The war veterans have declared the farms a no-go area and the property owners have been barred from moving around their land. A commercial farmer who refused to be named for fear of victimisation said that the former freedom fighters had declared war on the farm workers in the area and their employers. The farmer said: "The situation is terrible. We do not know where to go. My employees were assaulted and we have been barred from moving around the farm. It is very dangerous for us to move around the farm because the war veterans have become very hostile. The whole area has been turned into a battlefield. The war veterans are accusing our farm workers of supporting Morgan Tsvangirai". Farmers in the area have resolved to move around armed for self-defence. Police in Mwenezi have confirmed the incident.

09 July 2001

Double standards, mixed messages

DESPITE living with the world's fastest shrinking economy, Zimbabwe's middle classes have a lot going for them. It is a comfortable place to live, but perhaps that's part of the problem. And perhaps that's why there is so much talk and so little action.

Last week's stayaway was a case in point. For two years, the middle classes have been complaining about the lack of initiative and courage being shown by the so-called masses. Biting epithets have been bandied about since the Zimbabwean crisis began two years ago. The povo, said the middle classes, just don't have the backbone to stand up to tyranny. This acquiescent, mewling majority of Zimbabwe's would rather see the country crumble than actually get off its collective backside and fight back.

Well, last week's national stayaway, called by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, proved just who has backbone and who doesn't. It was the workers, with the most to lose, who confronted Mr Mugabe's rogue regime - and it was the same middle classes, complaining so bitterly about the lack of action and progress who…

One would like to be able to say, "who stood up for what is right in a country where so much is wrong", but sadly that can't be said. In the main, the so-called captains of industry exhorted their workforces to come to work, while many threatened to dock their pay if the strike went ahead.

It takes immense courage to call a national strike. It also takes immense courage to heed the call to strike in a country where the state uses its forces with unhesitating brutality in the name, not of law and order, but of the ruling party.

So…business has again been naïve by putting profit before principle. Those workers who stayed away last week did so for good reason. And while the strike may have been called to officially protest the 70% hike in fuel prices, the reasons go much, much deeper than that. Zimbabwe is in a crisis, run by a government (of sorts) that has no interest in the welfare of its people, a government that has contempt for anything that stands in the way of the ruling elite's quest for eternal power.

If one thing unites Zimbabweans today, it is a desire for peace, law and order and economic stability. Sadly that unity is confined to talk. The middle classes, and particularly the white middle class, tend to attack the problems affecting Zimbabwe with about as much gumption and courage as a bored kitten.

That doesn't stop them accusing everyone else of cowardice, even in the face of overwhelming proof to the contrary. Most vociferous of all, not surprisingly, are the 'brave' souls who fled Zimbabwe on the risible pretext of being political refugees. Many of these ridiculous people spend their time spurring Zimbabweans on to greater and greater acts of courage in the face of oppression - from the safety of Britain or the Antipodes. Good luck to them, but they shouldn't be welcomed back.

It is time to end the double standards that have applied, not just since this crisis began, but throughout Zimbabwe's history. The majority of Zimbabweans are doing much to bring about sensible change to their country, and doing so with uncommon bravery. It is not enough to sit back and watch them do it for the benefit of everyone. Nor is it enough to agree that the odds are sometimes stacked against them. But worst of all, it is wrong for the privileged few to stand in their way - which is exactly what keeps happening.

On the same day that tens of thousands of workers took their courage in hand and stayed at home, their employers, who crave the very same changes, condemned them for confronting the government. If the workers are confused, that is hardly surprising. For the last two years they've heard their bosses pressing for principled action and the minute it's taken, the same bosses dock their pay for… taking action. All business is doing is saying, "Fight the system, but not at my expense." It's a strange philosophy, and one that borders on being corrupt. It is certainly immoral.

It's also shortsighted. Business cannot just be about today's profits. It must also take the long-term view and plan for its operations in decades to come. And even in the shorter term, business needs to understand, and accept, that the current system of government has run its course. It will not last, not just because Zimbabweans don't want it to last, but also because it is unacceptable in the eyes of the world. That means there is no need to be coyly acquiescent and humble, nor to be seen to be agreeing with the ruling party and its excesses. Tomorrow's customers won't like you if the word quisling attaches itself to your business.

