, and hence could not conceivably have
been a major impact upon inflation, other than very indirectly so. The indirect
effect has been, and continues to be, that as a result of the general
inadequacy of wages in relation to workers’ essential needs, almost all workers
are very demotivated and demoralised. In consequence, their productivity has
increasingly declined, and the fall in productivity levels has contributed to
inflation, for businesses have had to recover fixed costs and overheads from
reduced volumes of production, with consequential increased charges per unit
produced. This has also been compounded by the extent that there has been an
intense upward surge in commodity thefts from employers by labourers resorting
to crime in their struggles to survive.
The key causes of resumed inflation are not wages, but:
=Inadequacy of wages, with resultant worker disillusionment and an
associated reduction of the work ethic, and consequentially reduced
productivity and increasing recourse to theft and fraud;
=Endless losses of production as a result of irregular and erratic energy
and water supplies.
= Declining consumer demand for domestic products not only as a
result of inadequate increases, but also because of intense competition (for
that limited demand) from imported products, yet further eroding production
levels of domestic industry. Most of those imported products are extensively
lower priced because of the magnitude of export subsidies given by the supplier
countries, and due to large-scale evasion of customs duties;
=Unsustainably high finance costs borne by Zimbabwe’s highly
undercapitilised enterprises, grievously inflating operational costs;
=Charges by parastatals and local authorities being excessive in extent,
vastly greater than prevailing elsewhere within the region.
Irrespective of wage movements, ongoing inflation is
inevitable unless these key inflation-triggers are vigorously addressed.
The IMF has also recommended that Zimbabwe’s government not
utilise the Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) accorded it by the IMF last year, but
retain them as a boost to Zimbabwe’s international reserves. Whilst it is
desirable and necessary that Zimbabwe progressively accumulate reserves,
thereby restoring confidence in the minds of international financiers and
suppliers, doing so is meaningless if, in the meanwhile, the economy wholly
collapses. Those SDR funds could, to a small extent, enable economic
recapitalisation and recovery which, in time, would yield far more substantive
reserves, whereas ongoing economic collapse would render such minimal reserves
meaningless. It is a long-established maxim that it needs capital to generate
capital, and those SDR resources could be a small contributor to that future
capital generation, and to assuring the survival of presently endangered
elements of the economy.
Yet another IMF recommendation is that the South African rand
should be Zimbabwe’s principal currency. Acceptance of this recommendation
could be catastrophic. Although doing so could marginally enhance currency in
circulation, and especially so of currency of low denominations, including
coins, the potential prejudices to Zimbabwe could be immense.
The South African economy is sadly in grave risk of
contraction in the forseeable future. Excessive and unjustified expectations of
the economic benefits of the Fifa World Cup 2010 precluded adequate attention
to diverse needs of the South African economy. Over the last year there has
been a substantial increase in unemployment in South Africa, and especially so
in the textile and clothing industries, and recently also in the construction
sector. As a result it is inevitable that South Africa will have to resort to
economic recovery policies. Those policies may be right for South Africa, but
not necessarily so for Zimbabwe.
By being linked to a basket of international currencies,
instead of just one currency, Zimbabwe minimises the risks of being negatively
impacted upon by the monetary policies of any one of the countries whose
currency is being used. The multi-currency basket provides a hedge against
negative impacts of monetary policies of any one of those countries.
Therefore, although so often right on so many issues, the IMF
has apparently erred in those aspects of its recent advice to Zimbabwe, and on
these issues it needs to think again.
By Eric Bloch
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/opinion/27165-muckraker-anti-ngo-comments-expose-copac-naivety.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 18:07
UNDER the heading “Bogus Copac monitors on the loose”, the
Sunday Mail managed to unearth a plot by NGOs “aimed at advancing external
interests”.
The NGOs are apparently “running their own parallel outreach
programme”, as if that was a major offence!
The “culprits” are named as the Zimbabwe Peace Project, the
Zimbabwe Election Support Network and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, among
others.
They have deployed teams, we are told, “to influence the
public to agitate for the inclusion in the new constitution of provisions that
would advance foreign interests”.
Needless to say we are not told what these “foreign interests”
are.
Instead we have Copac co-chair Paul Mangwana saying “bogus
monitors” are moving around in vehicles that belong to NGOs and were stationing
themselves at outreach centres to elicit views from the public for yet unknown
purposes…”
“We are calling on police to arrest these culprits,” he said.
In fact NGOs are perfectly entitled to elicit the views of the
public. And Mangwana’s claim that they are “attempting to subvert a
government-sanctioned programme”, as if it belonged to government and nobody
else, is likely to discredit Copac if that means people can be arrested for
exercising their democratic rights.
What makes these threats more sinister are the naïve remarks
by co-chair Douglas Mwonzora that “some NGOs are disseminating falsehoods on
the outreach programme”.
“Only Zanu PF, the MDC-T and MDC had the prerogative to
monitor and comment on the outreach programme,” Mwonzora said.
Really ?.
Is that the case ?.
People are surely entitled to challenge and oppose the Copac
project if they wish ?.
That is their right. The suggestion that only the three
parties can participate is outrageous. Many people are understandably sceptical
about a process that appears to be owned by the three parties.
Anyway, don’t we recall Zanu PF running its own parallel
programme as it seeks to “persuade” people that they should support the Kariba
draft ?.
And there were reports of people reading from prepared scripts
without understanding a word of what they were saying. But we know what they
were required to talk about: the importance of the executive presidency!
There is a danger here which Mangwana and Mwonzora evidently
can’t see. If there are arrests of people exercising their right to assemble
and express themselves, including the right to oppose Copac, the whole exercise
in constitution-making will be damaged in the same way Farai Maguwu’s arrest
has scuppered Zimbabwe’s bid to market its diamonds. Donors obviously can’t be
seen to be supporting a process in which politicians threaten to have their
detractors arrested ?.
Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena was quoted in the Sunday
Mail saying “police would not hesitate to arrest all those people that were
bent on discrediting the outreach programme”. All of them ?.
Talks between Compac and the NGOs this week have opened the
way for the NGOs to partner Copac in observing the outreach programme. Let’s
hope there are no more ill-judged threats
Some curious remarks from President Mugabe last weekend when
he addressed church leaders at the unveiling of the tombstone of his great
grandfather who died in 1918.
“We say this is our country and that the land is ours but we
hear that there are some priests who say we are grabbing land,” he said.
Such church leaders should understand, he continued, that
whites would never allow foreigners to control their land.
“Jews died in Germany during the Second World War because they
held all the wealth,” he claimed. “About six million of them were killed.”
So what’s his point ?.
We understand from our history books that Germany had a cruel
dictator who made the Jews scapegoats for the country’s economic collapse.
After the Second World War Germany adopted a democratic constitution which led
to a stable and prosperous society.
Anyway, we liked the bit at the unveiling ceremony when Aeneas
Chigwedere’s version of the history of the Zvimba clan was challenged by Chief
Zvimba who said some of Chigwedere’s assertions were not true.
“Come to us the people of Zvimba so that we give you true
information,” he said. “You must hear it from the horse’s mouth.”
Something from another horse’s mouth is not going down too
well in the ranks of the nomenklatura. War veterans are complaining bitterly
about their predicament 30 years after Independence.
“The post-war leadership continues to betray the values of the
armed struggle by destroying unity and promoting factionalism, racism,
tribalism, regionalism, nepotism, greed and corruption,” the war vets say in
full-page ads in the national press.
While they condemn sanctions, they go on to say: “The
leadership should stop using sanctions as the only cause for the economic
collapse while the other causes are corruption, failed monetary and fiscal
policies and lack of accountability.
“Government, the Reserve Bank and state enterprises are run
like private businesses with ministers and the RBZ governor becoming the
richest men in the country.”
This is all very useful to have seeing the state media has
been pointing to divisions in the MDC-T at every opportunity.
“It’s not about compensation but how we can save the nation?”
the war vets tell us.
We hope Ignatious Chombo was paying attention. He was this
week busy attacking “recently introduced newspapers” who he claimed were
“misquoting government officials and misleading the nation”.
“Some journalists have resorted to using propaganda and lies
to market their newspapers and this is improper and unethical,” he told the
People’s Voice with reference to stories on the Urban Councils Act.
We have no idea what he is talking about. But Chombo should
tell us why it is ethical for a permanent secretary to hurl abuse weekly at
newspapers and individuals he disagrees with ?.
What is ethical about Zanu PF losing an election and then
retaining control of the public media to attack those that won a majority of
seats ?.
And who did the war vets have in mind when they referred to
ministers becoming “the richest men in the country” ?.
Zanu PF ministers should tell us about the ethics of
extraction instead of inventing stories about the Urban Councils Act.
The People’s Voice says we should all join hands with Zanu PF
in “ensuring the equitable redistribution of wealth”.
They mean we should hang on to our wallets!
The Ministry of Trade and Industry is crafting a strategy to
protect the sustainability of the coffee industry, Minister Welshman Ncube told
Sunday Mail Business.
Unless there was immediate intervention with a sustainable
business plan, Zimbabwe will no longer be able to produce the coffee arabica
which fetches high prices on the international markets.
Ncube disclosed that the five white coffee farmers who remain
in the Eastern Highlands between them contribute 98% of the country’s
production.
Zimbabwe’s output has steadily plummeted from 10 000 tonnes in
2002, to less than 2 500 tonnes in 2005, to below 300 tonnes as of April this
year.
Ncube ascribed the fall in production to “operational
problems” within the country’s agricultural sector.
Why doesn’t he call a spade a spade ?.
The “operational problems” he refers to are the systematic
occupation and plunder of commercial farms.
Ncube has himself, together with Arthur Mutambara, been taken
on tours of occupied farms where they were able to witness the extent of the
problem. But the seizures persist.
Just a few months ago this newspaper identified the case of
Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Tanzania who had helped himself to a prime banana
plantation. It came with a factory.
At least now we know exactly how much is left in the coffee
sector so we can trace its demise.
We note RTG CEO Chipo Mutasa’s remarks that the hospitality
industry has not benefited at all from the World Cup.
How much did Walter Mzembi and Karikoga Kaseke spend on those
trips abroad to lure teams into setting up camp in this country ?.
Mzembi anticipated that 30% of the visitors to South Africa
would be coming to this country during their stay down south. They didn’t
materialise.
Now let’s see how many “stars” like Shakira and Akon can be
lured up here by Dr Sylvester Maunganidze’s team.
Muckraker remains sceptical. Zimbabwe is seen as a rogue state
that locks up NGO monitors. It’s hardly alluring.
Congratulations to Rusape councillors for showing Ignatious
Chombo the red card.
We liked the bravery the councillors showed in chasing away
Chombo’s boys imposed to run the affairs of the town council.
Chombo, used to throwing his weight about and bullying local
authorities, got a rude awakening. The councillors chased off the two officials
seconded to assume the day-to-day running of the council.
Chombo seconded the senior assistant District Administrator
for Makoni, Darlington Museka to replace Engineer Moses Chiraya as the acting
town secretary, while Roy Nhiwatiwa was to assume the reins in the finance
department.
But as soon as they set foot at the council premises all hell
broke loose. They beat a hasty retreat.
That is the language Chombo understands.
THE editor of Zimbabwe’s biggest selling newspaper claims an
assassin is stalking him.
State-run Sunday Mail editor Brezhnev Malaba posted a message
on his Facebook on Monday telling friends: “Guys, unbelievable things are
happening here. A bulky man was sent to kill me, but he couldn’t locate me so
he destroyed my car. I’ve been warned: MY LIFE IS IN DANGER!”
Malaba said he had received “countless” death threats on the
phone before, adding: “This time it seems they want me dead. I’m not taking
this lightly.”
Who are “they”, we wonder ?.
We read about one deranged man!
Responding to questions from concerned friends (yes, he does
still have a few), he added: “After conducting my investigations, I’ll publish
a detailed story. There’s more to this than meets the eye.”
Another Sunday Mail plot! We can’t wait for the next
instalment.
Malaba told New Zimbabwe.com he called police twice on
Saturday when the alleged assassin was trashing his Mercedes.
He said: “The police response was atrocious. Twice we reported
to police but they came unarmed. Shocking!”
Perhaps he now understands what besieged farmers feel like.
“And this hired assassin, meanwhile, held the entire building hostage for a
good two hours. In the centre of Harare!”
Malaba said he “could not be sure” who wanted him dead.
“Who knows ?.
It could be the Warriors match-fixing story we published last
week. It could be politics. Take your pick. One way or the other, there are
people who are angry with me.
