The ZIMBABWE Situation Our thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe
- may peace, truth and justice prevail.
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Reuters

Zimbabwe to postpone tests
Thu 10 June, 2004 18:03

DUBAI (Reuters) - Zimbabwe have agreed to postpone their remaining tests
this year after a dispute with 15 rebel white players, International Cricket
Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani says.

ICC officials held talks with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) on Thursday
to discuss the dispute which resulted in the rebels players quitting the
national team.

"We have decided to defer Zimbabwe's test matches against England and
Pakistan, but Zimbabwe will continue to play test matches according to the
ICC's 10-year programme from January 2005 onwards," Mani said in a statement
on Thursday.

Zimbabwe were scheduled to play two tests in Pakistan in October and were
then due to host England for another two-test series in November.

Mani said Zimbabwe would still play one-day internationals against both
countries.

The rebels, headed by former captain Heath Streak, walked out after Streak
was sacked in April for questioning the composition of the ZCU selection
panel and accused it of racial discrimination.

Since they left, a second string Zimbabwe side have lost 10 consecutive
matches to Sri Lanka and Australia. Last month's test series against the
Australians was called off.

RACISM ALLEGATIONS

Mani said the meeting, which included representatives from the India,
Australia and South Africa boards, had discussed the racism allegations.

He said it had been agreed to make a recommendation to the ICC executive
board to appoint "an eminent person or persons" to investigate the players'
claims.

"This process will be independent of the ZCU and the ICC," Mani said.

"Meanwhile the ZCU, very constructively, has proposed a fast-track way of
dealing with this dispute with the players.

"We are waiting to hear the details from the ZCU lawyers so we can pass it
on to the players' lawyers."

He said the test programme would resume from January next year when Zimbabwe
are scheduled to tour Bangladesh.

Thursday's decision was welcomed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

"I think this was a popular solution voiced privately by member boards of
the ICC in recent meetings," PCB chief executive Ramiz Raja told Reuters in
Karachi.

"We will look to organise six one-dayers and maybe even try to invite
another team for a triangular one-day series which would allow us to come
through smoothly financially," he said.

A spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declined to
comment but said a statement could be issued later on Thursday.

Streak, who has joined English county side Warwickshire, said he was pleased
the problem was being addressed.

"The problem is that the longer this goes on, some of us have got big
decisions to make," he said. "We're not going to turn down a potential offer
on a wing and a prayer and hope that things will come right.

"We are not going to turn down a career on the hope that something might be
resolved."

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BBC

      ECB 'relieved' at Zim news

      The England and Wales Cricket Board has welcomed the postponement of
all Test fixtures involving Zimbabwe for the remainder of the year.

      England were due to play two Tests there in October, but they are
still required to tour as the scheduled one-day series remains on the
agenda.

      "We greet that news with a degree of relief," chairman David Morgan
said.

      "We are committed to playing four one-day internationals, and I think
there's a logic to it."

      The recent Test series involving Australia was scrapped after Zimbabwe
fielded a second-string team to cover the 15 'rebels' who were ultimately
sacked for protesting over selection issues.

      The one-day series, however, went ahead.

      Morgan said Test cricket differed greatly from one-day cricket, but
stopped short of saying England were certain to honour the scheduled series.

      "If you consider the ICC World Cup, it is not limited to full members
and Test-playing countries," he reasoned.

      "Our board will consider its position after Tim Lamb [the outgoing
chief executive] and I have reported on the ICC meetings which are due to
take place in London and Monaco later this month."

      The International Cricket Council announced the Zimbabwe Cricket Union
had 'agreed' to put off its fixtures.

      Former captain Alistair Campbell said the decision was long overdue
and that the governing body should have taken one-day matches away from
Zimbabwe also.

      "It's the only thing that could have happened," Campbell told BBC
Sport.

      "Once Australia didn't play their Test matches recently there was no
other course of action to take.

      "The ICC have a policy of wanting to promote the game in Africa, so to
let this happen is not good enough.

      "It's easy to say we can't interfere, but they should have stepped in
a lot earlier and made some demands before it got to this.

      "Everything should have been stopped. What is the point of playing
one-dayers only?"

      Campbell turned his back on the national team last year over the same
issues that forced the rebels' hands.

      He doubts that taking Tests away from Zimbabwe until 2005 will help to
resolve the player crisis.

      "More is needed," he said.

      "Having spoken to some of the players, I don't think it was their
intent to destroy Zimbabwe cricket or to hold to to ransom.

      "They simply didn't agree with the quota system in place, they wanted
selction on merit and certain individuals replaced.

      "This decision has nothing to do with the points they want to make and
I fear it's too little too late."

      The ZCU is to hold its AGM next month, where re-elections could see
the composition of the board change.

      "The ball is in the ZCU's court and I think the meeting in July is
going to be a defining moment," Campbell added.

      "There needs to be change. If the rational thinkers on either side can
get together then I think there can be a resolution.

      "But the people who hold all the cards at the ZCU are not thinking
rationally right now.

      "I just hope that if there are new board members elected then they are
more rational and have the best interests of cricket at heart."
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Zimbabweans living in Britain

 

Beware

 

of this man:

 

Gideon Gono

 (Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe)

 

may be coming your way

 

He is calling at Birmingham on Thursday June 10th

and will also be visiting Luton, London and Glasgow

 

His purpose: to raise funds for ZANU PF

to help them win the forthcoming parliamentary elections

and keep the corrupt regime of Robert Mugabe in power.

 

Remember this man is

Mugabe’s personal banker

 

He looted the state coffers to finance

Grace Mugabe’s lavish shopping sprees

while 70 % of the population was unemployed

and millions were facing starvation

 

Now the Zim dollar is valueless and

your relatives in Zimbabwe are really suffering

he wants your money !!!

 

He wants you to remit your hard-earned cash

through channels which will ensure that

Robert Mugabe’s bankrupt regime

receives a steady flow of forex

The Mugabe regime needs your money to:

 

militarize all organs of the state

 

 rig the parliamentary elections

 

perpetuate ZANU PF tyranny

 

 and to spy on you !

 

It is an outrage that this man

who is a key ZANU PF asset and has

more influence than the Minister of Finance

is allowed to enter Britain freely.

 

If you see Gideon Gono ask him

 

Why he wants your money but not your vote ?

 

(ZANU PF has taken your vote away)

 

Remember there are other ways

to support your loved ones in Zimbabwe

that do not directly benefit this corrupt regime

 

 

Sokwenele !

Zvakwana !

Enough is enough !

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New Zimbabwe

Mugabe banker's UK trip sparks protests

By Staff Reporter, Agencies
Last updated: 06/11/2004 01:17:08
THERE were calls today for the tightening of international sanctions on
Zimbabwe after the Reserve Bank governor slipped into the UK to a volley of
protests from MPs and human rights groups.

