http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=27932
March 13, 2010
By Our
Correspondent
HARARE - In a dramatic turn of events Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe (RBZ) assets
will be auctioned countrywide starting next Friday in
a bid to recover debts
owed to a local company.
The amount owed to
Farmtec Spares and Implements was not immediately
established by Friday
night, but sources said it is linked to the values of
farm equipment
supplied to farmers before the formation of the inclusive
government last
year.
A notice by Harare auctioneers- Ruby Auctions- on Friday indicated
that the
action has been sanctioned by the High Court in a matter registered
as
Farmtec Spares and Implements P/L vs RBZ that first went to court
yesterday.
To go under the hammer first are assets at the RBZ Sports Club
situated in
Harare on March 19. There would be three other auctions in
Harare and others
in Masvingo, Gweru, Mutare, Chinhoyi, Kariba and
Nyanga.
"The Deputy Sheriff of Harare sale in sale- situ- duly instructed
by the
deputy sheriff of Harare, we shall sell by public auction the
following
vehicles to the highest bidder on Friday, 19th March 2010 at the
RBZ Sports
Club," reads one of the Ruby Auctions notices.
Other
assets to be auctioned countrywide include refrigerators, microwaves,
televisions, radios, beds, lawn mowers, dining suites, tables, chairs,
generators, washing machines, and many more.
Last year, Finance
Minister Tendai Biti said the central bank owed creditors
more than US$1
billion. The debts were incurred as a result of the financial
institution's
quasi-fiscal activities that were aimed at propping President
Robert
Mugabe's collapsing regime
On Tuesday, the Senate passed the RBZ
Amendment Bill, which is aimed at
stopping the bank's non-core activities
and reducing the central bank chief's
powers. The proposed law now awaits
Mugabe's assent to become law.
The minister gave the bank US$10 million
for recapitalization in the 2010
budget.
http://news.radiovop.com
13/03/2010 14:37:00
Harare, March 13,
2010 - SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma's facilitation
team is scheduled
to jet into Harare on Sunday to prepare for their
principal's visit two days
later, on March 16 in an attempt to break the
political logjam, which might
see the confirmation of a date for fresh
elections.
Impeccable
sources confirmed to Radio VOP on Saturday that Zuma's three
member
facilitation team of Lindiwe Zulu, Charles Nqakula and Mac Maharaj
will
arrive in Harare on Sunday and immediately hold meetings with the three
negotiating teams from Zanu PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) formations.
On Monday, the three principals in the inclusive
government - President
Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and
his deputy Arthur
Mutambara will also meet to come up with a common position
to be presented
to Zuma the following day. Coming up with a common position,
said sources,
is however likely to be a mammoth task in the light of current
disputes
around the stripping of powers of some MDC ministers, and the
unilateral
implementation of indigenisation regulations.
The South
African leader is however still expected to hold separate meetings
with each
of the party leaders.
"Since it is obvious there is no movement towards
resolution of the issues
that have caused a deadlock, President Zuma wants
to impress upon the
parties that they should shelve some of the issues and
prepare for the
holding of elections next year," said a source close to the
proceedings.
According to the source, Zuma will also encourage the
parties to speed up
the writing of a new constitution and hold elections
next year.
"The facilitators will kick start the process with a meeting
with the
negotiators, and come up with a briefing paper to be presented to
Zuma. This
position will then guide his engagement with the three
principals. But the
general feeling is that these talks should be concluded
and elections held,
as stipulated in the global political agreement (GPA),"
added the source.
Also to feature prominently on the agenda, said the
source, is Mugabe's
recent stripping of MDC ministers of their powers,
leaving some of them with
no Acts of Parliament to administer. Among those
affected is the party's
spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa who saw all his powers
as Information
Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa being
allocated to ZANU PF's
Nicholas Goche, while another Act under his
administration, the Interception
of Communications Act, was allocated to the
President's Office.