“They are trying to kill me. My life is in grave danger. I’m a
marked man,” he squealed.
It could of course have been an aggrieved reader who simply
couldn’t face another Mahoso diatribe! Or one of those puerile cartoons.
Finally, we had a good chuckle at the Herald’s Wednesday
headline: “Zim diplomat in drugs, sex scandal.” Only the rock’n roll was
missing. This has given a whole new meaning to Foreign Affairs!
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/opinion/27159-clearing-zims-blocked-path-to-democracy-.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 18:13
AHEAD of the June 2000 parliamentary elections, the Mass
Public Opinion Institute (MPOI) produced a pre-election survey, which predicted
that the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would win 75 seats out of the 120
contested seats in Parliament then.
However, the MDC got 57 seats, Zanu PF 62 and Zanu Ndonga 1.
The late director of MPOI, Professor Masipula Sithole,
accounted for the deficit in the predicted seats as a result of “the margin of
terror as opposed to the margin of error” on the institute’s part.
That election was characterised by unprecedented violence and
intimidation. Civic organisations produced reports which indicated that voters
were subjected to assaults, abductions, arson, rape and other forms of terror.
The same scenario of violence was witnessed in the disputed 2002 presidential
election. In the June 2008 presidential run-off, the MDC reported that over 200
people were killed in incidents of political violence.
The result of that poll was rejected by both domestic and
international players leading to inter-party negotiations that resulted in the
signing of the global political agreement in September 2008 and later the
formation of the inclusive government in February 2009.
Since the 2000 parliamentary elections, Zimbabwe held two more
parliamentary elections in 2005 and 2008 and two presidential elections 2002
and 2008. Like the 2000 poll, these subsequent elections have been
characterised by violence, coercion and gross violations of human rights.
Investigations by human rights groups indicate that more than
88% of these human rights abuses were attributed to groups sympathetic to the
establishment.
The two most influential factors in all these elections have
been the “margin of terror” and the unevenness of the political playing field.
The political playing field is uneven due to the
constitutional architecture of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s constitution facilitates
the exercise of arbitrary power rather than its limitation.
According to Professor Jonathan Moyo, Voting for Democracy,
Electoral Politics in Zimbabwe (1992), the constitution vests in the president
“imperial powers”. These “imperial powers” are a factor when the president -
their repository - is an interested party in the contest for power. The power
of the president to legislate in emergency and electoral issues essentially
means that he is a judge in his own cause, described by some as domestic
imperialism.
For instance, Section 158 of the Electoral Act says that the
president can legislate on elections at any stage of the election process and
it is this law that has been used in the past elections to alter polling days.
These excessive powers were used against the rights of
citizens to disenfranchise the electorate ahead of the 2002 and 2008
presidential elections.
My argument relative to the electoral reforms agreed by
players in the inclusive government is that the minimum conditions for a free
and fair election in Zimbabwe have to address both the administration of
elections and the political environment attendant to the holding of future
elections. These could be addressed by doing the following:
= Dismantling the infrastructure of violence (eg “Green Bombers”) and
political commitment not to resort to violence.
= Limitation of the presidential powers not only with respect to
elections, but also to democratic rights of citizens.
= The executive’s power to legislate, especially on the Electoral Act,
must be abolished as it is not consistent with a democratic political system.
= The employees of the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) must be
vetted to make sure that operatives are not partisan individuals from the army,
police and the Central Intelligence Organisation as is currently the case. If
this is not addressed the recently appointed ZEC will not serve any purpose.
= The ZEC should be seized with
the delimitation of constituencies, a process that has been abused by the
incumbent president to tinker with constituency boundaries to his advantage
against other political players.
= A code of conduct that is agreed upon by all stakeholders,
including the political contestants and civil society must be enacted.
= The airwaves must be freed from all political interference and control.
A tripartite forum consisting of political parties and civil society
organisations must monitor the freeness of the airwaves. Alternatively,
this function must be discharged by the election monitoring body. As a
demonstration of good faith, the government must repeal the Broadcasting
Services Act (BSA), which gives the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings a monopoly
over the airwaves.
= The repeal of draconian legislation such as the Public Order and
Security Act (Posa) and Access to Information and Protection and Privacy Act
(Aippa) is one of the first steps any serious government should take towards
democratising elections. These laws inhibit the exercise of democracy.
= The security service sector which includes the army, police, prisons
and secret agencies should not be involved in partisan political processes,
including taking part in politically motivated cases of violence as has
been the trend in all elections since 1980. There is need to depoliticise and
criminalise such conduct by the security apparatus. Making public statements
supporting a political party and candidates as has been done by the security
forces in 2002 and 2008 should be desisted from. Once that happens the culprits
must be charged with treason for undermining and subverting the sovereign will
of the people.
In my view, the recently announced electoral reforms, among
them the setting up of a special body to receive complaints of politically
motivated acts of violence to monitor and carry out investigations of such
reports, as well as referring these allegations to the police for expeditious
investigations and prosecution, are not adequate to address Zimbabwe’s blocked
path to democracy.
These measures deal with the administration of elections but
do not address the political environment attendant to the holding of free, fair
and democratic elections. Most fundamentally, the parties to the unity
government fail to address the glaring ubiquitous nature of the securocrats in
the administration of elections.
It is not conceivable in my view to hold free, fair and
democratic elections in Zimbabwe without demilitarising Zimbabwe’s electoral
politics. There is also a misguided view by parties to the inclusive government
that the Attorney-General’s office will play an impartial role. While there is
nothing wrong with the prosecuting role of that office, the officer bearers in
the present circumstances are toxic to
By Pedzisai Ruhanya
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/opinion/27157-diamonds-preemptive-.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 18:10
THE last two weeks in Zimbabwe have witnessed three political
events that one may be forgiven for underestimating their importance.
The first was the arrest of human rights activist Farai Maguwu
over the drawn-out Kimberley Process Certification of the Chiadzwa diamonds.
This includes the Tel Aviv meetings.
The second was the very calm announcement of electoral reforms
by the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs Patrick Chinamasa. These reforms,
we are made to understand, have been agreed to by the three political parties
in cabinet.
The third event was the launch of the extremely confused and
confusing Copac outreach programme to solicit the views of citizens on the new
constitution.
All of these events may initially seem disconnected, but the
truth of the matter is that they are literally inseparable if one is to seek a
measurement of the success, failures as well as future of the inclusive
government.
To begin with, all of the aforementioned events are highly
contentious in terms of the inclusive government’s differences on them as well
as how they affect the political, social and economic affairs of Zimbabwe
beyond the corridors of power. The central role that the government has
allocated itself in all of these issues is also indicative of their
inter-connectedness and why they should not be considered separately.
If one were to consider the mining and selling of diamonds at
Chiadzwa, the arguments raised by many in the MDC is that the resources accrued
from the gems may be used by Zanu PF to fund a violent electoral campaign. Zanu
PF on the other hand argues that the issue of diamonds relates to matters
concerning sovereignty and sanctions, issues which they say are articulated in
the GPA.
The truth of the matter, for an outside observer, is that the
Chiadzwa diamond saga is now less about the usage of the resources for the
betterment of the lives of Zimbabweans. It has become more political than
economic, especially if one considers the ambiguities of the definitions of
“blood diamonds” or, alternatively, the intention to redefine the same phrase
in Tel Aviv or in Russia.
It is more or less a case of each political party in the
government trying to play against the other in order to eventually reap
political or electoral benefits that would accrue from the eventual sale of the
diamonds. This would explain why the inclusive government and in part civil
society are silent on the arrest of Farai Maguwu and ambiguous about what the
eventual use of the resources accrued from the sale of diamonds should be.
In the same vein, when one reads into the announcement of
electoral reforms, a startling omission is the announcement of a timetable to
implement these reforms and eventually hold elections. Even where the
explanation given for the announcement is that these were negotiated reforms to
the electoral laws, what then happens to the constitutional reform process
which is supposed to determine the regulatory framework of the next elections
?.
Did the political parties agree to these reforms in order to
attempt the holding of parliamentary by-elections or to circumvent any future
differences on elections by arguing that it was already agreed ?.
I am persuaded that these reforms are indeed meant to pre-empt
any further debate on electoral reform by the public or civil society. They
also render useless the constitutional reform process being undertaken by Copac
because as far as I see, there will be no changes to what was already “agreed”
by the principals. This is even more startling because until the said
amendments are published in the Government Gazette, we will not know their full
import. Neither will we be consulted on the legal problems concerning 50% plus
one in a presidential election vote count.
Add to this the flawed process that is being undertaken by
Copac against better advice from the NCA, it becomes easier to understand how
the inclusive government is not being honest with the people of Zimbabwe.
Ideally one would expect everyone to know what is going on about constitutional
reform, but then Copac imposes a blanket ban on media coverage of its
activities.
In similar fashion to what goes on in Chiadzwa, only the
politicians and their securocrats know both the intention and outcome of their
processes. Increasingly with all the stories about the scramble for resources
in Copac and allegations of intimidation of members of the public, the recently
launched constitutional outreach is bordering on being completely illegitimate.
And the buck stops at the door of the inclusive government as it does with the
matters of Chiadzwa and pre-emptive electoral reforms.
It is important to emphasise that the occurrence of electoral
reform, disputes over the KP process and the launch of a flawed constitutional
reform process should not be discussed separately. This is not only because
they have a direct bearing on the future of the country but also because
considering them separately would make it seem as though the inclusive
government is working coherently.
The leaders of this government bear full responsibility for
these three matters being problematic. And they should be made to account for
their political ineptitude. If they are in need of solutions on Chiadzwa they
should initially seek a cohesive domestic response to the human rights abuses
as well as the potential usage of the earnings acquired through the diamonds.
If they are worried about elections they should abandon the Copac
constitutional reform process and initiate an independent constitutional reform
body which will openly consult the people for their views on elections, amongst
other matters.
By Takura Zhangazha
* - Takura Zhangazha
can be contacted on Kuurayiwa@gmail.com
.
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/comment/27181-comment-the-dangers-of-zanu-pf-patronage.html
Thursday, 08 July 2010 18:43
THE involvement of Ministers Theresa Makone and Didymus Mutasa
in the Temba Mliswa saga and confessions from a police officer in court that
the law enforcement agency was reluctant to arrest the Zanu PF activist because
he was “untouchable”, bring to the fore the selective application of the law in
the country.
According to media reports, Mliswa, who was initially arrested
on a fraud charge together with Martin Mutasa, now faces 40 more charges which
were apparently swept under the carpet because he was seen as “untouchable”.
As expected, the two ministers have tried to wriggle their way
out of the matter, but this has left a serious dent in government’s commitment
to the observation of the rule of law. The explanation given by the police in
court on why it took them years to prosecute the 40 cases shows how Zanu PF
patronage is used to protect some citizens even in instances where the police
believe they have a case to answer.
The same law under which Mliswa was “protected” is used to
hound government critics such as Farai Maguwu and incarcerate them
indefinitely, even when courts grant them bail. Curiously, when reports of
Maguwu being moved from remand prison to a police cell without the knowledge of
his lawyers were made, there was no sympathy from any government minister save
for the lone voices of civil society activists.
What is even more curious is the involvement of Theresa Makone
whom the nation was made to believe would be a better performer than her
predecessor, Giles Mutsekwa.
Makone, who professes to being a friend of the Mutasas since
1976, has rather naively tried to have the nation believe that she was merely
assisting a fellow citizen on the whereabouts of his arrested son. If we are to
believe Makone, then the fact that a whole minister had to visit police stations
in search of a suspect suggests that people actually disappear in police
custody. She is quoted on the wires as saying: “In MDC we have had so many
people go missing, some after police arrests and others after abductions and
there is no way that I as Minister of Home Affairs will sit and do nothing …”
What the nation now awaits with bated breath are the measures
that she is putting in place to stem the trend. Is she setting up a committee
to find out what happened to the MDC activists that she refers to ?.
At least the arrest of Mutasa’s son opened the minister’s eyes
to the nightmare that the country’s police cells have turned out to be. It is
common knowledge that some of the police cells are inhabitable and for a
change, a Zanu PF official has actually acknowledged what ordinary Zimbabweans
have always complained about, that Zimbabwean law is not blind. Mutasa was
quoted in the media as saying: “It looks like we are back to Rhodesia where Ian
Smith used a similar law to abuse innocent people.”
Although police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena has said the
ministers acted outside their authority, Zimbabweans await the action that will
be taken against the politicians.
Bvudzijena said: “The (ZRP) views seriously the behaviour of
the two ministers which sought to interfere with police work, particularly as
the ministers sought to protect accused person facing charges of wantonly
seizing property outside the law and threatening others.”