Gideon Gono will be holding meetings with Zimbabwean expatriates to persuade
them to send money back home through channels set up by the government of
President Robert Mugabe.

British shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram claimed that any money sent
back could be used to help fund Mugabe's Zanu-PF party's campaign in
upcoming elections.

He called for European Union sanctions which prevent those directly
connected with the Mugabe regime from visiting Europe to be extended to
cover those who support it financially.

And he said that if the EU refused to act, Britain should tighten sanctions
unilaterally.

Mr Ancram told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "We have always called for
the sanctions to cover not just those directly involved in the regime, but
also those who support the regime financially, because the regime without
financial support would be very severely weakened.

"We could act unilaterally, but certainly I think the EU should further
tighten its sanctions."

Mr Ancram said that Dr Gono, who was formerly President Mugabe's personal
banker, was regarded in Zimbabwe as more powerful than the country's Finance
Minister.

He quoted an unnamed Zimbabwean economist as saying it was "outrageous that
Gono is being allowed into Britain on what is essentially a fund-raising
trip for the Mugabe regime".

ZimVigil, a Zimbabwe group that has been holding weekly vigils at the
Zimbabwe Embassy in London began mobilising this week, vowing to besiege the
Zimbabwe House where Gono will attend a reception on Saturday.

Labour's former minister Kate Hoey added her voice to calls for Dr Gono and
other financial backers of the Mugabe regime to be added to the list of
those subject to travel restrictions.

She told Today: "We have called on an all-party basis for months for the
whole list to be toughened and extended.

"Of course we could do that without involving the EU. If we can't get it
through the EU, we could do it as a country ourselves.

"What we really should be doing is trying as a government to go to the
United Nations and get this whole issue looked at by the UN.

The central bank announced earnings this week of Zim $520 billion (about US
$100 million), mainly from remittances sent by Zimbabweans living abroad.
Since the registration of 11 money transfer agencies (MTAs) five weeks ago,
thousands of Zimbabweans, both locals and those in the diaspora, have
flocked to convert their foreign currency.

"There is an improvement in foreign currency inflows into the country since
the implementation of the new policy allowing citizens to use Reserve Bank
of Zimbabwe [RBZ] accredited money transfer agencies and the adoption of
currency auction floor exchange rates," the RBZ said in a statement.

The move to harness foreign currency from Zimbabweans living overseas,
dubbed "Homelink", was a direct response from the government to undercut the
parallel market which until now had reaped the bulk of inflows.

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IOL

Coup suspects considering their options

      June 10 2004 at 03:24AM

      By Zelda Venter

The fate of the 70 suspected mercenaries held at Harare's Chikurubi Prison
is still uncertain, following their failed attempt in the Pretoria High
Court to be brought back to South Africa to stand trial.

As a result the possibility of extradition to Equatorial Guinea, where a
possible death sentence awaits them, is still hanging over their heads.

Their only hope now is the Constitutional Court, but their advocate,
Francois Joubert, SC, said it may be too late. "An application to that court
could take weeks," he told reporters.

A stunned silence followed Wednesday's Pretoria High Court judgment in which
the men's request for help from the government was turned down by Transvaal
Judge President Bernard Ngoepe.

      'How am I going to look my husband in the eye?'
Marge Pain, wife of flight engineer Ken Pain, cried bitterly. "I expected
what I heard. But still I had some hope. How am I going to look my husband
in the eye on Wednesday when the men appear again in court in Zimbabwe? They
are sitting in jail and their hopes are pinned on this judgment."

The applicants want the government to ensure that they will not be
extradited to Equatorial Guinea, or to ensure that they will not face the
death penalty. The men want to be extradited to South Africa to stand trial
here.

Cabinet welcomed the court decision which it said was "consistent with our
own legal instruments and diplomatic relations with countries on the
continent".

Meeting in Pretoria on Wednesday, the cabinet said government would
"continue to play its role in respect of the consular services that these
citizens deserve, and we do recognise the right of those affected to pursue
any other legal options open to them", Government Communications and
Information Systems chief executive Joel Netshitenzhe said in a statement.

Ngoepe had said in his judgment there was nothing before him which indicated
that government would not intervene. "One understands the anxiety on the
part of the applicants and their relatives. However, the timing and in what
way and at what level representations should be made, are matters of
discretion which should be left to the relevant authorities."

      'States are sensitive about their sovereignty'
"The timing of the intervention and how it should take place are issues best
left to diplomatic recourse. States are sensitive about their sovereignty. A
court would be careful not to order its own government to engage another
government on terms indicated by the court."

Ngoepe said there was no extradition treaty between South Africa and the two
countries involved (Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea). The extradition
procedure must thus be made in accordance with the statutory law of
Zimbabwe.

The men will have to state that they committed an offence in South Africa,
for which they must stand trial. South Africa will have to make out a prima
facie case before the Zimbabwean courts in their application for
extradition.

However, the authorities here say they have not yet completed their
investigations, the judge said. It was important for South Africa to
investigate the case properly before applying for extradition, to ensure a
diligent prosecution here was initiated.

Ngoepe said an application for extradition may not be invoked merely as a
strategy to get the men out of Zimbabwe. "Such a ploy could endanger future
genuine extradition applications."

He said the request that the government must "as a matter of extreme
urgency" seek an assurance that the men will not be extradited to Equatorial
Guinea, was "strange".

An untimely move could jeopardise all future diplomatic efforts to assist
the men, he said.

"In this modern world of peaceful negotiations and diplomacy, the order
would be too prescriptive."

Upset family members said their only hope now was the Constitutional Court.
An urgent application before the Constitutional Court for leave to appeal to
that court is in the pipeline. - High Court Reporter.

  .. This article was originally published on page 3 of The Pretoria News
on June 10, 2004
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ZWNews

Band of brothers

Who is forcing the pace of the drive against Mnangagwa? Look no further than
hisfellow securocrat Sydney Sekeramayi

Comment

Last weekend's Sunday Mirror carried an astonishing opinion piece. Titled
'Who is afraid of John Nkomo?', it is an open attack on two ministers by
someone extolling the virtues of a third. "It is quite obvious that there is
a worm in the Zanu PF fruit," the author warns in Godfather-like tones. "The
works and words of the worms reveal who the worms are." Works and words have
been revealing all sorts of things lately. Fissure by fissure, crevasse by
crevasse, the divisions in Zanu PF are being exposed. The family feuds are
spilling onto the streets.