There is a silly mindset among southern African businesses that dictates that if workers want something, then it must be bad for the business. That rather presupposes that workers and management will be in eternal conflict. That's daft. There are always issues of consensus, even national consensus, where workers and employers have the same basic desires. The issues that caused the national strike were a matter of national consensus, they had nothing to do with the pettiness of shop floor politics, and business should have had the integrity - and backbone - to stand by the brave people who stayed away from work last week. Still, it's interesting to learn that conventional wisdom, yet again, had it completely wrong: it is not the broad masses in Zimbabwe who are putty in the hands of the government, it is the middle classes who lack the courage of their convictions.

Brian Latham
Editor- The Farmer

Headlines - 09 July 2001

GMB is poised to get absolute monopoly
GMB board dismissed
War veterans dismiss Wedza farmers' land initiative
Meat fair attracts exhibitors

Commercial farmers blamed for maize shortage as
GMB is poised to get absolute monopoly

THE Zimbabwe government, after repeatedly denying that the country is facing crippling food shortages due to farming disruptions by so called war veterans and Zanu-PF supporters occupying farms, this week said it would declare maize a specified commodity, a move widely seen as an admission that there is likely to be a shortage to the staple food.

Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister, Dr Joseph Made, who has previously denied that Zimbabwe will be forced to import maize, confirmed the measure saying it would be necessary to guarantee food security in the country. He accused commercial farmers of withholding maize saying they (farmers) wanted to create an artificial shortage hence the move by government to specify the commodity.

If declared a specified commodity, only the government owned GMB would be allowed to purchase any maize from all farmers, giving the financially troubled parastatal the absolute monopoly in the buying and selling of maize. The minister, in terms of the GMB Act, has the power to invoke such legislation for food security reasons and anyone flouting the regulations could have his or her grain confiscated by the state.

Dr Made said farmers will be required to provide information on how much grain they hold in their private silos on farms and that the regulations were consistent with the norm around the world. "It is not a war but simply that government has certain responsibilities," he said.

Asked whether this meant that Zimbabwe was to import maize, Dr Made said, "That has been subject of speculation by the media. I want to emphasise that we are still assessing to see what is ready for purchasing." There are people involved in creating an aspect of shortage and there are measures we are putting in place to make sure that maize becomes a specified commodity."

He said, however, there was nothing unusual if the country imported maize. "Zimbabwe imports maize from time to time as and when we determine the need to import. It is an option that is available to us to ensure that there is sufficient maize resources," said Dr Made.

According to statistics by the Crop Forecasting Committee Zimbabwe will need to import 654 570 tonnes. The maize was most likely to be imported from America, as South Africa does not have surplus grain to export his year.

The government has previously spurned warnings from experts that the country would face a food crisis if it did not rein in its "war veterans" and supporters who have, over the past 18 months disrupted farming activities, and instead, addressed the macro-economic environment, which rendered some commercial and communal farmers financially unable to produce maize. Information at hand indicates that commercial farmers alone were forced to cutback production by as much as 50% while communal farmers sunk deeper into financial problems following the failure by the cash-strapped Grain Marketing Board to pay them for maize delivered to it depots in good time last season.

At the beginning to the 2000/2001 season Dr Made insisted that the country was to produce 3 million tonnes of maize. This was despite indications of lower production levels as was being shown by decreased seed sales, unfavourable market conditions and the highly disruptive farm invasions by the government sponsored "war veterans". Zimbabwe was now expected to produce less than 2 million tonnes.

Towards harvesting last season, estimates from farmers, Central Statistics Office, Sadc Famine Early Warning System Network, Agritex which all fall under Dr Made and Scientific industrial Research Development Centre (SIRCD) said there was going to be shortage. But Dr Made dismissed these predictions and accused the institutions of providing inaccurate figures saying they did not take into consideration the newly resettled farmers.

Some within the agriculture industry believe government is trying to find an excuse to import maize by falsely accusing commercial farmers of creating artificial shortages.