Other MDC ministers left with no Acts administer are
Science and Technology
Development Minister, Heneri Dzinotyiwei, Regional
Integration and
International Co-operation Minister, Priscilla
Misihairabwi-Mushonga, State
Enterprises and Parastatals Minister, Gabuza
Joel Gabbuza.
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/
Mar 13, 2010,
14:24 GMT
Harare - Germany's ambassador to Zimbabwe Albrecht Conze said
Saturday that
new indigenization laws requiring medium-sized and large
companies to be
majority-owned by black Zimbabweans had 'scared' German
investors.
Conze was speaking in Harare during a visit by the president
of the
Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB), Michael Sommer.
'I
hope positive signals will prevail over the negative signals (from
Zimbabwe),' he said. 'Unfortunately, that is not the situation at the
moment.'
The indigenization laws give companies with assets of over
500,000 US
dollars 45 days from March 1 to explain they will transfer 51 per
cent of
their assets to black Zimbabweans.
The law was passed in 2008
before President Robert Mugabe formed a coalition
government with his
arch-rival and now Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, but
regulations to give
it effect were only published last month by a minister
from Mugabe's Zanu-PF
party.
Since then, a faction of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC)
has said the laws will be reviewed.
Conze said Germany
had been 'encouraged' by that announcement.
'Otherwise, if they (the
laws) remain, German investment will go elsewhere,'
he said.
Sommer,
winding up a four-day visit, expressed his disapproval of the
government's
disregard for workers' rights.
'I'm deeply concerned that the situation
has shown significant deterioration
over the past few weeks,' he
said.
Sommer said he had impressed upon Tsvangirai, himself a former
trade union
leader, the need for government to respect trade
unions.
His remarks follow reports that the secretary-general of the
General
Agricultural and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe, Gertrude
Hambira, had
fled the country after being harassed by state security
agents.
GAPWUZ gives a voice to the tens of thousands of farmworkers who
have been
forced off the land since Mugabe gave the nod for new black
farmers to begin
seizing white-owned farms in 2000.
'This is
unacceptable. Freedom of association and trade union action are
basic rights
which must be respected by every decent society,' said Sommer,
who is also
vice president of the International Trade Union (ILO).
The ILO would
discuss Zimbabwe's situation at a meeting later this month, he
said.
Zimbabwe desperately needs foreign investment to turn around
the economy,
which hit rock bottom in 2008 as a result of Mugabe's populist
policies.
But Western donors and investors have balked at ploughing money
into the
country, saying the government first needs to implement more human
rights
and economic reforms.
http://www1.voanews.com
Political
sources said the latest initiative was intended to bolster
investor
confidence after the publication of rules to put the controversial
Indigenization and Empowerment Act of 2007 into practice
Blessing
Zulu 12 March 2010
Facing widespread investor concern over
indigenization of private
enterprises in Zimbabwe, Harare has moved to
solicit public comment and
review regulations for the implementation of a
law putting a controlling
stake in large companies in the hands of black
citizens.
Political sources said the latest initiative was intended to
bolster
investor confidence after the publication of rules to put the
controversial
Indigenization and Empowerment Act of 2007 into
practice.
Economists and political analysts have dismissed the
indigenization push as
a bid by the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe
to rally supporters
ahead of possible national elections in 2011.
The
regulations establish a mechanism for transferring a 51% controlling
stake
in all companies worth more than US$50,000 to indigenous blacks,
though
there may be some exceptions depending on the economic sector.
ZANU-PF
Indigenization Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has sweeping powers under
the
regulations to determine who is eligible to become an indigenous partner
of
a white-owned enterprise and allocate share stakes. It is not clear how
share transfers will be financed.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
told a symposium on public and private
partnerships this week that the
indigenization program aims to promote
broader-based economic participation,
not discourage investment.
"Sometimes investors get alarmed when a policy
is announced without
clarification, but I want to assure you that the policy
is in the best
interests of the people of Zimbabwe," Tsvangirai
said.