John Nkomo's is merely the latest spat to go public. In the Sunday Mirror,
Nkomo's defender accuses Jonathan Moyo - one of the 'worms' - of sending
forged letters, purporting to be from Nkomo's ministry, to dispossessed
farmers, inviting them back to their land. Moyo is also accused of
instigating the recent attack on Nkomo by Joseph Chinotimbo, the security
guard turned militant farm-invader. So far, so conspiratorial. But think
back a few weeks, when a woman emerged claiming that Moyo was the father of
her illegitimate child. The woman was arrested, reportedly on Moyo's orders,
and The Herald later claimed that she had been put up to her story by a
"senior cabinet minister". Perhaps we now know who the 'senior cabinet
minister' was. Interesting, too, that Ibbo Mandaza, who is editor-in-chief
of the Mirror newspaper group and who was once very friendly with Moyo, has
now taken sides against him. Perhaps he is after Moyo's job. Moyo's
colleague, Joseph Made, also comes under attack in the article: for his lies
about the size of the harvests this year and last, and his widely-lampooned
policy of trying to hide the maize imports this season. But it is not just
Nkomo and the Sunday Mirror leader-writer who find Moyo and Made so
irritating. Vice-president Msika labelled them "immoral little boys", after
he effectively lost the battle for Kondozi to Made, Moyo and Patrick
Chinamasa, the third member of the cabal. Moyo's morals were also recently
questioned by David Matsanga - the London-based go-between for the recent
Sky News interview with Mugabe - who Moyo had ordered deported from
Zimbabwe. Moyo's real antagonism was not directed at Matsanga, of course,
but at Nathan Shamuyarira, for daring to arrange a televised interview with
Mugabe without asking Moyo's permission. And judging from the quiet
congratulations given to Roy Bennett, after he recently pushed Chinamasa to
the floor in parliament, there are many other Zanu PF MPs, of all ages and
ranks, who find Chinamasa, Made and Moyo distinctly unpalatable.

Entertaining as this soap opera is, the real struggle for power is taking
place elsewhere. Consider the following chain of events. In January, Zanu PF
MP Phillip Chiyangwa is arrested on fraud charges. In March, investigations
begin into transactions in the parallel currency market by the Tregers
Group, a company linked to Zanu PF. In April, the Joshi brothers - for
decades integral components of the Zanu PF financial machinery - flee Harare
one step ahead of the police. In the words of the Herald, they were
"assisted in their abrupt departure by a top politician who has worked with
them over the years." In May, the government begins extradition proceedings
in the South African courts against Matumwa Mawere, who now faces currency
charges in Zimbabwe. All these events were trumpeted in the state press as
successes in the government's anti-corruption drive. And all these events
are linked by one name, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who ten days ago had his name
suddenly withdrawn from the list of those to be awarded honorary doctorates
by the Midlands State University. Once the shoo-in candidate to take over
from Mugabe, Mnangagwa is now under investigation by his own party on
corruption charges. The putsch against Mnangagwa is increasingly polarising
the party on ethnic lines. One the Karanga side are Mnangagwa and retired
general Vitalis Zvinavashe. For the Zezurus are the ubiquitous retired civil
servant Charles Utete, local government minister Ignatius Chombo, police
commissioner Augustine Chihuri, and Constantine Chiwenga, the country's most
senior serving general. But who is forcing the pace of the drive against
Mnangagwa? Impeccable sources say one should look no further than
Mnangagwa's fellow securocrat Sydney Sekeramayi, aided and abetted by
another retired general, Solomon Mujuru. One question remains. When and how
will Mnangagwa respond to the assault on his position?
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JAG CLASSIFIED: Updated 8th June 2004

Please send any classified adverts for publication in this newsletter to:
JAG Job Opportunities <justice@telco.co.zw>

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1.  Advert Received 25th May 2004

SPRINGVALE HOUSE GRADE 6 ENTRANTS
- 2005

Springvale House has for many years double
streamed at Grade 6 with the idea of allowing
children who wish to go onto Peterhouse Boys or
Girls the opportunity to do so.

This has proved most successful for those 15/16
children who are accepted.

A series of English and Maths tests is written in
by children in Grade 5 on work they have covered
in their syllabuses.  These tests are scheduled
for 17 July 2004 and to be done at Springvale
House starting at 0830 hrs.

Those who are interested should contact the
School Office for further information.

Telephone - 079-23598/22473

Fax - 079-22640

E-Mail - svh@mweb.co.zw

Address - P/Bag 3774
     Marondera

More details on Springvale House can be found
on www.vicnet@net.au/petrean
G.A. PEEBLES
Headmaster
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2.  Advert Received 22nd March 2004

For Sale:

Mercedes Station Wagon 230 TE, 124 series, 1989, 162 000 km, Manual, Air
con, Power Steering, ABS, Alloy wheels, New Tyres, Pioneer 12 CD charger +
Booster + 8 speakers + Radio-Tape.  All in good nick.  Owner not leaving,
car has become excess to requirement.  Price ZWD 50 million onco.  Phone
Basil Green - 091 312 734

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3.  Advert Received 2nd June 2004

Please can you advertise the following in your classifieds.
1 change over switch for generator. $3 mill.
phone 011607111

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4.  Advert Received 3rd June 2004

Looking to buy wrought iron garden chairs.

If anyone is leaving and has any for sale please phone Cathy Banks - 073
2498 or 011 205487.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

5.  Advert Received 3rd June 2004

Boat Wanted.
Wanted either a Falcon with 150 HP motor
            or
Piranha for the River with 85HP motor,
Contact 011 862 857 or email pcj@earth.co.zw
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6.  Advert Received 4th June 2004

GREENCROFT BUTCHERY - NOW MANAGED BY FARMER & CATTLEMAN BRIAN BEATTIE.

THE GOOD NEWS - since the last price list emailed in February, generally
Grencroft Butchery beef / pork prices have been constant & chicken prices
reduced! (however the cost of lamb has continued to rise).

REMEMBER - orders can be made simply by email; & your orders delivered!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.  Advert Received 4th June 2004

GREENCROFT BUTCHERY - NOW MANAGED BY FARMER & CATTLEMAN BRIAN BEATTIE.

THE GOOD NEWS - since the last price list emailed in February, generally
Grencroft Butchery beef / pork prices have been constant & chicken prices
reduced! (however the cost of lamb has continued to rise).

REMEMBER - orders can be made simply by email; & your orders delivered!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.  Advert Received 6th June 2004

We are looking for good homes for our pets.
1Boerboel Male, 2 Ridgeback Females, 1 small Daxie and 2 Cats. We would
like them to go to good homes. The dogs are very good watch dogs and are
very good with kids. if we can we would like the Daxie & 2 cats to go
together and the 3 Big dogs together.

PLEASE COULD YOU CONTACT US
Ursula 011 231 403
Angus 011 862 338 ( this line until end of June.)
Home 883116.