Dr Made has directed GMB to stock 900 000 tonnes as a minimum requirement for the strategic Grain Reserve which normally holds 500 000 tonnes.

GMB board dismissed

THE Minister of Lands Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, Dr Joseph Made, this week dismissed the entire board of directors of the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) saying this was necessary to allow his ministry greater control in the operations of the parastatal

The board, led by Mr Canaan Dube was appointed in July last year and its term of office was due to expire in June 2003.

The dismissal of the board comes as the government tightens its grip on GMB and the maize market in the country. Dr Made said the expiry date of the board had been brought forward in order to allow his ministry to be more directly involved in the affairs of the parastatal especially the remaining aspects of the restructuring of the organisation and the need to speed up implementation of decisions.

He said, "Due to the strategic importance of the GMB in terms of food security for the nation, it is imperative that decisions regarding its operations are implemented expeditiously and effectively in the interests of the people of Zimbabwe."

Dr Made has set up a committee of four senior officials from his ministry to take over from the board. His ministry's permanent secretary, Mr Ngoni Masoka will chair the committee while other members are Mr Basilio Sandama, deputy secretary (agricultural economics and marketing), Mr Edwin Zvandasara, director of finance in the ministry and Mr Godfrey Sogobodhla, deputy secretary (human resources and administration).

War veterans dismiss Wedza farmers' land initiative

WEDZA commercial farmers this week presented a community land plan to the Wedza District Land Committee as part of the many attempts around the country to resolve the land crisis. But some members of the District Land Committee have already dismissed the initiative saying the farmers were not genuine in their offer.

Sources said the Wedza farmers' plan was presented by a farmers' committee which included Mr Harry Orphanides, Mr Mick Miler and Mr Bonny Fourie at the Wedza District Administrator's office. This was part of the community plan by farmers whose aims and objectives included the release of 23 000 hectares of uncontested land within Wedza for a sustainable resettlement programme, "to demonstrate the desire to solve the land issue in the area in a pragmatic and responsible manner and to promote harmony among all parties".

The conceding of 23 000 hectares was supposed to enable the selected resettled farmers to immediately start preparing their plots for the coming rainy season and to allow production on other farms to continue.

According to the plan, allowing production on other farms to continue would have many advantages such as financial benefit to Zimbabwe in terms of exportable crops like tobacco and fewer job losses would occur. The plan was also aimed at coordinating "a controlled assistance programme for as many new settlers as possible, under the banner of the Zimbabwe Joint Resettlement Initiative (ZJRI)".

The ZJRI, which is a joint initiative by the private sector and farmers aimed at demonstrating good faith towards resolving the land issue, has been presented to government. Yet despite this latest initiative by the farmers, government has continued to list farms for compulsory acquisition and to date, at least 75 to 80 percent of farms belonging to members of the Commercial Farmers Union have been affected.

The District Land Committee that consists of war veterans, the district administrator (DA) and other government officials told the farmers' land committee that they would study the proposals before responding. However, sources said some war veterans who are the most influential in the District Land Committee expressed their dissatisfaction and threw out the farmers' initiative soon after the meeting. Sources said the war veterans said farmers were not genuine but wanted to use their plan as a ploy to delay the current land reform programme until after the presidential elections scheduled for early next year.

Some of the members of the District land committee who attended the meeting with the farmers were war veteran, Better Choto, Mashonaland East War Veterans Association vice chairman, Fanuel Chigwedere and a new arrival in the district, DA Gibson Munhuwei.

Meat fair attracts exhibitors

WITH an unprecedented 23 meat industry bodies endorsing the International Trade Fair for the Meat Industries of Africa to be held at Kyalami Exhibition and Conference Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg from 2 - 4 September, 2001, IFMA 2001 promises to eclipse even the highly successful inaugural IFMA expo held two years ago.

Organizers Exhibition Management Services (EMS) effectively replaced and extended the scope of the previous industry-run event, IMEX with IFMA in 1999. This attracted high quality attendees who either owned or directed the firms they represented, with a further high percentage of visitors with buying power. IFMA 2001 is therefore expected to be an even more lucrative business floor for exhibitors and visitors alike.