He had earlier criticized the implementation regulations because
the Cabinet
had not approved them.
The Cabinet meanwhile has asked
Parliament's Committee on the Budget,
Finance and Investment Promotion to
hold public hearings on the
indigenization rules. Those began in Bulawayo on
Friday and were to continue
in Harare, the capital, on
Monday.
Participants in Bulawayo told the committee that the rules will
spark
investor flight from Zimbabwe.
Sources in Mr. Tsvangirai's
formation of the Movement for Democratic Change
told VOA that the oversight
board appointed by Kasukuwere is partisan, and
should be reconstituted on
more of a consensus basis.
Kasukuwere denied in an interview with VOA
Studio 7 reporter Blessing Zulu
that the board is partisan - but added that
he would not appoint a panel
that would constantly be at loggerheads with
him.
Political analyst Philip Pasirayi said that with elections on the
horizon
ZANU-PF is pushing indigenization for political reasons. "My concern
is that
there is no consensus on this indigenization law," he said, noting
that few
stakeholders were consulted.
So, "it raises eyebrows as to
ZANU-PF's intentions in coming up with the
indigenization law which we know
is going to be used for political
purposes." he said.
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=27921
March 13, 2010
By Our
Correspondent
HARARE - A top United Nations anti-poverty campaigner says
Zimbabwe's
indigenisation and empowerment law was enacted in violation of
international
trade ideals.
Charles Abugre, Deputy Director UN
Millennium Campaign Africa, said the
controversial law could be a way of
entrenching President Robert Mugabe's
rule.
"This could be another
case of a regime trying to entrench itself," said the
Ghanaian national, who
boasts over 20 years of anti-poverty campaigning.
"That may well be the
case."
Abugre was addressing guests at a round table discussion on the
Millennium
Development Goals in Harare Thursday.
He said the
indigenisation policy fell far short of any sincere attempt by
government to
eradicate poverty and massive unemployment in the country as
espoused in the
universal benchmarks.
Abugre said the controversial law also violated the
1992 World Trade
Organisations (WTO) principles which call for equal
treatment for both
foreign and local traders by governments.
"The
indigenisation programme directly confronts the WTO trade related
investment
measures," said Abugre.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the WTO
convention.
"The trade investment measures have a provision that says
governments are
not allowed to do two things; you cannot require foreign
companies to source
some of their inputs from your country. That is denying
them national
treatment.
"International companies have the right to
set up business with100 equity
and source their inputs from intermediate to
capital 100 percent from
outside their economies," he said.
Abugre
has been active in international development for over two decades; as
a
researcher and lecturer (University of Wales, Swansea); as an NGO activist
and development professional, working in several parts of the
world.
He said the principle was feasible only when applied by
governments with a
developmental mentality.
"That developmental state
mental is hard to function when the people who are
in government are at the
same time business people," said Abugre.
"If you are in government, you
have the opportunity to capture every
flotation; it is called rent seeking
and rent capture. You cannot regulate
the private market in an objective
way.
"You have to make a choice; you can choose to be in the public
service to
serve the people or go into private sector in which you work in
the market.
You cannot be two things at the same time.
"You cannot
eradicate corruption when you are at the same time private
sector and
government sector.
"You cannot make the market efficient and competitive
when you collect both.
Regulation is impossible."
Zimbabwe's
indigenisation and empowerment law compels foreign owned firms
operating in
Zimbabwe to surrender 51 percent of their equity to locals
within the set
grace period of five years.
The government says the law is intended to
empower the perennially
disadvantaged indigenous black population through
running a controlling
stake in the companies.
The law has divided the
unity government with Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai's MDC saying it is a
harsh law that will scare away foreign
direct investment and a Zanu-PF
electioneering strategy.