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8.  Advert Received 6th June 2004

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Owners retiring lucrative fast food business for sale. Suit dynamic couple
not scared of work in an interesting town
Apply fax: +267 6597293 or email: tasty@it.bw

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.  Advert Received 7th June 2004

.  Do you have a desire to change your waist line, get rid of food
cravings, feel energized and have the ability to cope with the stresses and
strains of life. Phone Liz 091 913 460
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THE JAG TEAM

JAG Hotlines:
(011) 612 595 If you are in trouble or need advice,
(011) 205 374
(011) 863 354 please don't hesitate to contact us -
(011) 431 068
                                we're here to help!
263 4 799 410 Office Lines
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JAG OPEN LETTER FORUM 8th June 2004

Email: justice@telco.co.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Internet: www.justiceforagriculture.com

Please send any material for publication in the Open Letter Forum to
justice@telco.co.zw with "For Open Letter Forum" in the subject line.

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JAG OLF 274
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

"The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may
also be the beginning."
           --- Ivy Baker Priest

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPEN LETTER FORUM

Letter 1.  Subject : JAG Public Relations Communique 4th June 2004

Sirs,
Your publication of the Standard's article on the Bennett affair contained
the following:

"THOSE old enough will recall many years ago when Ian Smith, the then rebel
leader and former Rhodesian Prime Minister, sang a song which blatantly
implied that the African people were baboons and which rightly caused great
consternation among Zimbabweans of all races, colours and creeds."

This paragraph does not, if my memory is correct, paint a true picture.
The people against whom Ian Smith directed his song were not the generality
of blacks but a small group of hecklers at a public meeting which he was
addressing.  The group were behaving like.........well.........., and may
in fact have contained a number of whites as the meeting was at the
University of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.  There was no parliamentary privilege
protecting Smith and, I believe, he had every right to use what amounted to
a witty insult in retaliation for unruly behaviour at a political event.

Yours truly,
                    Tsoko

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Letter 2.  Subject : Clearance

Hi
After spending 7 hours at Beit Bridge on Ednesday I feel for anyone having
problems at a border.  It is unbelievable.  Clive, oh Honest Clive had to
declare the compressor as Commercial - my goodness - that got us sent into
another hidden section of the Border.  Attacked by "agents" who whisked
away the papers, eventually returned after photocopying, then the circus
began.  Upstairs to get it calculated.  Downstairs to pay - they then dont
accept your cheque - which for 631000 zimd what the hell are we supposed to
do when you arent allowed zwd out of the country - then someone offers to
pay if we pay him, so we do!  Now wait 15 mins....wait 15 mins.  Cl;ive now
gets agitated and says he is leaving.  Darling, you cant leave - your
papers are in the queue, and you're there till its over.  That was at
5.00pm.
At 8.00 I settled down for the night in our parking place outside the
building - nowhere else to go, as we are hemmed in by busses, and the
parking lot is full of lorries, as is the SA side, and the bridge, and
every available place.  It is a nightmare.  Eventually the papers come
through, and we gallop away at 9.15 - only seven hours, a miracle.  BUt you
get chatting to the people around, the lorry drivers, who are there after 5
days, the importer back after 7 days, the clearance agents who say they can
only work 5 days in a row, its too stressful, the people say they had a
demonstration on Tuesday - I say can we have another now?  Its not the
Zimra people, they are working flat out...I just think there arent enough
of them.  And for heavens sake - this is a country in recession - imagine
if everyone was actually working properly, and importing.
So I think there should be a new campaign - "Save the Drivers"..or should
it be "Save the Clearance Agents"...or maybe "Save the Zimra Staff", who
actually are the problem...but its not their fault.  Its the "System".
God Help the System, and let someone in Authority realise that they need to
have a Systems Analyst in to get it sorted.
But in all that 7 hours I never felt any aggro, no animosity, no anger
against me as a white person in a damn silly place, nothing but courtesy,
and assistance.  Bless them all in a difficult position, operating under
impossible circumstances.  Some one please look, and do smething to
preserve the sanity of the nation.

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Letter 3.  Subject : Big Brother

Sir,

Zimbabwe is the ultimate Big Brother game. Big Brother looks upon the
population as a group of His Own chameleons being taken down a tar road to
hell. All the chameleons must match the tar of course. But Big Brother has
a warped sense of humour - any chameleon that fails his colour code test or
wants to go the other way is simply beaten, tortured, raped or just simply
killed. They do not have any basic rights.

Big Brother has other tricks to play as well - he places boxes of smarties
on the road - if a Mawere chameleon, or a Chiyangwa chameleon, or a
Kuruneri chameleon jumps in or on one those boxes he cannot tell what
colour he ought to be and becomes a confused chameleon of course. Big
Brother then gets his Green Brothers to re educate these confused ones.
Big Brother is very clever.
Big Brothers all love power and money.
Big Brother is very experienced in handling chameleons.
Big Brother looks upon all chameleons as expendable.
Big Brother South Africa holds Big Brother Zimbabwe and Big Brother Haiti
in high esteem.
Big Brother Zimbabwe loves ex Big Brother Ethiopia, Big Brother Korea and
Big Brother Libya.
Big Brother Zimbabwe was a very close friend of Big Brother DRC.
Big Brother Zimbabwe created a new Big Brother DRC by installing his son
after a fatal lead infusion.
Big Brother Zimbabwe hates Christians - particularly Bishops because they
have faith - not fear for the Big Brother network.
Big Brothers cannot tolerate freedom of speech because they have to be
omnipotent.
The world at large becomes very holier than thou when a Big Brother is in
control of an oil reserve - like Big Brother Iraq.
Such Big Brothers, with oil, need to be brought into line very swiftly
apparently.
All other Big Brothers can do what they like according to the UN, the US
and the UK because chameleons are expendable.
Zimbabwean farmers can now choose if they want a Chameleon Farmers' Union
or a Christian Farmers' Union.

This is Little Brother - Watching.
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All letters published on the open Letter Forum are the views and opinions
of the submitters, and do not represent the official viewpoint of Justice
for Agriculture.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE JAG TEAM

JAG Hotlines:
(011) 612 595 If you are in trouble or need advice,
(011) 205 374
(011) 863 354 please don't hesitate to contact us -
(011) 431 068
                                we're here to help!
263 4 799 410 Office Lines

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES: Updated 10th June 2004

Please send any job opportunities for publication in this newsletter to:
JAG Job Opportunities <justice@telco.co.zw>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.  Advert Received 1st June 2004
BLACKFORDBY AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE

We require staff for the following positions at Klein Kopjes Farm,
Concession with substantial housing, attractive salaries and generous
benefits:

POST 1

Graduate in Agriculture to lecture in Crop Husbandry, preferably with
particular strengths in tobacco agronomy and production.

POST 2

Graduate in Animal Husbandry/Science to lecture and instruct students.
POST 3

Lecturer/Instructor in Farm Machinery and Engineering.  All qualified
persons will be considered but practical experience will be of great
benefit.

An additional vacancy exists for a secretary/typist, who could ideally be
the wife or partner of one of the above posts.

A full range of sporting facilities is available on Klein Kopjes Farm. i.e.
squash, tennis, snooker, fishing, walking - everything for rural living.