Those enjoying Zanu PF patronage should not laugh at Mliswa.
This is a lesson to them as well. The system will only protect you when it is
convenient to do so.
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
Thursday, 08 July 2010 18:38
LAST week, Elton Mangoma, Energy and Power Development
minister, led a mission-impossible government delegation to the European Union
(EU) as the country continued its endeavour to reengage the bloc, among other
countries, in line with provisions of the global political agreement (GPA).
Mangoma’s delegation included Justice and Legal Affairs
minister Patrick Chinamasa and Regional Integration and International
Co-operation minister Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga, representing the
political parties that inked the GPA in September 2008.
To most observers this meeting was just procedural as nothing
much was expected since the conditions which prompted the disengagement with
the EU have not improved despite signing the GPA, and the subsequent formation
of the inclusive government in February 2009.
It was predictable that the delegation, which left for
Brussels, having covered no ground would return empty-handed, and any other
result would have surprised many.
While we are not surprised by the result of the meeting last
week, it is important to put the whole issue into perspective.
What Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative, said after
meeting the delegation is as informative as it is reflective of what has to be
done before anything substantial is realised.
“The EU appreciates some progress made in implementing the GPA
in Zimbabwe and remains ready to continue the dialogue and to respond flexibly
and positively to any clear signals of further concrete progress,” she said.
It beats logic that the Zimbabwean delegation expected
anything substantial at a time when they had not moved much in implementing
what they agreed on among themselves in the GPA.
A lame argument proffered by others is that the EU is wrong to
say the implementation of the GPA is a prerequisite for lifting of sanctions
which were imposed eight years ago.
This argument is illogical in that the EU, when demanding the
full implementation of the GPA, has realised that the total consummation of the
pact converges with its own conditions for lifting of sanctions.
The EU sanctions are not permanent. They were imposed as a
response to conditions prevailing in the country and these included violation
of human rights, the dearth of democratic principles and disregard for the rule
of law.
These issues are also addressed in the GPA and Zimbabwe would
have a stronger case if after the full implementation of our own agreement the
EU vacillates. That is not the case now.
It would also be useful if Mangoma, as head of delegation, had
been more informative on what prompted the sanctions, what has been done to
improve the situation and what is still to be done.
When preparing the balance sheet on the implementation of the
GPA and the improvement of conditions which prompted the sanctions, one would
realise that the debit side outweighs the credit and more has to be done.
It looks like Mangoma, in fulfilment of his party’s obligation
on implementing the GPA, that is calling for the lifting of sanctions, is being
dragged kicking and screaming to such fruitless meetings knowing very well that
the catalyst for improvement was nowhere in Belgium, but in Harare, within a
document they themselves signed in September 2008.
The sooner we address our democratic deficits the sooner the
embargoes will be lifted. No amount of vitriol spewed by those considered to be
outstanding issues of the GPA can defeat the fact that Zimbabwe has to embrace
full democracy before sanctions can be removed.
BY CONSTANTINE CHIMAKURE
The Zimbabwe Independent
2010 07 09
Thursday, 08 July 2010 18:37
NEITHER the forces of world order, the powers of Africa, nor
the global spirit of democracy have managed to curb Robert Mugabe’s
dictatorship in Zimbabwe.
Indeed, the once prosperous country is an increasingly
desperate place, with intensifying poverty, deteriorating life expectancies and
health outcomes, 90% unemployment, alleged renewed ruling-party brutalities
against hapless civilians and opponents, and no likelihood of any amelioration.
Moreover, the so-called unity government of Mugabe’s party and
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is wildly disunited. Unlike the compromise
bilateral government in Kenya, Zimbabwe’s is entirely a fig leaf for continued
unimpeded power by Mugabe and his henchmen.
South Africa, first under former president Thabo Mbeki and now
under President Jacob Zuma, was supposed to encourage substantive change by
mediating between Mugabe and Tsvangirai and between their respective parties.
But that hope has long been demonstrated to be a chimera. Nothing is happening,
and the corrupt followers of Mugabe are getting more corrupt on the sale of
diamonds while the bulk of the country’s population either goes hungry or flees
to South Africa.
Mugabe’s men even managed in June to subvert an international
inquiry into the diamond business in eastern Zimbabwe and to persuade a South
African investigator to permit, under the Kimberley Process, the illicit sale
of diamonds.
Since the African Union and the Southern African Development
Community are unwilling to label Mugabe a tyrant and unwilling to critique his
failures of commission and omission, only non-Africans can possibly return
Zimbabwe to democracy and to its people.
China is strongly supporting Mugabe, however, which makes UN
condemnation and effective sanctions difficult. So are oil powers such as
Libya. Mugabe is now backed by the very worst of the worst.
What can be done ?.
Although the US is in no position, given Afghanistan and Iraq,
to intervene unilaterally in Zimbabwe, even if there were any will to do so,
Washington can still be a positive catalyst.
President Barack Obama has had Zimbabwe on his foreign policy
radar, and for the right reasons. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has spoken
forcibly about the Zimbabwe tragedy. She has asked President Zuma for his help
and cooperation. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Johnnie Carson, once
ambassador to Mugabe’s Zimbabwe, has also spoken clearly about Zimbabwe, even
to Mugabe directly in 2009. At that time Mugabe famously called Carson “an
idiot”, and walked out. But such jaw-boning has not yet brought about change or
the hope of action.
Nevertheless, Clinton’s voice is strong and true, and widely
influential in key capitals in Africa. She should urgently declare Washington’s
desire to help to make the unity government in Zimbabwe work by meeting with
Zuma and the heads of state and government of the Sadc region.
She should appoint a strong roving ambassador to be her agent
within southern Africa for as long as it takes to create an effective
partnership government within Zimbabwe and to reduce Mugabe’s grip. Her
enunciated goal should be the end of violence and human rights abuses, the
transfer of effective power to Tsvangirai, and a rapid diminution of Mugabe’s
presidential authoritarianism.
The appointment of a roving ambassador would demonstrate
Washington’s commitment to the southern Africa region and her desire to
persuade South Africa and the other nations of the region that the US is serious
about achieving improvements to the regime in Zimbabwe. A roving ambassador
would provide the kind of close attention to the issue that Carson, with so
many other African concerns, and the individual ambassadors in the region,
cannot.
Washington holds carrots and sticks to support such an
ambassadorial approach. If and when Zimbabwe is better governed, existing
“smart” sanctions against Mugabe’s henchmen and their relatives can slowly be
lifted. Additional incentives would include new funds with which to jump start
the faltering Zimbabwean economy.
A roving ambassador with Secretary Clinton’s stamp could make
these cases, and demonstrate finally that the US cares. - Globalpost.
* - Professor Rotberg is a prominent academic who has
published extensively on Zimbabwe.
By Robert Rotberg
http://changezimbabwe.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2987&Itemid=2
Written by CZ Editor
Friday, 09 July 2010
Snouts safely in the feeding trough, healing co-chairs Sibanda
and Nkomo, and MDC-M secretary general whose crumbling party no longer wants
elections.
The hypocrisy of the MDC splinter group's calls for delays in
the election until “healing” happens should be exposed for what it is.
Gibson Sibanda, a vice-president of the splinter group, was
quoted recently saying that Zimbabwe cannot achieve lasting peace or true
reconciliation until perpetrators of human rights abuse are held to account and
the structures of political violence dismantled.
This may well be true, but the calls by the MDC-M for the
current process to be halted, after its officials, including Sibanda, had
secured safe positions for themselves on the feeding tough, is the height of
opportunism.
The Global Political Agreement under which they secured those
positions had, as its ultimate aim, the holding of a free and fair election,
but while putting of the election they would like to remain in their positions.
Gibson Sibanda was quoted "predicting" more
political violence in the next elections, and saying that the constitution that
is currently being drafted cannot on its own end violence while the structural,
political and social factors that have fuelled the cycles of
politically-motivated hostilities remain unresolved.
If Sibanda was not a co-chairman of the Organ on National
Healing and Reconciliation, his statement to the effect that the failure to
hold those accountable for each episode of political violence would ensure
continued violence,” could be acceptable.
But as a co-chair of the Organ Sibanda is as equally to blame
as his other co-chairs for the failure of the Healing Organ to do any healing.
Now he wants to tell us that because of that collective failure in the Organ's
part, Zimbabweans should be held to ransom and continue drifting while Sibanda
and company are going into their offices to leave jackets, and collecting
Ministerial salaries at the end of the month.
Can we remind him that the whole idea of his Ministry was that
by the end of the two years when elections came, they would have achieved some
element of reconciliation and accountability which would allow the election to
take place.
If they have faced problems an achieving accountability and
reconciliation, which would have constituted the healing, they should tell us
what problems they faced, rather than trying to shift goal posts. John Nkomo,
the other co-chair, had no reason to push for healing because it would only
expose Zanu (PF).
At another recent meeting of the Healing Organ all that was
talked about was how sanctions were hurting the economy. What has that got to
do with catching the known perpetrators of violence in the last election, some
of whom are even now carrying on again with their intimidation of MDC
supporters.
What we want to hear from Sibanda is that the Organ attempted
to foster reconciliation and healing or the prosecution of perpetrators, but
this failed, and for what reason. If there was interference, then name the
people who interfered or refused to arrest or prosecute.
What we want to hear is that the Organ went into communities
to facilitate the many perpetrators who are willing to seek forgiveness and
reconciliation for what they did during the election, and what the outcome was.
By now these communities would be living together and working towards a new
constitution and elections.
Sibanda cannot escape the accusation that, as his party
dismally lost the last election, and has no prospects in the coming elections
(judging by the numbers of defections from the MDC-M) they have taken the
position that they should sabotage the election by ensuring that no healing
takes place - thus giving them the necessary excuse.
But, while saying there has not been sufficient healing to
allow the election to take place freely, Sibanda and company are happy to be
having government offices, houses and cars and to be called Ministers of
Government.
He was quoted making the disingenuous observation that the
historical legacy of organised political violence with impunity and few
consequences for the perpetrators induces doubts about the objective of the
national healing processes.
The question is whether this is a new discovery by him or his
co-Ministers, that healing needs to take place, or whether this was not the
reason the Organ on Healing and Reconciliation was set up in the first place.
Even his President, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, was
also recently reported on a recent visit to Uganda saying that Zimbabwe should
be in no hurry to go to the polls. So what should we be doing, when Zanu (PF)
is not allowing the GPA to be implemented in full to allow the economy to start
growing again.
They are both forgetting that the Global Political Agreement
itself, under which they were allowed to be appointed Ministers, even without
any constituencies, says the purpose of this government is to work towards a
free and fair election.
Granted, Zanu (PF) has not made the process any easier by
stalling the implementation of changes in media laws, human rights and security
sector reform, which has ensured that police selectively arrest political
violence perpetrators.
But by so doing this has activated the default position in the
agreement, that if the security situation is not resolved, human rights are not
respected and the GPA not implemented, then we should just go to elections, and
the guarantors of the agreement, SADC and AU should guarantee that the election
is free and fair this time.
This is where we are now; speedily working towards an
election, which will decide once and for all who the people want, who will then
be able to form a government, but the election should be free and fair, and
there is no more need to delay the election, since Zanu (PF) has shown that it
has no interest in allowing a free environment to flourish.
As for Sibanda, Mutambara and company, they have exposed
themselves as opportunists who would sacrifice the future of the country for
their own expediency. They should just resign if they do not want to use their
position in the GNU to facilitate a free and fair election which will usher
them out of office.
Or they could do the honourable thing and go back to the fold
or the mother party, unite with the MDC again and don't make unreasonable
demands.
Last Updated ( Friday, 09 July 2010 )
http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/zimbabwe/5584.html
08 July, 2010 11:25:00
Russian's Secret Services offices housing the country's secret
services departments
JOHANNESBURG
Media reports linking Zimbabwean businessman Ken Sharpe to a
Russian spy ring uncovered in the United States contained "factual
inaccuracies and damaging innuendo", he said on Thursday.
He was considering taking legal action over the
"defamatory" reports concerning his business interests and his contacts
with Alex Chapman and his ex-wife Anna, an alleged Russian spy
"I have no business links to Russia nor to the Chapman's.
I have never done business in Russia nor exported vodka bottles to Russia. The
closest I have been to doing business in Russia is in the Ukraine," he
said.
"I do however own 30 percent of West Bev in Zimbabwe
which produces, amongst other beverages, vodka but our sales are limited to
Zimbabwe and I have never done exports of any products to Russia."