Tsvangirai was, however, quoted recently
apparently supporting the law.
http://www.sabcnews.com
March 13 2010 ,
7:23:00
Thulasizwe Simelane, Harare
The Zimbabwean government
appears confused over the assessment of the
country's food security
situation. Following a tour of the countryside a few
weeks ago, Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai declared the situation
catastrophic.
However, the Agriculture Minister Joseph Made now says
it is too early to
conclude that the harvest has failed, as the farming
season is not yet over.
He blames western sanctions for the collapse of
irrigation infrastructure on
small-scale farms.
"Those communities
where the British and Americans have pretended that the
sanctions have no
impact - that is where the sanctions have an impact and
indeed when the
prime minister was visiting around he saw the state of
irrigation schemes
and they are only in that state because of the
sanctions," says
Made.
The Red Cross says while $33 million is needed for emergency food
assistance, donors have only pledged $7 million.
A unity government
formed by bitter adversaries President Robert Mugabe and
Prime Tsvangirai
last year said it needs at least $10 billion to fix an
economy emerging from
a decade-long slump.But key Western donors have
withheld aid and demanded
broad political reforms and assurances that Mugabe
is ready to genuinely
share power.
http://news.radiovop.com
13/03/2010
14:30:00
Masvingo, March 13, 2010 - Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) supporters
want their leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai out
of the shaky
coalition government.
The supporters told Tsvangirai at
a meeting that they wanted him out of the
fragile unity, saying the Zanu PF
leader President Robert Mugabe was acting
in bad faith.
"The problem
is that in the coalition government, you are strange
bed-fellows. Zanu PF is
pulling in the different direction-backwards, while
you are forward
looking," said an ardent MDC supporter and headmaster of a
local school in
Masvingo.
"That man (Mugabe) is evil; he is a cheat, a hypocrite and is
not genuine. I
wonder why Tsvangirai would treat him with kid gloves, he
should pull out,"
said another party supporter.
Another party
supporter concurred, saying Mugabe had proved that he is
negotiating in bad
faith.
Tsvangirai who is on a drought assessment tour of Chivi and
Chiredzi,
stopped briefly in Masvingo to address thousands of desperate
supporters who
had just gathered at the civic centre on hearing that he was
going to pass
through.
Tsvangirai called for a stop to violence by
both his supporters and Zanu
PF's saying him and Mugabe were in good
relationship and were "eating
together evey Monday".
Villagers in
Chivi had on Friday night received threats from soldiers and
Zanu PF youths
who said they risked unspecified action if they went ahead
and attended
Tsvangira's meeting.
The MDC claims more than 200 supporters were killed
during the 2008
violence, while at least 5 000 where either injured or
displaced.
Tsvangirai however said that he was caught between a rock and
a hard
surface.
"We have to try to soldier on under such a bad
combination," he told the
supporters. "That is the option we got, but we are
not going back, and we
know we will get there. You should also remember how
we got into government,
Mugabe did not like it, but was under
pressure."
Mugabe recently stripped some MDC Ministers of powers in a
move that has
also angered party supporters.
http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/zimbabwe/4771.html
Sunday
March 14, 2010
Chivi, - Villagers from Chivi have been threatened with
un-specified action
by the army and youth militia if they go ahead and
attend Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai's rally scheduled to be held at
Mhandamahwe and Mashava on
Sarturday afternoon.
“We were surprised to
see youths who used to campaign for Huruva (Zanu PF MP
for Chivi North)
coming to our houses on Friday night telling us that
Tsvangirai is already
campaigning. They said anyone who attends the rally
will risk to be severely
punished because Chivi is not for MDC (Movement for
Democratic
Change).
“They said that some Zanu PF youths are going to be planted at
the rally
from each ward so that they jot down all names of individuals from
each ward
who attends the rally. Though there is no specific action to be
taken
against those who will attend, we are now afraid to go there,” said an
MDC
supporter in ward three of Chivi.