All vacancies need to be filled as soon as possible.

Please forward applications as Post 1, Post 2, Post 3 to this address for
attention of Mr E M Kok,
or contact by phone 075-2532/2533/2932, fax 075-2539 for an appointment for
an interview.
Mr Kok may also be contacted on 04-499537 or 091-317523

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.  Advert Received 2nd June 2004

Youngman aged 27yrs looking for a vacancy as a Bookkeeper/Accountant,
currently working as The Head Of Accounts Dept contact Oudy 023 243 352

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.  Advert Received 4th June 2004

DEPUTY MANAGER- EXPORT ORIENTED FOOD PROCESSING/SPECIALISED AGRICULTURE.
The company, based in Harare, processes organic (certified to EU standards)
foods for export and local markets, and grows some of its organic inputs
directly, with some produced regionally on contract..
We are looking for a competent person, preferably but not necessarily with
experience in food processing and farming/horticulture, to manage the
business on an initial 3 month contract during the temporary absence of the
Manager.
For more details, contact us on fsfoods@zol.co.zw

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.  Advert Received 7th June 2004

The Indigo Tree is looking for a part time lady for one of our shops.
We need a lady who is computer literate.
Pleasant surroundings and no parking problems.
Please contact Molley on the following numbers :
Work: 487224/5
Cell: 011 201 308.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

5.  Advert Received 10th June 2004

WANTED: Bookkeeper up to trial balance.  Mornings only.
Please email to bolton@rdmarket.co.zw or call 091252 728
for an interview.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the latest listings of accommodation available for farmers, contact
justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE JAG TEAM

JAG Hotlines:
(011) 612 595 If you are in trouble or need advice,
(011) 205 374
(011) 863 354 please don't hesitate to contact us -
(011) 431 068
                                we're here to help!
263 4 799 410 Office Lines
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VOA

Zimbabwe Judge Throws Out Election Charges
Tendai Maphosa
Harare
10 Jun 2004, 18:34 UTC

A High Court judge in Zimbabwe has dismissed part of an opposition
candidate's lawsuit challenging the legality of President Robert Mugabe's
2002 re-election. The opposition questions the fairness of the decision.
Without an explanation, Judge Ben Hlatshwayo dismissed a part of the
opposition candidate's lawsuit, which charged President Mugabe violated the
constitution by changing the election laws to suit him. The opposition
candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, argued the president abused his powers in
amending the election statute.

Mr. Tsvangirai's opponents charge that the 2002 presidential election was
rigged and took place in the atmosphere of political intimidation is still
pending. Some international observers of the elections concluded the
elections were neither free nor fair.

Legal spokesman for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, David
Coltart, said the judge's ruling does not surprise him because it was made
by, what he called, a subverted judicial system. He said judges in Zimbabwe
have been working under a great deal of political pressure from the ruling
Zanu-PF party.

President Mugabe has denied wrongdoing in the disputed presidential poll.
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news.com.au

Second Zimbabwe paper shut
From correspondents in Harare
June 11, 2004

ZIMBABWEAN authorities today shut down an independent weekly owned by a
ruling party lawmaker who openly criticised President Robert Mugabe's tough
media laws.

The weekly Tribune had its license revoked but the publisher said it would
file a complaint tomorrow to challenge the closure in court.

"We have just received a letter saying that our licence is cancelled and
will remain cancelled for a year," publisher Kindness Paradza said.

Under Zimbabwe's tough media laws, all news organisations have to obtain a
licence from the state media commission.

The chairman of the media commission confirmed that the weekly had lost its
licence, the second independent newspaper to be banned from publication in
less than a year.

The Daily News, an outspoken independent voice, was forcibly shut down last
September in a police raid and its publisher and directors are currently on
trial for violating the media law.
In a statement, the media commission's chairman Tafataona Mahoso said that
it "has, with immediate effect, cancelled the registration certificate" for
the weekly.

Mahoso cited as among the reasons for the clampdown the failure to report
changes to the commission as required by the law.

He said the paper's management had failed "to answer critical questions"
about its operations and that it misrepresented facts "in an attempt to
mislead the commission".

Mr Paradza, a former journalist and a ruling Zimbabwe African National
Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) legislator was last month suspended from
the party on allegations that he was seeking funding for his paper from
Britain.

In a speech to parliament in March, Mr Paradza criticised the restrictive
media laws.

"These laws should be critically and soberly examined to check whether they
do not restrict or prohibit local investment in the broadcasting services,"
Mr Paradza said.

The Tribune was launched on June 1, 2002, publishing a business edition on
Thursday and a general news one on Friday. It has since merged the two into
one weekly, which has taken aim at Mr Mugabe's government.

"Obviously we are going to go to court to contest this because as far as we
are concerned we complied with AIPPA (Access to Information and Protection
of Privacy Act)," he said.

Mr Paradza said the media commission had cited six reasons for closing down
the paper, including changing the frequency of publication from two to once
a week without notifying the commission.

It also accused the paper of changing its title, the imprint and ownership
without the knowledge of the regulatory body.

The paper was also accused of employing an unaccredited journalist.

Zimbabwe has the worst record on media freedom among the 10 countries of
southern Africa, according to the Windhoek-based Media Institute of Southern
Africa (MISA).

Agence France-Presse
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Communities lose out to encroaching game animals

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

BULAWAYO, 10 Jun 2004 (IRIN) - The tourists come to Zimbabwe's vast Hwange
National Park, view its rich collection of big game from the safety of
vehicles with armed guards, and then leave. But communities living on the
fringes of the park are forced to share their land with the encroaching
wildlife, a proximity that leads to inevitable conflict between humans and
animals.

The communities in this perennially dry region of northwestern Zimbabwe rely
on the Gwayi river, as do thirsty animals who have broken out of the game
park. Looking for water, they end up terrorising the villages on the edge of
Hwange.

"I cannot remember a time of peace between wild animals and people here. The
animals regularly break out of the national park and come down the river in
search of water. But from there they raid our fields and destroy crops. They
destroy our riverside nutrition gardens. We are a poor people, but we are
made even poorer by the animals whose presence does not benefit us in any
way," said Sikhumbuzo Tshuma, a ward councillor in the Lubimbi area of
Binga.

ELEPHANT OVER-POPULATION

"The elephants come first, followed by other big game like lions, buffaloes
and kudu. Warthogs, hyenas and even the noisy jackals also come. With such
animals on the loose, it is very dangerous to move around. Children cannot
go to school, we cannot tend the crops in our fields. Many people have been
trampled by elephants, killed by hyenas and lions or gored to death by
buffaloes. That way we lose lives, our crops and livestock to game every
year," Tshuma told IRIN.

Tshuma's concerns are echoed in the other three communities bordering the
Hwange National Park - Tsholotsho to the south, Cross Dete to the north and
the Shana communal lands to the northwest.