Britain's The Daily Mail reported that Alex Chapman was
questioned by an MI5 agent about his ex-wife's links to Sharpe.
The newspaper reported that Anna Chapman had worked with
Sharpe at a British company based in a London flat she shared with her
then-husband Alex Chapman.
According to The Daily Mail, while Anna Chapman was at the
company, Southern Union, she moved millions of pounds - possibly connected to
money-laundering - between Britain and Zimbabwe.
Sharpe was an importer of vodka bottles to Russia, was married
to a Russian belly-dancer and spoke Russian, the newspaper reported.
Sharpe denied most of the accusations. He described his
Russian language capabilities as "conversational" and denied that his
wife was a belly-dancer or lap-dancer.
"I am not fluent in Russian. When I first met my wife,
Joanna, she could not speak English and I could not speak Russian.
"My wife worked in a well-known and highly-respected
circus in Russia as a ballet and folk dancer. She was never a belly-dancer or a
lap-dancer, and reports to the contrary from the press are hurtful to her and
defamatory," said Sharpe.
He also denied that he was involved as an owner of Southern
Union.
He said the company's business was the transfer of funds to
and from Zimbabwe at competitive rates and that he had been one of its clients.
"The client base was largely limited to a large number of
individuals looking to send small amounts of money to their relations in
Zimbabwe.
"For this reason I would seriously doubt that the company
could be involved in any large-scale money-laundering activities," said
Sharpe.
He admitted meeting Anna Chapman's father at social functions
in Harare and said that, at his request, he agreed to help her find employment
in London.
He referred her to Southern Union where she was employed.
He said he was not a supporter of a political party in
Zimbabwe, but had a "very good professional relationship" with the
government. -Sapa
http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/article540702.ece/US-spy-ring-claims-damaging--Zim-businessman
Jul 8, 2010 7:43 PM
By Sapa
Media reports linking Zimbabwean businessman Ken Sharpe to a
Russian spy ring uncovered in the United States contained "factual
inaccuracies and damaging innuendo", he said on Thursday.
He was considering taking legal action over the “defamatory”
reports concerning his business interests and his contacts with Alex Chapman
and his ex-wife Anna, an alleged Russian spy “I have no business links to
Russia nor to the Chapman’s. I have never done business in Russia nor exported
vodka bottles to Russia. The closest I have been to doing business in Russia is
in the Ukraine,” he said.
“I do however own 30% of West Bev in Zimbabwe which produces,
amongst other beverages, vodka but our sales are limited to Zimbabwe and I have
never done exports of any products to Russia.” Britain’s The Daily Mail
reported that Alex Chapman was questioned by an MI5 agent about his ex-wife’s
links to Sharpe.
The newspaper reported that Anna Chapman had worked with
Sharpe at a British company based in a London flat she shared with her
then-husband Alex Chapman.
According to The Daily Mail, while Anna Chapman was at the
company, Southern Union, she moved millions of pounds - possibly connected to
money-laundering - between Britain and Zimbabwe.
Sharpe was an importer of vodka bottles to Russia, was married
to a Russian belly-dancer and spoke Russian, the newspaper reported.
Sharpe denied most of the accusations.
He described his Russian language capabilities as
“conversational” and denied that his wife was a belly-dancer or lap-dancer.
“I am not fluent in Russian. When I first met my wife, Joanna,
she could not speak English and I could not speak Russian.
“My wife worked in a well-known and highly-respected circus in
Russia as a ballet and folk dancer. She was never a belly-dancer or a
lap-dancer, and reports to the contrary from the press are hurtful to her and
defamatory,” said Sharpe.
He also denied that he was involved as an owner of Southern
Union.
He said the company’s business was the transfer of funds to
and from Zimbabwe at competitive rates and that he had been one of its clients.
“The client base was largely limited to a large number of
individuals looking to send small amounts of money to their relations in
Zimbabwe.
“For this reason I would seriously doubt that the company
could be involved in any large-scale money-laundering activities,” said Sharpe.
He admitted meeting Anna Chapman’s father at social functions
in Harare and said that, at his request, he agreed to help her find employment
in London.
He referred her to Southern Union where she was employed.
He said he was not a supporter of a political party in
Zimbabwe, but had a “very good professional relationship” with the government.
http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/zimbabwe/5578.html
08 July, 2010 02:10:00
Rudo Lavender Chaparadza
NOT NOW: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has huge problems
in his party Zanu PF as infighting escalates.
As Zimbabwe approaches the two-year anniversary of the signing
of the Global Political Agreement (GPA), the document which underpins its
three-party unity government, a number of calls have been made for speedy
elections.
The calls are fairly widespread, coming from both the Zimbabwe
African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) and the Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC-Tsvangirai), as well as from civil society groups, such
as the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).
However, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, who heads the
third party of the unity government, suggested during a recent visit to Uganda
that Zimbabwe should be in no hurry to go to the polls.
“The question in Zimbabwe," he is reported as saying,
"should not be about how soon elections can be held, but how to organise
quality elections.”
Although regional leaders such as Botswana's President Ian
Khama and South African President Jacob Zuma have expressed their support for
holding elections, the situation is complex.
Current conditions are not conducive to ensuring a free and
fair result, so it seems neither practical nor desirable to go to the polls at
this point.
According to the terms set out in the GPA, elections are to be
held under a new constitution within 18 to 24 months. However, financial
constraints and a lack of political will have slowed the drafting of a new
constitution. The outreach exercise by the parliamentary committee responsible
for drafting the constitution started only last week, and it is more than a
year overdue.
Meanwhile, the country still awaits significant change on
media laws, human rights and state security. The European Union and the United
States have extended targeted sanctions on senior Zanu-PF officials by another
year, citing lack of progress in the implementation of the GPA.
Zanu-PF still runs the security forces, which represent a
crucial instrument of repression, and President Robert Mugabe still wields
significant power. The GNU is relatively powerless, and elections could unleash
a reign of terror and violence reminiscent of the run-up to the June 2008
presidential run-off.
Since its establishment, the GNU has been characterized by
squabbles among its constituent parties, and on several occasions the MDC-T
leader, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, has threatened to walk out. There are
no clear boundaries of responsibility and legitimacy is a major stumbling block
for the coalition government.
While Zanu-PF accuses the MDC-T of not doing enough to have
targeted sanctions removed, the MDC-T has described the appointments of Reserve
Bank Governor Gideon Gono and Attorney-General Johannes Tomana as illegitimate.
The MDC-T has also accused Mugabe of delaying the swearing-in of MDC leader Roy
Bennett as a deputy agriculture minister despite Bennett having been acquitted
of treason charges. The recent appointment of three judges by Mugabe after
failing to consult with his alliance partners has further strained the
coalition government.
The continued failure of coalition partners to reach an
understanding over power sharing, dropping sanctions and the appointment of
senior government officials has hindered not only policymaking but the full
implementation of the GPA. It also raises doubts about the willingness of the
parties to resolve the impasse. In effect, it is scaring off potential
investors, damaging the credibility of the GNU and exacerbating political
insecurity.
Rather than move quickly to elections, what is needed is for
leaders to demonstrate their ability to abide by the rules that they set for
themselves through the GPA. Further, they need to show that they have the
interests of the nation at heart by disciplining their selfish political
interests. This is critical for generating confidence, both within and outside
Zimbabwe, and to ensure the success of the GNU.
State institutions that are responsible for running elections
need to be revamped in order to facilitate their administration. Agreement must
be reached on participation by Zimbabwe’s civil society as well as on funding
and monitoring of the polls by the international community.
Further, the government needs to be financially viable if
credible elections are to be held. To date there are 15 constituencies which do
not have parliamentary representation due to a lack of funds to hold
by-elections.
Holding elections without properly laying the groundwork could
produce an outcome that contradicts the spirit and the letter of the GPA and
makes a mockery of the independent mediation conducted by regional leaders. The
full enactment of the GPA, including the finalization of the new constitution,
should be the priority, after which elections could seal and consolidate the
mandate of the parties.
Rudo Lavender Chaparadza is a Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
research intern at the South African Institute of International Affairs.
Written by Zenzo Ncube
Thursday, 08 July 2010 15:43
Zimbabwe’s deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe (Pictured)
says that Zimbabwe’s new constitution must enshrine devolution of power from to
the regions or provinces because that is what Zimbabwe needs to go forward.
Thokozani Khupe, a Makokoba constituency legislator and Zimbabwe’s first female
deputy prime minister, was speaking in London to member organisations of the
Zimbabwe Diaspora Focus Group (ZDFG), a coalition of UK based Zimbabwean civil
organisations, Tuesday 6th July 2010. Khupe accepted that for years, there had
been under-development in some provinces of Zimbabwe. She cited Matabeleland
where she is from, as a region that has been neglected by central government in
the past.
“When we talk about this, people must not think that we are
talking about tribalism.” Thokozani Khupe said to applause by the appreciating
attendee Khupe adds her voice to a concern that is being hard-pressed by
Zimbabwe’s most prominent opposition party the Zimbabwe African People’s Union
(ZAPU). Most Zimbabweans civic society organisations have also called for
devolution of power from Harare to provinces. ZAPU is calling for devolution to
five regions of Mashonaland, Masvingo, Manicaland, Matabeleland and Midlands.
ZAPU argues that elected governors and regional assemblies
with power to manage, public services and resources would politically and
economically empower Zimbabweans and encourage cultural and social diversity.
Deputy Prime minister, Thokozani Khupe said devolution would ensure that local
decisions were taken about the needs of the people. “Central Government could
choose to construct a road in Plumtree, yet the people there may prefer a deep
tank or something more important to them,” she said. Khupe said she was
confident that a referendum would result in a new constitution with devolution
included in the constitution from the evidence of position papers by the
majority of stakeholders.
She however identified that once it is provided for in the
constitution of Zimbabwe, the challenge would be implementing it. ZAPU has made
it clear that it will oppose a constitution resulting from the current
consultations if it has no devolution and proportional representation.
Zenzo Ncube is Marketing and Communication secretary for ZAPU
in Europe. Email information@zapueurope.org
http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/axed-mdc-minister-to-join-mavambo-party-cms-550
Posted: Friday, July 9, 2010 3:42 am
Fidelis Mhashu is set to join Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn party
RECENTLY axed Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) minister
Fidelis Mhashu is not taking his sacking lightly and is mulling joining the
Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn party led by former finance minister Dr Simba Makoni.
Mr Mhashu was fired from cabinet by Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai is a move that is meant to cull all his opponents in the embattled
former opposition party.
He was the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities.
Sources say Mr Mhashu - who is now a mere executive member for
the Chitungwiza constituency - has held at least two meetings with Dr Makoni.
Article continues below
Other MDC-T House of Assembly Members for Chitungwiza South
and St Mary’s, Mr Misheck Shoko and Marvellous Khumalo respectively, are also
said to have met Dr Makoni at Imire Game Park near Marondera.
They are said to have held "extensive consultations"
aimed at joining the party. The three key MDC-T members will join Dr Makoni's
party if they are not elected in this weekend's provincial elections.
MDC-T is scheduled to hold elections for a new executive in
Chitungwiza this weekend.
Dr Makoni denied that such meetings ever took place.
Ten other members of the Chitungwiza provincial executive who
were suspended earlier this year by the prime minister are also said to be considering
their options before this weekend's elections which might see them booted out
for good.
Meanwhile, a group of MDC-T supporters who want Mr Tsvangirai
retained as party leader after his mandatory two terms expire next year, are
alleged to have started a vilification campaign against Mr Mhashu.
Mr Mhashu is a close ally of MDC-T Secretary General and
Finance Minister Tendai Biti, who is widely tipped as likely to take over from
Mr Tsvangirai as party leader.
The MDC-T party is expected to hold its Congress next year and
party leader Mr Tsvangirai is expected to step down after his two terms.
MDC-T said the vilification campaign had been sanctioned by
senior MDC-T leaders who wanted to "put the final nail on Mhashu’s coffin
and ensure he becomes totally irrelevant".
The flyers bore the MDC-T logo and accused Mr Mhashu of gross
corruption and neglecting his constituency since he was elected into office as
House of Assembly Member for Chitungwiza North 10 years ago.
They also carried allegations of a criminal nature, claiming
the ex-minister was an incestuous rapist.
http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/cio-agents-arrested-on-assault-charges-cms-549
By: Floyd Nkomo
Posted: Friday, July 9, 2010 3:06 am
THREE Central Intelligence Organisation agents based in the
capital Harare were arrested by police on kidnapping and assault charges.