Private radio station RadioVOP
said they were informed that soldiers clad in
army regalia who were at
Mhandahwe shopping center on Friday openly declared
that villagers who go to
Tsvangirai’s rally will face a severe ‘disciplinary
action’.
“Soldiers were also threatening people on Friday night, we
are not sure of
what to do. We were very eager to meet Prime Minister but
because of these
threats, we are likely to remain at home. We are afraid the
punishment may
come in the form of being denied food aid,” said a Mr
Munodawafa.
Masvingo West legislator Tichaona Mharadze said villagers in
his
constituency were threatened and informed not to attend the
rally.
“That's what Zanu PF does when it senses danger. My supporters
...were told
not to attend the rally at Mashava but I know they will come in
their
numbers. ... we are however afraid because they might be beaten for
attending the rally later,” said Mharadze.
MDC-T provincial chairman
Wilstaff Sitemere complained saying Zanu PF has
gone too far to block
freedom of assembly and association.
“Zanu PF has gone too far in
blocking democracy. They are now threatening
our supporters but the Prime
Minister wishes to get the clear picture of
what is happening in the rural
areas. He is hear to assess drought but
everything has been politicised ,”
said Sitimere.
In Masvingo Zanu PF youth militia was reportedly forcing
villagers to buy
the party cards after being chided by the national Zanu PF
leadership for
failing to raise funds for the broke party.
The
militias have since been causing terror, in hunger-stricken districts of
Zaka, Bikita and Gutu where they are forcing villagers to buy the party
cards for US$2 each or risk not being registered to recieve food assistance
from government.
In Bindura a magistrate has gone in hiding after
receiving death threats
from youth militia who accused him of selling out
the party by jailing five
Zanu PF youths who were convicted of participating
in violence in 2008.
Radio VOP
http://news.radiovop.com
13/03/2010
13:47:00
Masvingo, March 13, 2010 - The Prime Minister and Movement
for Democratic
Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Saturday he is
pained by the
serious fights between MDC and Zanu PF supporters when he and
President
Robert Mugabe have a good relationship.
"Do you know that
Mugabe and I eat together every Monday? We have a very
good relationship
now, why do you fight here? MPs must not be seen fueling
violence here, we
want to promote peace in the country," said Tsvangirai.
"We have seen
that everyone needs food. Everyone here needs support but it
becomes painful
when some people are denied food on party affiliations
basis. This is
wrong, everyone must be fed first then politics later," he
said.
Although Tsvangirai and Mugabe have expressed optimism for the
shaky
coalition government brokered with the help of South Africa in 2009,
there
have been several reports about violence by Zanu PF particularly in
the
rural areas. Tsvangirai has already indicated that he wants to appeal to
the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene in the talks
deadlock with Zanu PF on the outstanding issues stalling the full
implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
People in
Chivi had expressed fear to attend Tsvangirai's meeting due to
threats they
received from the army and Zanu PF youth militia on Friday
night. They were
warned they risked un-specified action if they attended.
On Saturday
Chief Madamombe in Chivi blasted Zanu PF and said he had
summoned Chivi
North Member of Parliament (MP) and war veteran Tranos Huruva
(Zanu PF) to a
meeting with him to discuss the allegations of violence.
Chief Madamombe
who attended Tsvangirai's meeting, told RadioVOP that he did
not not condone
violence.
"It was just this morning (Saturday) when I received reports
that some
people were warned against attending Prime Minister's rallies
here," said
the chief. "I was informed Zanu PF youths and the army were
following orders
from MP Huruva so I have invited him to get the clear
picture. Huruva has
since refused and he is now part of Prime Minister's
delegation as you see
him seated next to him Tsvangirai)," said Chief
Madamombe.
Huruva, who has been accused of fuelling violence in Chivi,
refused to talk
to RadioVOP on Saturday about the violence.
"I am
busy now, I am going to be with Prime Minister from here (Mhandamahwe)
up to
Chiredzi," said Huruva.