Hwange is Southern Africa's second biggest game sanctuary after the Kruger
park in South Africa. It is home to about 40,000 elephants - nearly half of
Zimbabwe's total elephant population of 88,000. It also provides sanctuary
for a large number of lion, kudu, buffalo, in addition to plenty of smaller
game, which include the endangered civet cats and wild dogs.

While environmentalists and the government worry that the number of
elephants far exceeds the carrying capacity of the park and threatens
bio-diversity in the fragile Kalahari sands ecosystem, regular forays by the
animals outside the park has worsened the poverty of the neighbouring
communities.

Officials from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in Hwange say
the huge elephant population is responsible for the premature drying of
water sources. They also blame the elephants for destroying plants and
trees, which other species feed on, resulting in more animals leaving the
park to raid the fields and gardens of the nearby villages.

"The number of elephants here exceeds the carrying capacity of the park.
There is always a shortage of water and food for the animals. One elephant
drinks close to 200 litres of water per day. As a result, water runs out
early. The shortage of diesel and the constant breakdown of water engines
mean we hardly have enough water in the [artificial] pans to keep pace with
consumption," a park warden explained.

"And, because of the elephant's destructive feeding tendencies, there is
very little vegetation left for other browser species. The result is a mass
movement of bigger, dangerous game, into populated areas where they come
into conflict with humans," he added.

LIMITED RESPONSE BY THE AUTHORITIES

The management of animals outside the game park is the responsibility of the
Communal Areas Management Programme For Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE).
CAMPFIRE is a non-governmental organisation which works in conjunction with
rural district councils to educate communities and help them reap the
benefits of conservation.

Charles Jonga, a senior official with the organisation, acknowledged that
the human-animal conflict has worsened over the years in communities on the
fringes of the Hwange National Park. He said CAMPFIRE had plans to erect
electric fences between game parks and populated areas, but the delayed
project had not started.

Jonga also blamed the encroachment of human settlement into previous
wildlife habitats, like the Gwayi and Zambezi valleys, for an upsurge in
conflict between communities and large game animals.

CAMPFIRE runs a Problem Animal Control (PAC) programme, which targets and
kills rogue animals terrorising villages. But villagers interviewed
complained of a slow response from CAMPFIRE officials in the Binga and
Hwange rural district areas. They said PAC only paid attention after rogue
animals had killed or maimed people and livestock.

Emmanuel Koro, information officer for Africa Resources Trust (ART), a
Harare-based environmental non-governmental organisation, pointed out that
the problem of human-animal conflict extended beyond the Zambezi Valley to
many other communities living close to game parks in Zimbabwe. He noted that
the theft of boundary fences had allowed animals to roam relatively freely
across the countryside.

"The human-animal conflict is growing all over the country. But it is
particularly pronounced in the middle and lower Zambezi valley areas, where
there are more people living close to protected game areas. There are also
large numbers of animals living outside the protected areas, making it
difficult to monitor their movements and protect the communities," Koro told
IRIN.

"The best thing would be to find measures to protect the communities, at the
same time teaching them the benefits of conservation farming," he added.
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RBZ Relaxes Interest Rate Regime

The Herald (Harare)

June 10, 2004
Posted to the web June 10, 2004

Harare

The central bank has begun loosening up on the tight interest rate regime
allowing the Treasury Bill (TB) yield to gradually increase in a bid to
attract more investors as it gets more desperate to wipe off the excess
liquidity in the market.

This week saw the TB yield reaching 123 percent after having been suppressed
at levels below 110 percent for over two months as the central bank was
adamant to let it rise in line with its new interest rate policy.

The central bank's decision to loosen the leash on the TB yield is a
reflection of its desire to keep liquidity levels under check in the market
in line with its inflation fight.

Surplus liquidity levels in the market have the effects of stimulating
excess demand for goods and services which can exceed supply, thereby
creating shortages, which result in the rampant increase of prices through
the demand-pull inflation mechanism.

In the past six weeks, the central bank has been auctioning $100 billion TB
tenders with most of them hugely underperforming because of the return which
investors perceived was too little.

Subsequent to the increase in the yield, performance of the TB improved at
the beginning of this week with a full allotment of a tender been recorded
for the first time since the auctions begun.

On Monday, the central bank held two TB tenders and at the first tender,
$100 billion was on offer for 91 days and the full amount was allotted at an
effective yield of 121,1 percent while at the second tender $52 billion was
allotted at an effective yield of 123,53 percent.

However, on the same day, over $100 billion was poured back into the market
through financial bill maturities of around $99,37 billion and TB maturities
of around $2,01 billion.

The market had opened around $136,8 billion in surplus with 90-day
Negotiable Certificates of Deposits (NCDs) trading in the 80 percent to 100
percent range, while Call rates were quoted in the 10 - 40 percent range and
Interbank overnight rates were between 40 and 90 percent.

The Reserve Bank held another $100-billion TB auction for 91 days on Tuesday
and only $4,5 billion was allotted at an effective yield of 123,44 percent
after investors realised that the central bank can be pushed into increasing
the return again.

With the financial bill maturities flooding the market with money, the
monetary authorities will be expected to let the market forces determine the
rates in the very short-term or come up with better open market instruments
if it is to sustain the inflation battle.

As a result of the continued effort to clean the market in the past six
weeks, the central bank's total TB obligations has ballooned from $448
billion as of May 14 to $1,02 trillion on June 4.

The Reserve Bank also announced the third issue of $100 billion Government
of Zimbabwe Local Registered Stock for three years at a coupon rate of 120
percent last week.

The offer opened on the 1st of June and shall close on Wednesday this week.

The interest rate is payable semi-annually and the stock contains the same
features with the last issue, which performed below average.
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New Zimbabwe

Zapu leader 'incited tribal uprising'

By Staff Reporter
Last updated: 06/10/2004 23:58:43
PAUL Siwela, the leader of the fringe opposition Zimbabwe African People's
Union (ZAPU) appeared in court Wednesday facing charges of inciting the
minority Ndebele tribe to arise against Robert Mugabe, SW Radio Africa
reported.

The 43 year old Siwela, who is being jointly charged with George Mkwananzi,
leader of the radical Ndebele pressure group, Imbovane Yamahlabezulu
appeared before a magistrate in Bulawayo for further remand.

The outspoken politician is also alleged to have incited the Ndebele people
of Matabeleland in south western Zimbabwe to drive out members of the Shona
tribe out of the region.

Mqondobanzi Magonya, a founder member of Imbovane Yamahlabezulu, commenting
on the charges against Siwela and Mkhwananzi claimed a plot by the
government to silence calls for a federal state.

"The whole idea is to thwart the sense of Ndebele nationalism among our
people," Magonya said from Luton, England. "No-one doubts the committment of
those two gentleman when it comes to Matabeleland nationalism and these
spurrious charges will not deflate a growing movement for a federal state."