The three operatives and one other man allegedly masqueraded
as Anti-Corruption Commission officers and kidnapped a Kwekwe police constable
and later assaulted him.
The kidnapped officer - who is from Kwekwe Rural Police
Station - was handling a case of stock theft by a relative of one of the four
men.
Masquerading as “Anti-Corruption Commission officials”, the
four men gave the stock theft case number, CR 4/12/09, which helped the
officer-in-charge accept them as a bona fide anti-corruption team.
Tawanda Zambuko (24), Lovemore Maendenge (31), Cranmer
Chinyanganya (32), are all employed by the CIO and based in Harare.
Article continues below
Their accomplice Bright Ndaba (23) is not employed.
The four were yesterday arraigned before Gweru magistrate, Mr
Douglas Chikwekwe, facing three counts each of impersonating a public officer,
kidnapping and assault.
They all pleaded not guilty to all counts and were remanded to
21 July on US$ 200 bail each.
.
http://www.globalpost.com/webblog/zimbabwe/does-mutambara-really-count
By Kubatana - Global Blogger
Published: July 8, 2010 10:35 ET in Africa
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Rejoice Ngwenya on civil society, free media, party politics
and political vuvuzelas . . .
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The vivacious Violet Gonda is a Zimbabwean journalist of
persona non grata in her country simply because of being a rare breed of
courageous radio broadcasters willing to take on a rogue state. Such is the
paranoia in Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF regime that broadcast laws that
deliberately prevent alternative opinion are entrenched in the legislative DNA.
The positive spinoff of this scenario has been a proliferation of shortwave and
internet broadcast stations spanning the globe, the most popular being VOA
Studio 7 news based in Washington DC, Voice of the People in Botswana and
Violet’s own SW Africa radio in England.
On many occasions, Zimbabweans and gullible Africans have been
made to believe that vice and toxic rumour is embedded in such alternative
viewpoint. In more ways than one, it is for this reason that ZANU-PF refuses to
take the Global Political Agreement forward, claiming as long as Morgan
Tsvangirayi’s MDC does not influence closure of such stations, Mugabe will
refuse to cooperate. Bulls eat grass, but the fresh results of their digestion
are unpleasant to the eye. Had there been a more family-friendly term to
describe the product of this biological process, I would have had no problem
labelling ZANU-PF opinion.
Ironically, Violet Gonda and her friends do not want to live
in forced exile, because of family commitments back in Zimbabwe. But as long as
they face arrest, and as long as the broadcast regulations outlaw alternative
opinion, we Zimbabweans at home will continue to tune in to VOA Studio 7, Voice
of the People and SW Radio for REAL news. What we know is that MDC have no chance
in hell to influence closure of these stations. That makes me feel good!
But it is not all diamond that glitters from these alternative
airwaves - at least according to MDC Professor Mutambara’s sympathisers. There
is consensus amongst his supporters that most if not all external broadcasters
have taken a position to support Tsvangirayi’s formation at the expense of all
other progressive forces of democracy. Their argument is that in the haste to
rid Zimbabwe of the curse of authoritarian dictatorship, these broadcasters
paint anything or anyone who takes a side that opposes Tsvangirayi as anti
struggle.
They continue that MDC Tsvangirayi failures are not
sufficiently interrogated, while only the opinion of analysts who have
something negative to say about Mutambara are given undue prominence. For
example, the best news item that can ever emerge from rural Matebeleland is
when councillors from Mutambara defect to Tsvangirayi’s party. Such news,
Mutambara’s people argue, takes precedence over the antics of Theresa Makone,
Tsvangirayi’s new home affairs boss who is related to Mugabe’s political hit
man, Didymus Mutasa. The two are currently on the front page for attempting to
sprout habitual ZANU-PF property rights violators form prison. ZANU-PF, who
term alternative studios ‘pirate radio stations’, amplify Tsvangirayi’s
internal party struggles, reminding readers that Ms Makone is the same woman
whose husband ‘controls’ Tsvangirayi via what they call MDC’s ‘kitchen
cabinet’. At one time, Ms Makone was accused of displacing the MDC women’s
assembly leader in order to exert more influence on the party’s strategy. And
all this - Mutambara’s people argue - does not receive airplay on ‘pirate’ radio
stations.
As a regular contributor to these useful and value-adding
radio stations, I attempt to present balanced opinions. Freelance analysts like
me do not influence editorial policy, but we need to pitch our commentary from
an objective perspective. I have no sacred cows. More importantly, Violet Gonda
would not be able to influence what I say, but she would be in a position to
decide what to publish depending on her editorial slant. For example, in one of
SW Africa Radio Friday night programs called Hot Seat, Tony Reeler, director of
Research and Advocacy Unit [RAU] commenting on Professor Arthur Mutambara’s
position in government, tells Ms Gonda: “So he’s there by grace and favour of
the Agreement but not by any other ground.”
A more mundane interpretation of this cryptic statement is
that Mutambara is not in the coalition government by virtue of electoral
credibility, but that he is the president of a [MDC] minority party with few
seats in a remote part of Zimbabwe. Obviously with Zimbabwe’s first past the
post electoral system, it would have been unthinkable to have the professor in
government. Herein lies the need for progressive ‘pirate’ analysts to offer
objective radio commentary.
My angle would be that the GPA brought into government
hundreds of worthless politicians from all three sides. Morgan Tsvangirayi
himself has on several occasions expelled councillors and recently reshuffled
ministers. Accusations of corruption, underhand deals and inefficiency have
plagued his party, while neutrals argue that even himself as Prime Minister, is
guilty of soft-padding Mugabe in international foras. Observers insist that
incomes, infrastructure and public facilities are only marginally better than
before the coalition, while power blackouts hound an industry struggling to
emerge from recession. The human rights sector is disastrous, with no single
conviction of ZANU-PF zealots who murdered, maimed and raped innocent citizens
in June 2008. His critics argue he has failed to reign in on rogue elements
raiding commercial farms including those properties protected under regional
bilateral agreements. Therefore to diminish Mutambara’s role in government
without a rub off on Tsvangirayi’s personal political reputation is an
impossible feat.
Mr Reeler himself is a product of a decade old struggle
against dictatorship, a flag bearer of a contingent of brave human rights
defenders that have survived determined ZANU-PF antagonism and intimidation. In
this noble group of principled citizens one finds peace campaigner Jestina
Mukoko, lawyer Irene Petras, constitutional expert Lovemore Madhuku and
countless other civil society activists. But unlike Arthur Mutambara who has
risen from mere student activism to national leadership, I and Reeler have
little other than political vuvuzelas to show for our rhetoric. My point is
simple. This is no time to denigrate each others’ value propositions. If civil
society was half as effective as its loud voice, Mugabe would have abandoned
ship in 2002.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201007080321.html
Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Culture Minister Appeals for More Funding
8 July 2010
Harare
Government should allocate more funds to education in the
national budget to resuscitate the sector, a Cabinet minister has said.
Speaking after the donation of information communication
technology equipment to the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council by Germany
Technological Co-operation in Harare yesterday; Education, Sport, Arts and
Culture Minister David Coltart described the state of the education sector as
"catastrophic".
"There is need to capacitate Zimsec so that it attains
the high standards enjoyed by other examination boards in the region.
"Government must strive to restore the credibility of the
country's examination system by channelling more funds towards education,"
he said.
Minister Coltart said this would also help regain the trust of
parents and children in the system.
He said 215 000 Ordinary level pupils and 27 000 Advanced
level students had registered for this year's November examinations.
This means 14 000 students registered after the June 11 deadline.
"There is steady progress compared to last year and
Government will do everything possible to ensure that every single child
eligible to sit for examinations does so.
"Deputy Minister Lazarus Dokora is busy working to
ascertain the exact number of students who failed to register so that
Government assists," he said.
Turning to the donation worth US$ 80 000, Minister Coltart
said it would go a long way in improving efficiency and stabilising operations
at the examinations body.
The equipment includes 11 laptops, 10 desktop computers,
printers and Internet accessories.
Zimsec director Mr Happy Ndanga said they would continue
striving to provide quality services to the nation.
"We have been clamouring for such assistance for long
because running national examinations requires a lot of input.
"Though we are criticised a lot, we are not going to be
shaken in delivering what the nation requires," he said.
Germany's Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Matthias Schumacher
said his country would assist Zimbabwe revive education.
"Investment in education is investment in the future. We
will continue supporting Zimbabwe as we have done in the past years through
humanitarian aid," he said.
http://www1.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=21021&cat=1
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Herald Reporter
GOVERNMENT should allocate more funds to education in the
national budget to resuscitate the sector, a Cabinet minister has said.
Speaking after the donation of information communication
technology equipment to the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council by Germany
Technological Co-operation in Harare yesterday; Education, Sport, Arts and
Culture Minister David Coltart described the state of the education sector as
"catastrophic".
"There is need to capacitate Zimsec so that it attains
the high standards enjoyed by other examination boards in the region.
"Government must strive to restore the credibility of the
country’s examination system by channelling more funds towards education,"
he said.
Minister Coltart said this would also help regain the trust of
parents and children in the system.
He said 215 000 Ordinary level pupils and 27 000 Advanced
level students had registered for this year’s November examinations.
This means 14 000 students registered after the June 11
deadline.
"There is steady progress compared to last year and
Government will do everything possible to ensure that every single child
eligible to sit for examinations does so.
"Deputy Minister Lazarus Dokora is busy working to
ascertain the exact number of students who failed to register so that
Government assists," he said.
Turning to the donation worth US$ 80 000, Minister Coltart
said it would go a long way in improving efficiency and stabilising operations
at the examinations body.
The equipment includes 11 laptops, 10 desktop computers,
printers and Internet accessories.
Zimsec director Mr Happy Ndanga said they would continue
striving to provide quality services to the nation.
"We have been clamouring for such assistance for long
because running national examinations requires a lot of input.
"Though we are criticised a lot, we are not going to be
shaken in delivering what the nation requires," he said.
Germany’s Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Matthias Schumacher
said his country would assist Zimbabwe revive education.
"Investment in education is investment in the future. We
will continue supporting Zimbabwe as we have done in the past years through
humanitarian aid," he said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/08/zimbambwe-blood-diamonds-abuse
Founder of the Kimberley Process says that Harare must be
brought back into international fold to avoid destabilising global trade
Amelia Hill
guardian.co.uk
Thursday 8 July 2010 16.48 BST
Article history
The European parliament has passed a highly critical
resolution of the Mugabe regime for plundering diamonds for financial benefit.
Photograph: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP
Blood diamonds will flood back into the worldwide market
unless a way is found to bring Zimbabwe back under global control at a key
meeting next week, according to one of the world's biggest diamond tycoons.
Willie Nagel, founding father of the Kimberley Process - a
group made up of government, human rights and diamond-industry officials to
prevent the trading of diamonds that could be used for financing wars - has
warned that Zimbabwe is not adhering to the "clean trade" system.
But, he said, unless the country was swiftly bought back into
the international fold, it would destabilise the market by saturating the world
with non-approved diamonds.
Harare insists it has complied with Kimberley's demands. They
point to a recent positive report from the regulator's monitors. But human
rights groups say abuses continue to take place in the Marange diamond fields.
They cite the massacre of hundreds of illegal diggers and say soldiers are
still engaging in forced labour, torture and harassment.
There are also fears that profits from the industry could be
used to fund President Robert Mugabe's cash-strapped Zanu-PF party at the
expense of the country's rival-in-government, the Movement for Democratic
Change.
Zimbabwe's minister of mines and mining development, Obert
Moses Mpofu, has said that his country plans to begin selling diamonds from the
Marange immediately, regardless of whether the Kimberley Process gives its
approval next week. If fully mined, diamonds could make up 25% of the global
supply.
Nagel said that Zimbabwe's "continued refusal to conform
[to the system] will undermine the Kimberley Process and destabilise the whole
market".
It could, he said, lead to the US - the largest diamond market
in the world - banning all imported stones, with EU countries following suit.
At a meeting in St Petersburg next week, the World Diamond
Council (WDC) will try to establish whether Zimbabwe has met Kimberley's
minimum standards. Their decision will be guided by Boaz Hirsch, the current
chair of the Kimberley Process, who will be the keynote speaker.
Nagel is asking delegates not to repeat the failure of last
month, when international diamond experts meeting in Tel Aviv failed to reach a
consensus on whether Zimbabwe's government is profiting from the diamonds while
engaging in human rights abuses.
"We risk upsetting the whole fabric of Kimberley because
the find of diamonds in Zimbabwe is such a major one," said Nagel.