From Chivi, Tsvangirai addressed mine workers at
Mashava where he assured
them that the government will come up with a plan
to-re-open the mine so
that the workers can get back to work.
Mashava
is on the verge of collapse with over 1 500 workers on indefinite
forced
leave.
Tsvangirai had to divert his tour to stop in Masvingo urban as
thousands of
people had already gathered at civic center when they heard of
his visit to
Chivi. The supporters had pleaded with party provincial
leadership that
they wanted to meet the Prime Minister.
"I just heard
that you are already gathered here, I wanted to go to Bikita
straight from
Mashava, anyway I can't ignore your call. I am
just here to say how you are
and proceed with my journey," said Tsvangirai
before leaving the cheering
crowd.
http://www.apanews.net
APA-Harare (Zimbabwe)
Switzerland on Saturday extended travel restrictions
on senior Zimbabwean
officials as part of efforts by the West to force
hardline members of
President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party to agree to
political reforms in the
country.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry said it was renewing a set of
targeted sanctions
slapped on senior officials of Mugabe's previous regime
in March 2002.
"The measures include a prohibition on supply of military
equipment and
materials which might be used for internal repression and
targeted financial
sanctions such as freezing of assets owned by the
160-plus individuals in
Switzerland.
Individuals on the sanctions
list are also prohibited from entering
Switzerland or transit through the
country.
The EU as well as the United States, Australia and New Zealand
have
maintained visa and financial sanctions against Mugabe's government
since
2002.
The EU and the US last month also renewed the targeted
sanctions against the
ZANU PF officials and some companies linked to the
party.
Mugabe has however used the targeted sanctions as an excuse to
slow down
implementation of a power-sharing pact he signed with Prime
Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara in
2008.
He wants Tsvangirai to call for the removal of the visa
restrictions before
agreeing to the political reforms stated in the
power-sharing agreement.
JN/daj/APA
2010-03-13
http://www.newzimbabwe.com
13/03/2010 00:00:00
HEALTH
officials say they are planning a massive circumcision campaign
targeting at
least 1,2 million men over the next two years in a bid to stem
the rise in
new HIV infections across the country.
A health ministry official
Sinokuthemba Xaba told a meeting in Bulawayo that
government is committed to
funding the programme with the assistance of
partner organisations such as
the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
and the World Health
Organisation (WHO).
"For the programme to reach the intended target we
(will ensure that) people
are given as much information as possible on male
circumcision to enable
them to make informed decisions.
"We would
also work closely with centres that will provide male circumcision
service
such as district and provincial hospitals so that the project would
be
widespread. By the end of April we expect the team tasked with coming up
with the cost of the programme to be through as this will help in the
planning process," Xaba said.
A pilot project launched last year said
to have been successful with 3000
males, a thousand of them from Bulawayo,
having been circumcised.
"When the pilot project was launched we had set
a target of circumcising 2
000 males but by December last year 3 000 had
gone through (the process)
which proves beyond any doubt that it was a huge
success," Dr Getrude Ncube,
the national HIV Prevention Coordinator
said.
Studies suggest that male circumcision reduces the risk of men
contracting
HIV during heterosexual intercourse by about 60 percent but
health experts
warn that this should not replace other more effective
prevention methods.
Zimbabwe, one of the countries worst hit by HIV,
joined a regional
initiative to use voluntary circumcision to help combat
the spread of the
virus.
The scheme was last year introduced in the
army with plans drawn up to roll
it out to civilians and new-born babies.
http://www.zimonline.co.za/
by Own Correspondent Saturday 13 March
2010
HARARE - A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
on Friday
concluded Article IV consultations with Zimbabwean government
officials,
business and labour leaders.
The IMF team that has been in
Harare since the first week of this month is
expected to release a report on
Zimbabwe's economic outlook, as the country
battles to emerge from a decade
of political strife and acute recession
blamed on the controversial policies
of longtime ruler, President Robert
Mugabe.