This year's event will be enhanced by the co-location of Africa's first baking industry exhibition, Inter: Bake Africa 2001, taking place alongside the IFMA show. These stand alone, but related food exhibitions are set to draw maximum audiences.

The exhibition is expected to attract a high level of participation from across the spectrum, with poultry, meat and fish industries supporting the show. IFMA 2001 is the showcase for the latest technologies within the industry and on the floor will be abattoir equipment, packaging machinery, refrigeration equipment, slaughtering devices, computer hardware and software, food ingredients, meat and poultry suppliers, weighing systems, cutting and boning equipment, processed meat suppliers, poultry and fish processing equipment, environmental services, spice and food additive suppliers.

Mr Nathan Scott, General Manager of Columbit (Pty) Ltd, suppliers of capital meat processing equipment said, "Due to the unqualified success that we experienced at IFMA in 1999, Columbit is back with the very latest in processing equipment for this show. IFMA is damn fine exposure for our industry."

Also at the fair will be international food journals, the Namibian Ministry of Trade and Industry along with the Meat Board of Namibia, showing its range meat industry companies like Just Lamb Trading and Farmers Meat Market, the South African National Halaal Authority as well as Crown National, BT Enterprises, Karan Beef and Ulma Packaging Systems, to name but a few.

The South African Meat Industry Company (SAMIC), one of the show's endorsers, and the umbrella body for the red meat industry in South Africa, is looking forward to highlighting pertinent information at IFMA 2001.

Henriette Wagener, SAMIC's Liaison Manager manager, "The IFMA show provides the best forum for interaction within the meat industry, giving us the perfect opportunity to disseminate information to where it counts."

If he loses the appeal, he will be tried in the High Court.
A conviction could lead to life in jail. That would not, however, bar him from contesting the Presidential elections from prison.
The Constitution is silent on the conviction of presidential aspirants.
While the conviction will prevent Tsvangirai from voting as dictated by the Electoral Law which deprives prisoners of their right to vote, the Constitution does not bar him from being voted for as president.
The Constitution says: “A person shall be qualified for election as President if he is a citizen of Zimbabwe by birth or by descent and has attained the age of 40 years and he is ordinarily a resident of Zimbabwe.”
Lovemore Madhuku, a constitutional law lecturer and chairman of the department of Public Law at the University of Zimbabwe, said:
“The legal position is that a criminal conviction is not a bar to election as president. The only effect is that if, at the time of the election, a person is serving a sentence of more than six months, that person is not entitled to vote. But one does not need to be a voter to be elected president.”
Madhuku said the law does not require a candidate to be present at the nomination court. “The candidate’s election agent can be present at the nomination court to file the nomination papers on behalf of the candidate” says Madhuku.
He said even a person serving a life sentence can contest the presidential election.
“The moment that person is declare president, even before taking the oath, that person simply walks out of prison. This is perhaps what was not intended by those who framed the Constitution but that is what the law says.
“The criminal proceedings against Tsvangirai are irrelevant to his presidential ambition. The government is proceeding on a mistaken reading of the Constitution. A person becomes president on being declared the winner.
Whether that person is on the moon, in heaven or in prison, is not an an issue. He becomes president.”
Says Sternford Moyo, a Harare lawyer: “Although there are practical and political difficulties associated with certain categories of convicts winning election to the presidency and assuming office as president, the Constitution of Zimbabwe does not appear to make a conviction a factor of disqualification.
“The Constitution was written against a background where several nationalists were prosecuted and convicted of serious offences committed as part of the prosecution of the struggle for independence.”
Moyo said the same situation obtained in South Africa. “Former President Nelson Mandela who was convicted of an offence of a political nature and served his sentence was able to seek election and assume office as President of the Republic of South Africa,” says Moyo.
“The political difficulty is that some categories of convicts may find it difficult to persuade a rational electorate to elect them into office.”
The state alleges that Tsvangirai threatened to use violence to remove President Mugabe from office if he did not retire peacefully.
It alleges that he made the remarks at a rally at Rufaro Stadium last year in an address to his supporters.