"If they begin smuggling their diamonds out to the rest of the world, it
would be disastrous: for us and for them.
"If Zimbabwe don't conform, sooner or later the USA may
not allow diamonds in at all," he warned. "If we can't sell to the
ultimate consumer if diamonds, we're lost. And then there is also the risk that
the EU could come to the same conclusion as the US.
Despite the overall success of the Kimberley Process, blood
diamonds are still used to fund human rights abuses. The model Naomi Campbell
and actor Mia Farrow have been ordered to testify in court about the gift of
blood diamonds Campbell allegedly received from Charles Taylor, former
president of Liberia. Taylor is accused of having been paid in rough diamonds
for weapons to arm the rebels in Sierra Leone's bloody civil war.
Concerns over human rights abuses in Zimbabwe are so acute
that the European parliament today passed a resolution highly critical of
Mugabe and his supporters for plundering diamonds for their own financial
benefit.
The resolution called for the "revision of the Kimberley
Process to take proper account of human rights principles" and for the
Zimbabwe government to use diamond revenue to help regenerate the economy as a
whole.
Eli Izhakoff, the WDC's chairman, said the WDC meeting next
week will "reconfirm our commitment to ethical trading and to the
eradication of conflict diamonds from our distribution chain".
"We will not be assembling in St Petersburg simply to pay
lip service to the values upon which the organisation was founded," he
added. "The ongoing situation in Zimbabwe and the dedication of our
industry to operate in a transparent and principled manner means that there are
burning issues on the table, which we will discuss and for which we will
formulate strategies."
What is the Kimberley Process ?.
The brainchild of Willie Nagel, the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme is a joint initiative by governments, the diamond industry
and advocacy groups to assure buyers that they are not financing war and human
rights abuses.
Prior to the 2003 implementation of the UN resolution, the
sale of conflict - or "blood" - diamonds was worth around 15% of the
international trade. Today, the illicit trade is thought to account for just 1%
of the global market.
Illicit diamond sales continue, however, in countries
including Venezuela, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Lebanon.
The scheme has also been criticised for failing to address
issues of non-compliance, smuggling, money laundering and human rights abuses.
Elly Harrowell, a campaigner at Global Witness, which helped
set up the scheme, said recently: "Is the KP a success or a failure ?.
The process has definitely had some impressive successes in
the last 10 years, but unfortunately, in the last few years, a lack of
political will has jeopardised the progress."
Written by Students Solidarity Trust (Solidiary)
Thursday, 08 July 2010 15:37
Eight University of Zimbabwe student activists today appeared
before Harare magistrate on charges of participating in an illegal gathering
after a ZINASU demonstration in March . The state have promised to give them a
trial date on the 4th of August when they appear for routine remand hearing.
The students who have been on remand since March when they were arrested at
Parliament Building demonstrating against the abuse of human rights in the
country. Those who appeared in court are Joshua Chinyere, James Katso,
Temptation Tazviinga, Tinashe Hlatshwayo, Tinashe Chisaira, Culvern Mungiri,
Sydney Chisuko and Chikomborero Mukwaturi.
The Students Solidarity Trust is worried with the continued
harassment of student activists when they enjoy academic freedoms in their
institutions of higher learning. The banning of public gatherings at the
University of Zimbabwe campus by Professor Levy Nyagura is a direct blow to the
tenants of academic freedom in the country. The Students Solidarity demands
education to be enshrined as a constitutional right. It should be the duty of
the state to educate its children regardless of their social status.
It is imperative that at a time when the constitution outreach
teams are soliciting views for a new constitution, Zimbabweans must demand a
free society that does not tolerate victimisation of students. The rule of law
must be respected and the legal system must be independent, not hindered by
politics in order to ensure effective and much needed justice delivery
system.Students should not be denied the right to education. The system needs
to ensure safety to its citizens such that students can demand accountability
from those entrusted with the mandate to safe guard the educational sector.
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-2801-War+vets+held+over+Mat.+land+wars/news.aspx
08/07/2010 00:00:00
by Lindie Whiz
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bloodbath ... Professor Ncube issues warning
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TWO war veterans have been arrested in Matabeleland North
province amid rising tensions over the allocation of land to people - often
politically-connected - from outside the region.
Andrew Ndlovu and Stanley Ncube were due before Bulawayo
magistrates late Thursday to face charges of threatening newly-resettled
farmers in Bubi and Umguza districts.
The pair’s arrest by Inyati police came a day after Industry
and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube - also the chairman of a monitoring body
of Zimbabwe’s power sharing government - warned that tensions over the land
allocations were threatening to “degenerate to the levels of the violence that
we saw in the streets of Kenya where neighbours were killing each other with
machetes”.
Meanwhile the opposition ZAPU said Thursday that “through
Ncube and Ndlovu’s efforts, and those of fellow community members in the two
districts, the ‘new farmers’ were in most cases unable to occupy the farms.”
“The two were actively involved in the on-going opposition of
resettling people from outside Matabeleland in the Umguza and Bubi districts,
at the expense of locals,” ZAPU said in a statement, claiming the two men as
its members.
ZAPU said politically-connected individuals from other
provinces were “using the police to drive away white farmers” in Matabeleland
North and South, then moving in to occupy the farms.
Ncube called for an urgent review into the work of
government-appointed land committees which he said had usurped the powers of
chiefs - leaving local communities extremely aggravated.
The minister said: “The land issue is an important issue and
if you look at the GPA [Global Political Agreement], you will realise that it
takes up quite a chunk of the document. It’s an emotional subject.
“The Boers took our land, making us leave the graves of our
ancestors, and now that the land has been re-claimed under the land reform
programme, we should be resettled back on our original land.
"How is it that other people are being taken from
elsewhere to come and be resettled here ?.
"We should sort that out. If the issue is not resolved,
it will degenerate to the levels of the violence that we saw in the streets of
Kenya where neighbours were killing each other with machetes. We should not
allow that issue to spiral out of control.”
A case being cited is that of Chief Jahana of Gokwe, who is
struggling to return to Debshan in Insiza with his people where they were
removed by colonial settlers in 1965.
The President of the Chiefs’ Council Senator Fortune
Charumbira said: “Land belongs to the Chiefs. That power of the chiefs was taken
away from us in a criminal manner during the colonial era. Now that we have had
land reform, we should have full power over the land.
“Land committees were put in place because it was an issue of
crisis management. They should now be disbanded. If there are commercial farms,
you have to beg for an offer letter from a district administrator or provincial
administrator.
“We are in those committees as beggars with no power of
influence. Those committees are not chaired by traditional leaders.
"We should be shown respect as traditional leaders by
being given back our powers to allocate land."
http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/mdc-t-to-replace-mayor-with-white-farmer-cms-546
By: Ralph Mutema
Posted: Thursday, July 8, 2010 3:01 am
THE EMBATTLED MDC-T party has summoned its Victoria Falls
mayor for hearing at their headquarters in Harare after a vote of no confidence
was passed by councillors in the resort town.
The party, accused of fielding inexperienced individuals to
run for political office, has been dogged by troubles since the last harmonised
elections.
Nearly all councils run by the MDC-T have been dogged with
allegations of corruption and inexperience.
Mayor Nkosilathi Jiyane has been summoned for a hearing at
Harvest House tomorrow - a move observers say, is manifestation of power
struggles within the MDC-T.
The MDC-T party, according to sources, wants to replace Mr
Jiyane with white commercial farmer and businessman Mr Larry Cummings.
"The party, through its national secretary for local
government, Mr (Sessel) Zvidzai, has summoned Mayor Jiyane for a hearing at
Harvest House on Friday," a source said.
Mr Zvidzai, who is the Local Government, Rural and Urban
Development Deputy Minister, would preside over the hearing.
Last month, MDC-T councillors in Victoria Falls passed a vote
of no confidence on Mr Jiyane and his deputy Ms Patricia Mwale - a move seen as
reflective of problems in the party ahead of next year's congress in which
party leader Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to step down after serving his
mandatory two terms.
The MDC-T is also said to be targetting the mayor for attending
State functions officiated by President Mugabe and Zanu-PF ministers.
Yesterday, Mr Zvidzai said: "We have in-house issues with
him that we are dealing with accordingly."
He denied that one of their concerns was to do with the
mayor’s presence at State functions.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister
Ignatius Chombo last week said Mayor Jiyane was performing satisfactorily and
urged MDC-T to desist from bringing internal party squabbles into public
offices.
The ministry has written to the Victoria Falls Municipality
advising against fighting the mayor on factional grounds. The ministry says at
present there are insufficient grounds to dismiss Mayor Jiyane.
Dave Fish Eagle on Jul 8th, 2010 and filed under Local News.
By Energy Bara, Masvingo
Thursday, 08 July 2010 09:45
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Editors Note:
If Jubilani Sibanda’s age is correctly stated, he was born on
31 December 1970.
I therefore am surprised how this man ended up with the war
veteran status. By calculation, in 1980 he was barely 10 years old.
It just does not add up to imagine that before he became
active on the frontline he had to undergo some form of training in a foreign
land (only very few freedom fighters gained their formal training on the battle
zone).
The famous cease-fire leading to independence in Zimbabwe was
called in 1979. He must have been 7 years old then.
(Editor)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Factionalism among the country’s former freedom fighters
deepened this week when controversial Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans
Association leader Jabulani Sibanda was dragged to court by a fellow former
freedom fighter over the manner in which elections to choose the organisation’s
leaders were held here.
Former Masvingo provincial chairman of the war veterans Isaiah
Muzenda this week filed a legal suit against Sibanda accusing him of
masterminding his down fall by hiring people who are not war veterans to take
over the leadership.
Muzenda, who has been the war veterans provincial boss for
more than six years was ousted from his post last year in elections which were
marred by controversy and lost to Chivi North legislator Tranos Huruva who,
according to Muzenda is not a war veteran.
According to papers filed at the Masvingo civil court Muzenda
wants the elections to be declared null and void.
Muzenda also wants Sibanda to be investigated over the manner
in which he has been running the affairs of the association.
In his application Muzenda cited Sibanda as the first
respondent , former secretary general of the war veterans Cosmas Gonese as the
second respondent and Masvingo Zanu Pf women’s league chairperson Shylet Uyoyo
as the third respondent.
Tranos Huruva, who beat Muzenda in the controversial elections
was cited as the fourth respondent In his affidavit Muzenda said ” The
elections held to choose leaders of war veterans here were marred with
irregularities .
“People who are not war veterans like Huruva were allowed to
get posts and this is against our constitution.
“The first respondent should be thoroughly investigated over
the manner in which he has been running the organisation. We, genuine war
veterans are tired of people like Sibanda who have put the whole organisation
into disrepute because he is power hungry.
“It is against this background that people who are not members
of the association are being allowed to take posts hence I pray that this
Honourable court should declare the elections null and void.”
Muzenda yesterday confirmed the legal suit but declined to
give details arguing that the case is now before the courts.
“Its is true that I am suing Sibanda and his colleagues but I
do not want to talk much because the case is now before the courts”, said
Muzenda.
Sibanda yesterday professed ignorance over the pending court
case. “I do not know about that may be I am yet to be served with the requisite
papers”, he said.
Deep rooted factionalism and administrative chaos has hit the
country’s former freedom fighters with two distinct camps emerging.
One camp is led by Sibanda while the other is led by Joseph
Chinotimba the self styled commander of farm invasions.
Elections to choose a new leadership among the former freedom
fighters have been postponed indefinitely due to among other things lack of
funding and administrative chaos.
President Robert Mugabe is the patron of the former freedom
fighters.
Daily News
The party said in a daily outreach bulletin that an MDC member
was arrested in Mount Darwin, Mashonaland Central province, while mobilizing
party supporters to attend constitutional outreach meetings
Jonga Kandemiiri & Taurai Shava
Washington, Gweru 08 July 2010
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's formation of the
Movement for Democratic Change has voiced its concern about the intimidation of
villagers in rural areas during the ongoing constitutional revision outreach
process, saying President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and state security
agents are engaging in such tactics.
The party said in a daily outreach bulletin that an MDC member
was arrested in Mount Darwin, Mashonaland Central province, while mobilizing
party supporters to attend constitutional outreach meetings.
The statement said agents of the feared Central Intelligence
Organization addressed villagers before meetings to solicit public input on the
new constitution being prepared, pushing the so-called Kariba Draft favored by
ZANU-PF and uttering threats that people who did not follow their instructions
would disappear.
The party said the provinces of Masvingo and Manicaland are
particularly troubled.