Main opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is another top opposition
figure who has been hauled before the courts facing treason charges of
calling for the removal of Mugabe by force.

The MDC leader is still awaiting judgement after a year long trial.
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Fresh Unemployment Wave Batters Economy

Financial Gazette (Harare)

June 10, 2004
Posted to the web June 10, 2004

Munyaradzi Mugowo
Harare

UNEMPLOYMENT figures have continued to track upwards despite the economic
stabilisation programme spearheaded by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)
through its tight monetary policy, analysts have said.

A fresh unemployment wave spawned by the present anti-recession crusade has
aggravated the already explosive maelstrom besieging the economy, leaving
policymakers virtually stranded.

RBZ governor Gideon Gono has admitted that unemployment continues its
inexorable upward trend, posing a major challenge to the central bank's
policy thrust and he made a moral appeal exhorting firms to deal with
viability problems in a way that would spare workers the axe.

"Current trends of retrenchments are not the goal of the RBZ. Employers are
urged to find ways of maintaining their viability other than laying off
workers," Gono said.

He also decreed in the monetary review statement delivered in April this
year that the non-exporting sectors of the economy could only gain access to
the $1.5 trillion productive sector facility only if they proved their
demonstrable commitment to "incremental employment creation".

However, some industrialists have said current inflationary trends rendered
it impossible to increase production, growth and employment concurrently.

Well-placed sources at the RBZ confirmed that the unemployment rate, which
represents the ratio of those actively seeking work without success and the
total number of people constituting the entire labour force, has risen from
70 percent recorded last year to over 75 percent as at June.

The sources said the number of job-seekers in the financial sector has
increased rapidly than in other sectors of the economy because of a swathe
of liquidations, which hit the sector in the first quarter of the year.

According to Peter Mwipikeni, an economic analyst, the acute unemployment
rate besetting the country is a heightened phase of a process which began
with the International Monetary Fund-led structural adjustment programme and
further inflamed by the controversial land reform, which triggered an
economic tailspin, pushing the unemployment rate to a staggering 70 percent.

He said financial stability could not be achieved without severe labour
productivity losses. He asserted that though it has been lauded for its
efficacy in fighting inflation, the monetary policy could have disastrous
macroeconomic effects if it was not complemented by decisive fiscal
measures.

"Economic recovery should be brought about by increasing money supply and
credit and not by reducing the demand for it because credit shortages tend
to increase the cost of capital.

"Investment itself is interest elastic and any slight increase in interest
rates will cause firms to suspend investments in more efficient plants and
equipment, which would improve labour productivity because the projects
would be too expensive. This will be passed on in a reaction chain to the
labour market as firms respond by downscaling production, laying off rather
than hiring workers.

"In a way, losses in labour productivity have been worsened by the
restrictive monetary policy. In this country, we seem to be suffering from a
control syndrome. Everything is about controls - money control; interest
rates control; everything control," Mwipikeni said.

He also said the strangulation of the labour market had served as a catalyst
to the informalisation and casualisation of employment as firms now prefer
to hire workers for a very short time to cut down on labour costs.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions confirmed that since the beginning of
the year, the labour body has lost a substantial number of their membership
due to increased retrenchments.
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BBC

      G8 urges end to Darfur killings

      On the last day of their US summit, G8 leaders have called on Sudan to
disarm militias in its western Darfur region.
      Blaming the rebels for massive human rights violations, they urged
both sides to respect the ceasefire.

      The statement came as the G8 leaders and their counterparts from six
African countries began talks on issues affecting the African continent.

      The leaders also agreed to extend a debt reduction scheme for the
world's poorest countries for two more years.

      The initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, managed by the
International Monetary Fund, had been due to finish at the end of 2004.

      Twenty-three of the 27 countries that have qualified for debt relief
under the HIPC initiative are in Africa.

      Apart from Sudan and debt reduction, Thursday's talks on Sea Island
off the coast of Georgia were expected to discuss conditions in Zimbabwe -
as well as endorsing new initiatives on Aids, peacekeeping and trade.

      EU aid

      The G8 statement on Sudan said the group looked to the United Nations
to lead the international effort to avert "a major disaster" in Darfur -
described as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

      "There are continuing reports of gross violations of human rights,
many with an ethnic dimension," the statement said.

      "We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately and fully
respect the ceasefire, allow unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in
need, and create the conditions for the displaced to return safely to their
homes."

      "We call especially on the Sudanese government to disarm immediately
the Janjaweed and other armed groups which are responsible for massive human
rights violations in Darfur," said the statement.

      In a separate development, the European Union announced a 12-million
euro package ($14.5m) to "support the rapid deployment and operations of an
African Union-led observer mission that will monitor the implementation of
the recent ceasefire agreement in Darfur".

      EU development commissioner Poul Nielson said in a statement that the
money showed the EU was "a credible partner" for the African Union in its
efforts to solve the crisis.

      "We believe that the success of this mission is crucial," said EU
spokesman Jean Charles Ellerman-Kingombe. "It is very much needed at this
time in Darfur."

      African realities

      Africa remains the only part of the developing world no better off
than it was 25 years ago.

      This is despite many initiatives in past decades - from the Brandt
Commission and Live Aid in the 1980s to more recent efforts such as
Washington's Aids fund and Africa's own Nepad partnership.

      Growth rates and life expectancy are falling and poverty is growing
amid the Aids epidemic and continuing war, corruption and bad governance.

      Per capita income in sub-Saharan Africa is now estimated to be $200
lower than in 1974.

      The G8 leaders are expected to look at plans to train and equip more
than 50,000 peacekeepers over the next five years, particularly for
deployment in Africa.

      US officials said the initiative had grown out of African requests for
assistance in ending the civil wars plaguing the continent.

      The G8 summit is taking place on a heavily protected island, far out
of reach of protests by anti-globalists and other protesters.

      The BBC's Rob Watson notes that security is so tight that even the
army of correspondents covering the talks has been kept 90 miles (144km)
away.
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The Namibian

      Farmers' clique defiant

      CHRISTOF MALETSKY
      A GROUP of white commercial farmers, meeting under the banner of the
Namibia Farmers Support Initiative (NFSI), have vowed to "fight"
Government's plans to expropriate land.

      Around 30 farmers, most of whom appeared to be agitated by the
procedures Government is following in identifying farms for expropriation,
said they would pool resources to prevent the State from dealing with
individuals.

      They expressed fears that if they ignored the plight of individuals,
Government would ultimately deal with all of them singly, as had happened in
Zimbabwe.

      "Fight or go.

      We will not lie down or crawl.

      We will fight for what our ancestors gave us so that we leave it for
our children," said George Friedrich, one of the conveners of the meeting.

      They met in the Gobabis Deutsche Halle.