Tsvangirai MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told VOA Studio 7
reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that the party has taken up the issue with the three
principals in the national unity government formed in early 2009.
Elsewhere, independent observer Tadziripira Khumalo said a 16
year-old youth was abducted by suspected ZANU-PF supporters on Thursday
afternoon in Mvurwi, Mashonaland Central province, where he had gone to deliver
literature related to the constitutional revision public outreach process.
Khumalo said she hoped the Joint Monitoring and Implementing
Committee set up to oversee adherence to the 2008 Global Political Agreement -
but never very active or effective - will intervene to secure his release.
From Midlands, VOA Studio 7 correspondent Taurai Shavea
reported that while the constitutional outreach process has unfolded without
incident in the province, residents of Chirumhanzu district say the presence of
state security agents during the exercise has threatened to curtail free
participation.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The EU assembly also called for the Kimberly Process itself to
be overhauled to take account of human rights principles beyond its traditional
role of barring the export and sale of so-called blood or conflict diamonds
Gibbs Dube & Patience Rusere
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Washington 08 July 2010
European Parliament has called for the release of Zimbabwean
human rights activist Farai Maguwu, arrested in early June for allegedly
circulating false reports about the controversial Marange diamond field in the
east of the country, and urged the Zimbabwean government to comply with
Kimberly Process standards.
The EU assembly also called for the Kimberly Process itself to
be overhauled to take account of human rights principles beyond its traditional
role of barring the export and sale of so-called blood or conflict diamonds.
It said the Harare government should use diamond revenues to
help rebuild the entire economy.
European parliament member Geoffrey Van Orden told Studio 7
Zimbabwe should withdraw soldiers from the Marange field, stop human rights
abuses and release Maguwu, a vocal critic of government policies.
The parliament said Zimbabweans are being denied access to
their natural resources and treated with contempt despite the formation of a unity
government. Van Orden said European members believe only a few officials of
President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party will benefit if diamonds are sold
without reforms.
"Mugabe and his close supporters remain a continuing
stumbling block in the process of political and economic reconstruction and
reconciliation in Zimbabwe, plundering as they do its economic resources for
their own benefit", the European Parliament resolution stated.
Parliamentary mines committee member Moses Mare tells reporter
Gibbs Dube that Marange diamonds should never be sold outside the Kimberley
certification process.
Leading Kimberly members will further discuss whether to
certify diamonds from the controversial field next week in St. Petersburg,
Russia, on the margins of the World Diamond Council's annual meeting.
In Harare, top officials ranging from minister of mines Obert
Mpofu to finance minister Tendai Biti have been urging certification so that
Marange diamonds can be sold to raise funds for Zimbabwe’s economic recovery.
But human rights activists say Kimberly should withhold
certification until abuses in Marange end.
A recent Kimberly process meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel,
deadlocked on the certification issue, which was exacerbated by Maguwu's
arrest. Maguwu remains in police custody in Harare pending trial. Bail has been
refused.
For a discussion of whether the Kimberly Process should
certify Marange diamonds, which government officials say could benefit
Zimbabwe, VOA Studio 7 reporter Patience Rusere spoke with senior researcher
Tiseke Kasambala of Human Rights Watch and economist Prosper Chitambara of the
Labor and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe. He said diamond
revenues are not likely to have much impact on the economy.
Jul 8, 2010 11:14 PM
By Sicelo Lata, Vosloorus
Sicelo Lata, Vosloorus: The threats of renewed xenophobic
attacks need to be treated with the sensitivity they deserve by all those who
believe in humanity.
DEAL WITH IT: The South African and other SADC governments
must, says a reader, tackle the issues that lead to xenophobia Picture: REUTERS
Violence is not a solution.
Africa belongs to all Africans, that is why our political
leaders during the days of apartheid were welcomed in neighbouring countries
and stayed there for many years while plotting a comeback strategy.
Whatever the situation may be, human rights must be protected,
and to protect human rights is to ensure that people receive some degree of
decent and humane treatment.
To violate the most basic human rights is to deny individuals
their fundamental moral entitlements.
It is, in a sense, to treat them as if they are less than
human and undeserving of respect and dignity.
However, there are burning issues pervading this predicament
that our governments, mostly in the SADC region, must address.
All governments have a duty to the citizens, and people should
try to avoid a situation in which some countries have to proportionally bear
the burden of the other.
As for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, I worship the
ground that awaits him.
What happened in Zimbabwe recently cannot in any way be
equated to apartheid years in South Africa. Mugabe started a fire that he could
not extinguish and now his people and neighbouring countries are suffering.
I do not condone violence and hatred among Africans, but some
of the issues raised by those who are behind xenophobic attacks are justified.
There are South Africans who have been waiting in vain for more than 10 years
to get government houses, and to see someone from other countries occupying
them in exchange for money can incense people.
The same thing goes with jobs, girlfriends and whatever other
reasons they cite in an attempt to justify their unfortunate attacks.
Forcing a cat to stay with a dog cannot solve the crisis
without addressing the underlying trigger.
The South African government must create areas of peace in the
midst of conflict, impose the principle of a common humanity, and call for
dialogue with other affected governments to deal with this issue if they care
about the people who put them in power.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said the inter-ministerial
committee on xenophobia is not taking ongoing rumors of impending
anti-foreigner attacks lightly and has put all government security agencies on
high alert
Brendan Murphy
08 July 2010
The South African inter-ministerial committee assigned to deal
with threats of violence against foreign nationals in the country told
reporters on Thursday that all security agencies are on high alert and ready to
deal with any outbreak of xenophobic violence such as occurred in 2008 on a
large scale, claiming scores of lives.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa told journalists that the
inter-ministerial committee is not taking the current rumors of impending
xenophobic attacks lightly and has put all government security agencies on high
alert.
There have been persistent rumors in the Zimbabwean emigré
community that with the end of the World Cup, during which authorities were
attentive to any threat to public safety and order, anti-immigrant violence
would surge.
Zimbabweans in South Africa told VOA that they had been warned
by their neighbors in the Western Cape to get out of town, and that some
landlords were not accepting July rent from foreigners for fear of damage to
premises.
But officials said Thursday there was no evidence to back up
reports that Zimbabweans and other foreign nationals were fleeing areas such as
the Western Cape where tensions between locals and immigrants have run high.
Police said they could not confirm reports a Zimbabwean man
was thrown off a train near Cape Town.
VOA Studio 7 correspondent Benedict Nhlapho reported from
Pretoria.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Musina-Mafia-arming-poachers-20100708
2010-07-09 07:21
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A game ranger in the Bubye Valley Conservancy in the south of
Zimbabwe which is at the frontline in the fight against poaching.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
(Julian Rademeyer, Beeld)
PRETORIA
Hunting rifles stolen in South Africa are being fitted with
silencers and allegedly smuggled into Zimbabwe by a Musina hunter to be used in
poaching rhino.
A Beeld investigation reveals that ruthless South African
hunters and safari-operators are plundering Zimbabwe's wildlife stocks and
making a killing from illegal hunting and the trade in rhino horn.
A Musina hunter, Johan Roos, has been identified as one of the
alleged “masterminds” behind illegal rhino hunting in Zimbabwe. He appears to
be a hardened poacher with a string of previous convictions.
Beeld has established that on two separate occasions over the
past eight months Roos has been identified as the man supplying hunting rifles
to poachers and instructing them to hunt rhino.
One of the hunting rifles, a Winchester .375, was stolen
during a violent farm attack in Limpopo province and fitted with a silencer
before being given to poachers. Silencers are illegal in Zimbabwe.
A recent report by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring
network, and IUCN, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature,
showed that since 2006, 95% of the poaching in Africa has occurred in Zimbabwe
and South Africa. The report also showed that the conviction rate for rhino
crimes in Zimbabwe is only three percent.
In August last year, Roos, 44, was arrested in Zimbabwe.
Wounded poacher
A poacher had been shot dead and another wounded during a
“contact” with game scouts. A silenced .303 rifle was found nearby. Roos was
identified by the wounded poacher as the supplier of the weapon.
He was detained near the Beitbridge border and held in custody
for three days before suddenly being released.
In another incident earlier this year, Roos was identified by
another poacher as having supplied him with the silenced Winchester .375 rifle.
Beeld tried unsuccessfully to contact Roos this week.
A man who answered his phone and described himself as Roos's
brother, Pieter, said Roos was “completely innocent” and that his name was
“mentioned in Zimbabwe by a black who screwed up”.
Roos' cellphone records show that he was in contact with known
poachers. His passport indicated that he had visited the country more than 50
times over a two-and-half year period.
According to Pieter, Roos is a “professional hunter” and is
currently on holiday in Swaziland.
Roos has been described by the Beitbridge police commanding
officer, Colonel Hosiah Mukombero, as a man “believed to be the brains behind
the poaching syndicate that is poaching zebras and smuggling hides to South
Africa”.
He is also named in a March 2010 report on the conservation
status of rhinos in Zimbabwe which was submitted by the country's government to
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).
Prominent Zimbabwean businessman Charles Davy, a key investor
and driving force behind the privately owned Bubye Valley Conservancy, believes
recent poaching incidents in southern Zimbabwe are “almost 100% South
African-linked”.
'Bad bastards'
“These are bad bastards. It started here towards the end of
2008 and the beginning of 2009 when we lost 12 rhino.
"We were only semi-jacked up and bloody naïve. The
poachers got into us very quickly. We didn't even know they were using silenced
rifles. Until I saw the first .303 with a silencer I didn't know it was
possible to even muffle or silence a high velocity rifle like a .303.”
The smuggling networks are supported by corrupt police and
immigration officials, the collapse of law and order in Zimbabwe and lax
controls at the Beitbridge border.
Two brothers, one of them involved in a Limpopo gun shop, are
also linked to what investigators loosely refer to as the “Musina mafia” - a
term for hunters and businessmen involved in illegal hunting. Their names are
known to Beeld.
Blondie Leathem, the manager of Mazunga Safaris which is based
in the conservancy, works closely with Davy and says bluntly: “If you want to
know rage, see a rhino calf that has been standing next to her decaying mother
for three days, in 30 degree heat, trying to suckle.”
Zebra skins
He believes the trade in rhino horn grew from the trade in
zebra skins.
“The guys involved in zebra are also the guys involved in
rhino. There has been talk of zebra skins going through a very high connection
at Beitbridge.
"The sheer quantities are staggering. We are talking
about thousands of them over the last couple of years. There are places that
had 400 or 500 zebra and today there is not one left.
“Here they've stopped poaching zebra because they realise it
has to be hit and run.
“Even with five or six of them skinning it, it takes 20
minutes. They realised it was too high a risk for too low a reward.
“It is just rhino at the moment. It virtually takes five
minutes with a knife to remove the horn.”
* Send tip-offs to Media24's investigations team at
investigations@media24.com.
For more on Beeld's investigation, tune in to 50/50 at 19:30
on SABC 2 on Monday.
- Beeld
http://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/Zim-man-linked-to-US-spy-ring-20100708
2010-07-08 22:36
JOHANNESBURG
Media reports linking Zimbabwean businessman Ken Sharpe to a
Russian spy ring uncovered in the US contained "factual inaccuracies and
damaging innuendo", he said on Thursday.
He was considering taking legal action over the
"defamatory" reports concerning his business interests and his
contacts with Alex Chapman and his ex-wife Anna, an alleged Russian spy
"I have no business links to Russia nor to the Chapman's.
I have never done business in Russia nor exported vodka bottles to Russia. The
closest I have been to doing business in Russia is in the Ukraine," he
said.
"I do however own 30% of West Bev in Zimbabwe which
produces, amongst other beverages, vodka. However, our sales are limited to
Zimbabwe and I have never done exports of any products to Russia."
Britain's The Daily Mail reported that Alex Chapman was
questioned by an MI5 agent about his ex-wife's links to Sharpe.
Money moved between Zim, UK
The newspaper reported that Anna Chapman had worked with
Sharpe at a British company based in a London flat she shared with her
then-husband Alex Chapman.
According to The Daily Mail, while Anna Chapman was at the
company, Southern Union, she moved millions of pounds - possibly connected to money-laundering
- between Britain and Zimbabwe.
Sharpe was an importer of vodka bottles to Russia, was married
to a Russian belly-dancer and spoke Russian, the newspaper reported.
Sharpe denied most of the accusations.
He described his Russian language capabilities as
"conversational" and denied that his wife was a belly-dancer or
lap-dancer.
"I am not fluent in Russian. When I first met my wife,
Joanna, she could not speak English and I could not speak Russian.
"My wife worked in a well-known and highly-respected
circus in Russia as a ballet and folk dancer. She was never a belly-dancer or a
lap-dancer, and reports to the contrary from the press are hurtful to her and
defamatory," said Sharpe.
He also denied that he was involved as an owner of Southern Union.
Small amounts
He said the company's business was the transfer of funds to
and from Zimbabwe at competitive rates and that he had been one of its clients.
"The client base was largely limited to a large number of
individuals looking to send small amounts of money to their relations in
Zimbabwe.
"For this reason I would seriously doubt that the company
could be involved in any large-scale money-laundering activities," said
Sharpe.
He admitted meeting Anna Chapman's father at social functions
in Harare and said that, at his request, he agreed to help her find employment
in London.
He referred her to Southern Union where she was employed.
He said he was not a supporter of a political party in
Zimbabwe, but had a "very good professional relationship" with the
government.
- SAPA
http://nehandaradio.com/2010/07/08/sa-govt-not-serious-about-stopping-xenophobic-attacks/
DIASPORA, STATEMENTS
BY ADMIN ON JULY 8, 2010 9:23 AM
Sibanengi Dube
The leadership of MDC in South Africa is shell-shocked by the
deafening silence of the South African government leaders concerning the
imminent xenophobic attacks which foreigners will be subjected to as from this
Sunday. We expected government representatives to give foreigners assurances
that their safety was guaranteed.
Instead they are simply watching with their tight lips as
hordes of ‘aliens’ stream out of the country citing xenophobic attacks as the
reason. We would have appreciated if the police and the political
establishments were to rush into curbing these attacks than to wait until
people are thuggishly butchered or burnt to death. Police utterances that there
was no evidence to suggest that the attacks were coming, are either insincere
or insensitive or both.
Are the police waiting to see another human species, being
bundled with a mattress that is soaked in petrol before being set ablaze ?.
Does anyone doubt that the attacks will be carried out or
people are faking ignorance and only to shed crocodile tears after the coming
bloody inferno ?.
This has happened before in full-view of everyone. Known
individuals are making threats to law abiding foreigners and we wonder why
these thugs still freemen ?.
Are South Africans forgetting that ordinary Zimbabweans also
took punches when the Apartheid government invaded Zimbabwe scavenging for MK
operatives ?.
People lost lives and limps but we never complained that these
foreigners were inviting disasters for us. We took them in our homes as our
brothers in need.
We also ask Zimbabweans to form security groups and defend
themselves if attacked by some of these xenophobic enthralled locals. They
should not sheepishly submit to blood thirsty idiots who confuse murderous
activities with acts of heroism.
President Jacob Zuma had a stint in Harare. Former President
Thabo Mbeki stayed in Bulawayo during the struggle period. Many South Africans
were born in African countries as their parents externalized the struggle
against Apartheid. How dare then could any South African treat Zimbabweans as
pieces of shit ?.
Claims that we are taking their jobs and women are utter nonsense
and rubbish, but foreigners are instead creating employment. How in all
fairness do foreigners coerce South African women to prefer them than locals ?.
Do such assertions make sense ?.
Should someone die for being nicer to women ?.
We call upon the leadership of the ANCYL to use their
eloquence in imploring the Youths to desist from the habit of attacking anyone
who doesn’t share the same nationality with them. This is unheard of, idiotic,
primitive, rubbish and nonsense.
We urge the Honourable President of South Africa Jacob Zuma to
appeal once more to his countrymen to drop their intention to kill innocent
victims of Robert Mugabe’s brutality. We clamor to Arch-bishop Desmond Tutu to
cry-out for compassion, love, tranquility and bread for the foreigners.
Information Secretary, Sibanengi Dube
MDC SA External Assembly
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/zim-power-station-2010-07-09
By: Barnabas Thondhlana
9th July 2010
China’s Export & Import Bank (Eximbank) is to pro′vide an estimated $ 400-million for the
expansion of the generation capacity at Zimbabwe’s Kariba hydropower station
from 1 000 MW to 1 300 MW.
In May, the Zimbabwe government signed a memo-randum of
understanding with Eximbank for the financing of the project.
Release of Funds″Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority CEO Ben Rafemoyo says Eximbank
will release the ′funds to Sino
Hydro, the com-pany contracted to undertake the project.
“Within six months, all issues relating to the agreement with
Sino Hydro will be completed. ″“Their offer
letter will give us an indication of how much is needed but we are working on a
$ 400-million budget,” Rafemoyo says.
Zimbabwe’s total electricity requirement stands at ′2 500 MW but the country currently generates
around half this figure. ″It imports power from its neighbours in Southern Africa.
Maintenance Audits″Meanwhile, Rafemoyo says an Indian company contracted early this year to
carry out a maintenance audit at Hwange power station has completed the
exercise.
“The maintenance audit conducted by Wapcos has been completed,
and the report spelling out the cost [of the required maintenance] will,
tentatively, be out by the first week of August,” concludes Rafemoyo.
Edited by: Martin Zhuwakinyu
http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=6193
by Sebastian Nyamhangambiri
Friday 09 July 2010
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
PRIME MINISTER TSVANGIRAI . . . New famers tell constitutional
team that there should be no prime minister
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
MARONDERA - The southern hemisphere winter can be biting at
times, and last Friday was one of those times when temperatures drop to near European
levels.
But the chilly weather was not enough to deter the new black
farmers from coming out at Igava farm, about 50km south of Marondera town in
Mashonaland East province, to give their views to the Constitutional
Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) leading Zimbabwe’s constitutional reforms.
About 200 farmers - a fairly good number given the low turnout
at some of the constitutional outreach meetings - wait, some sitting in small
groups, speaking in hushed tones as if plotting what to tell the COPAC team
when it arrives.
It is hours later when the COPAC team led by Margaret Matienga
finally arrives to begin the process of recording the ideas and views of the
new farmers - black peasants resettled on land seized from whites by President
Robert Mugabe - they want included in the proposed new governance charter.
But the formalities first, which went in this order: a few
introductory remarks, then an apology by the COPAC team for coming late and
some mumbled response from the audience that was rather difficult to decipher
whether it meant apology accepted or rejected - then the serious business of
the day begins.
The discussion is in the vernacular shona language and the
COPAC representatives begin by asking about the Bill of Rights to be put in the
new constitution and then move on to executive powers.
NO PRIME MINISTER
And a man looking well in his 60s rises to make a
contribution. “In this country we do not want a prime minister. What will he be
doing ?.
We want a president who has war credentials,” he says, his
tone seeming to suggest that his was not a mere proposal but a declaration of
how the government structure of Zimbabwe should look like.
The man did not explain quite exactly, why Zimbabwe should not
have a prime minister. But he had one more point to make before sitting down.
“We do not want anyone to just think that they can be a president if they did
not fight of this country,” he said.
And to this, fellow farmers nod heads in approval. Then a
woman shouts to a man sitting across from her: “Soko, why don’t you stand up
and say something on this important issue.”
Clad in a long winter jacket Soko, which is most probably not
a name but his totem, takes the floor and begins by stating his liberation war
credentials.
“As a person who fought for this country, I would be insulted
if someone who has links with the British we were fighting during the war
becomes president,” declares Soko. “Maybe he can remain in opposition or as a
prime minister. So what I am saying is: I do not want a president who has no known
history.”
Another round of nodding as war veteran Soko takes his sit.
Then a woman stands up to speak, but only to once again
emphasise the importance of liberation struggle history as one of the entry
requirements for the president’s job.
LAND REFORM
She says: “You know people died because of the land question
?.
So how can we allow someone who never fought the war or does
not support the land reform ?.
We want a president who starts the land reform programme and
has war credentials.”
We are in a resettlement area where the second person you meet
is probably a ZANU PF sympathiser. As such, it should probably not come as a
surprise that the public view here on these issues tends to mimic that of
President Robert Mugabe’s party.
But sitting here listening to these farmers, man or woman, one
after the other, insist on liberation war history as a qualification for
presidential office it is becoming increasing hard not to conclude the farmers
have been coached what to say.
The details and setting were obviously different. But sitting
here at Igava Farm, I just could not stop my mind from wondering back to a
press conference seven years ago, just before the presidential election in
2002, where the top brass of Zimbabwe’s security forces read a statement declaring
they would not salute a president who did not participate in the 1970s
liberation struggle.
The statement was seen as a direct attack on Mugabe’s main
challenger, then opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai who did not take part in
the struggle. It is difficult to avoid the same conclusion here that the
farmers’ contributions are in fact a statement against Tsvangirai.
But back to the proceedings here.
NO AGE LIMIT
A COPAC member asks if there should be an age limit on the
head of the government, and a woman looking in her 50s is quick with a
response.
“Ah, you mean someone after spending his time in the war and
then he is asked to leave (office) because he is old ?.
No ways. He must rule as long as he wants,” she says.
At this point COPAC team leader Matienga interjects: “We have
not said anyone must be removed from any post. All we are asking is about the
next constitution. We asked whether there should be an age limit on the
president, the prime minister or who ever is heading the government.”
“Now that makes sense,” says a man who said he was 32 years
old. He adds: "I was beginning to wonder whether you were trying to say
our president must retire. I thought you want some stooge to come and reverse
the land reform programme.”
Another COPAC official asks if there must be limited terms for
the head of government.
And Soko rises to the floor again: “As long as us the
president has not finished the issue of the land reform, he must remain in
power. He can contest as many times as he wants.”
Several more issues are tackled but the pattern of discussion
or rather responses from the farmers remains the same. One states a view and
the rest back him or her.
ZANU PF LANGUAGE
After about four hours, Matienga stands up and tells the
farmers: “We have gone through all the issues we wanted to ask you. But if
there is something you think should be included in the constitution please let
us know.”
And all eyes turn to a man seated on wooden chair. The man
they call Soko - who by now looks to be the leader of the group.
Soko speaks: “We do not want to waste time. We just want to
remind you that we do not want a president who has no war history. We do not
want homosexuals in this country. Anyone who is anti-land reform must not be
president.”
A round of applause greets Soko as he takes his chair.
We will never know whether the Igava farmers were - as has
been reported by various papers - threatened by ZANU PF and told what to say
during outreach meetings. But one thing for sure, Soko and his fellow new
farmers spoke like a well-coached group. They spoke the language of ZANU PF.
ZimOnline
http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/zanu-pf-politburo-dismisses-violence-claims-cms-551
By: Ralph Mutema
Posted: Friday, July 9, 2010 3:58 am
THE Zanu-PF politburo has dismissed allegations of violence in
the country reported by foreign non-governmental organisations and
foreign-based Zimbabwean pirate radio stations and online news agencies.
The politburo which met on Wednesday at the Zanu-PF
headquarters in Harare urged Zimbabweans to disregard the "malicious and
false allegations of violence being made against Zanu-PF" and take part in
the constitution-making process.
Zanu-PF national spokesperson Rugare Gumbo issued a statement
after the meeting.
Gumbo said: "These foreign-sponsored organisations
include the Zimbabwe Peace Project, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network and
Cadec, who have been running their own parallel (constitutional) outreach
programmes and claiming to be more representative of the people of Zimbabwe
than the body officially mandated to conduct outreach programmes.
"These foreign-sponsored bodies, indeed, act as if they
are more representative and more legitimate than our elected Parliamentarians,
our chiefs and their representatives."
He identified the Zimbabwe Solidarity Fund, which is run by
the American Democratic Party’s National Democratic Institute as one such
foreign sponsor of the subversive agenda.
Gumbo also urged Diasporans to shun pirate radio stations and
website staffed with journalists employed by western institutions that seek
regime change in Zimbabwe.
He also urged Diasporans, the business community,
professionals, students, youths and women to participate in the
constitution-making process.
"Nothing should be allowed to confuse or distort this
process by importing agendas from the same foreign governments who have imposed
illegal economic sanctions on the people of Zimbabwe," he said.
The Politburo received reports on the Global Political
Agreement, the constitution-making process and the issue of diamonds from
Chiadzwa.
"Cde (Patrick) Chinamasa briefed us on the GPA indicating
that the negotiators had finished their report and handed it to the principals.
The report has since been forwarded to (South African) President Jacob Zuma.
"Cde Mangwana told the Politburo that the outreach
programme was affected by accommodation challenges, but these have since been
sorted out.
"The Politburo also welcomed a report by Cde Obert Mpofu
on the Kimberly Process meeting in Tel Aviv and called for Zimbabwe’s immediate
certification so that we can sell our diamonds," he said.
Gumbo said the Zanu-PF Central Committee and National
Consultative Assembly would discuss reports from various Politburo departments.