      Some placards displayed in the hall read: 'Genoeg is nou genoeg'
(enough is enough); 'Kameraden vereinigt' (comrades united); 'Owamboland,
Namaland, Hereroland, Kavangoland. Ons soek nou blankeland' (We want land
for whites); 'Pohamba gee vir die blankes die nie-lewensvaatbare gronde'
(Pohamba give the whites the unproductive land); and 'Justice for all, not
just a select few'.

      Friedrich, a farmer and businessman, said they had decided to "fight"
'Robber' Mugabe-style land acquisition and to expose what he described as
Government's efforts to discredit farmers.

      Speaking in Afrikaans, he said farmers in Zimbabwe had tried to
negotiate with that country's government but ultimately had had to let go of
their land because President Robert Mugabe had never been interested in
settling it amicably.

      "As if it is any different in Namibia... can anything be different
here? Mugabe used the farms as payment to chiefs who instructed their
subjects to vote for Zanu-PF.

      Are we here also not on the same path?" asked Friedrich.

      He said there was a perception that Swapo won the fight for Namibia's
independence and that the whites were defeated militarily.

      "The whites in this country and in South Africa were never tired of
war.

      The whites in this country were asked by political parties in 1978 to
join the interim government," he said, adding that anyone giving credit to
Swapo for winning the war was "siende blind en horende doof" (blind while
having eyes and deaf while having ears).

      The farmers expressed disappointment with the Namibia Agricultural
Union (NAU).

      They claimed that Jan de Wet's union has failed them.

      "Mr de Wet told us that farms will not be expropriated.

      What is happening now? How can we believe them or the Government any
longer," said one farmer.

      Sigi Eimbeck of the Namibia Farmers Support Initiative (NFSI) said
they were not opposed to expropriation but to the way the Government was
handling the issue.

      He said the NFSI would expose Government's political agenda to the
outside world and claimed that the already identified farms were to be used
as payment for Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba's election as Swapo's
candidate for the presidency.

      Pohamba has denied that he used expropriation as a campaign tool.

      Sakkie Coetzee, who represented NAU at the meeting, said their union
would continue to negotiate with Government.

      He said they wanted the State to clarify "public interest" as a
criteria used to identify farms.

      A visibly angry Gerrit Hough said they would mobilise white farmers to
march as Swapo members did whenever there was a labour dispute.

      "If you are ready to stand up, we will bury Swapo," he charged, adding
that he stood for the right of every white person.

      "Sam Nujoma is not a nice chap when it comes to the rights of his
people.

      He is a racist.

      He fights for his people.

      If I do the same, I am labelled a racist," he said.

      Hough's harsh words drew criticism from the likes of Coetzee who
walked out of the meeting, followed by some leaders of the NAU.

      Eimbeck also appealed to Hough not to indulge in hate speech.

      However, the damage had already been done and the meeting came to an
abrupt end as most farmers left the building.

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From Focus (Helen Suzman Foundation), June 2004

Al-Qaeda and the Zimbabwe nexus

continued from 9 June issue

According to Walter, Zawahiri spent 4 to 5 days in Zimbabwe and met with
Mugabe and a number of ministers and top officials. His instructions from
Bin Laden were to acquire an al-Qaeda base in Zimbabwe where, far from the
scene of action, it could train its militants and plan its military strikes:
there are many large, remote farms in Zimbabwe where they could be
invisible. He offered large sums of money for Mugabe personally, with more
to follow. Zawahiri doubtless already had the September 11 action in mind
but would hardly have disclosed any details of that. The al-Qaeda strikes
against the US embassies in East Africa could not have left Mugabe in any
doubt as to what he was dealing with, nor that he was risking extreme US
displeasure - particularly since it must have been obvious that al-Qaeda was
planning further large-scale strikes against US targets. Later, Walter said,
Zawahiri returned a second time to Zimbabwe, this time staying for two
weeks. This return visit and Zawahiri's quick fade into invisibility are
perfectly consistent with what one would expect if, as Walter was inclined
to believe, al-Qaeda had then proceeded to construct some sort of safe-house
base in Zimbabwe. Walter, clearly nervous at every minute he spent in my
presence, slipped away into the night as soon as he'd finished.

Mention of remote farms tied in with the fact that the growing Libyan team
in Zimbabwe had acquired a number of farms in the Zanu-PF heartland of
Mashonaland Central. As more Libyans arrived they moved straight to these
farms - so any Arab moving onto these farms would simply be assumed to be a
Libyan by any Zimbabwean. So could these farms be used for al-Qaeda purposes
too? My CIO contacts had also wondered if these farms were being used for
al-Qaeda purposes and had told me that when Qadaffi had passed through
Harare en route to the African Union meeting in Durban he had exhorted local
Muslim Asians to greater militancy and had even threatened to have Pagad
strong-arm men sent up from Cape Town - with whom, it seems, he was already
in touch - to knock them into line if necessary. They also reminded me that
almost on the eve of 9/11 Mugabe had been Qadaffi's guest in Tripoli for the
32nd anniversary of Libya's "national revolution". In the end I managed to
track down the relevant issue of Mugabe's mouthpiece, The Herald.

Saturday, 1 September 2001 had found Mugabe in Tripoli where Qadaffi called
on his assembled African allies "to support the hero, president Mugabe,
since Zimbabwe is a strategic country". But Qadaffi seems to have remained
close enough to al-Qaeda to have a pretty good idea that a major blow was
about to be struck against the Americans - this was just ten days before
9/11 - for he openly boasted of Bin Laden's prowess and mocked the US for
failing to catch him after the bombing of the US embassies in East
Africa:"We no longer wage war with the old weapons. Now they can fight you
with electrons and viruses. The crazy world powers that have invested huge
amounts of money in weapons of mass destruction have found themselves unable
to fight the new strain of rebellion. As a simple example, the USA is unable
to fight someone called Osama Bin Laden. He is a tiny man, weighing no more
than 50 kg. He has only a Kalashnikov rifle in his hands. He doesn't even
wear a military uniform. He wears a jalabiyah (Arab robe) and turban and
lives in a cavern, eating stale bread. He has driven the USA crazy, more
than the former Soviet Union did. Can you imagine that?"

This passage - quoted approvingly in The Herald - suggests that Qadaffi had
been in recent contact with Bin Laden, was aware of his living conditions in
the caves of Afghanistan and also knew that some fiendish new strike,
employing unconventional weapons, was about to hit the USA. It seems quite
possible that Qadaffi imparted what he knew to Mugabe for he must have
realized that any such strike would have major implications for anyone who
had been lending assistance to the likes of Zawahiri. When the September 11
strike took place Qadaffi quickly distanced himself from it as publicly as
he could, clearly fearing US reprisals. Mugabe himself said nothing - but
within the CIO in Harare there was panic. "Those of us who knew about the
contacts with Zawahiri were scared stiff," Walter had told me. "We thought
this might be the end of everything. We had visions of B-52s over Harare."

to be continued...
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