The visit by the IMF is
the first by the group to Zimbabwe this year and
coincided with a government
announcement of contentious black economic
empowerment laws under which
foreign-owned firms are required to transfer
majority stake to indigenous
Zimbabweans by 2015.
Analysts say the laws will scare away potential
investors while there are
also fears of another chaotic and violent orgy to
seize businesses similar
to Mugabe's violent land seizure that destroyed
commercial agriculture.
Officials close to the delegation said the IMF
team also reviewed the
disbursement of the US$100 million which the
government converted from the
410 million Special Drawing Rights availed by
the fund in September last
year.
Minister of Finance Tendai Biti last
Thursday said the money will be used to
rehabilitate Zimbabwe's dilapidated
infrastructure including major roads,
airports and the archaic Hwange
thermal power station.
However, Biti said the government should not
expect any foreign funding this
year.
Zimbabwe had its IMF voting
rights restored this year but the country
remains ineligible for loans
because of long outstanding debts.
IMF boss Dominic Strauss-Khan on
Wednesday said the Bretton Woods
institution was ready to help Zimbabwe but
was not able to immediately
resume lending to the country because of its
uncertain political
situation. - ZimOnline
http://www.zimonline.co.za/
by Lizwe Sebatha Saturday 13 March
2010
BULAWAYO - Zimbabweans living outside the country will be
excluded from the
constitutional reform process due to funding constraints,
a top member of
the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) leading
the reforms said
on Friday.
About three million skilled and unskilled
Zimbabweans have fled the country
to neighbouring nations like South Africa
and Botswana and to overseas
nations over the past decade in search of
better paying jobs and living
conditions.
COPAC co-chairperson Edward
Mkhosi told ZimOnline that the committee does
not have financial resources
to visit Zimbabweans in the diaspora to gather
their views on the new
constitution.
"Diasporans cannot be ignored but in as much as we would
want to gather
their views, the fact is that there is no money to do that,
we do not have
funds for example to visit Zimbabweans in neighbouring South
Africa and
Botswana," said Mkhosi.
"They (diasporans) are difficult
to reach, how do we reach out to people in
the diaspora when we are failing
to reach out to Zimbabweans here due to
lack of funds."
Under a
September 2008 power-sharing deal that led to formation of the
country's
unity government between President Robert Mugabe and Prime
Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai the country is supposed to craft a new
constitution paving the
way for new elections.
But funding constraints and reports of alleged
intimidation by soldiers and
supporters of Mugabe's ZANU PF party
campaigning for the adoption of the
controversial Kariba draft constitution
as the basis for the proposed new
charter have tainted the credibility of
the reform exercise.
Mkhosi however said international donors have poured
in funds to pave way
for the gathering of views of Zimbabweans for the draft
constitution, noting
that the process will begin in the first week of April
despite the low
enthusiasm from Zimbabweans who are now fed up with the
delays.
"According to our survey, the enthusiasm that people had about
the
constitution making process has been tempered with by the continued
delays
due to funding constraints. There is no enthusiasm any more because
of that.
Otherwise, we are confident that the process will begin in the
first week of
April since donors have pledged about US$21 million for the
process," he
added.
ZANU PF and the two MDC formations of Tsvangirai
and Deputy Premier Arthur
Mutambara secretly authored the Kariba draft in
2007 but critics say the
document should be discarded because it leaves
Mugabe's immense powers
untouched.
The coalition government is
expected to call fresh elections after enactment
of a new constitution
although the administration can choose to wait until
expiry of its term in
2013 to call elections.
Zimbabweans hope a new constitution will
strengthen the role of Parliament
and curtail the president's powers, as
well as guarantee basic civil,
political and media freedoms. - ZimOnline
"Lack of funding at this crucial time could derail progress made between the latter part of 2009 and now," warned the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which noted that the 2010 Consolidated Appeal is just over 2 per cent funded.
Zimbabwe has been plagued by widespread humanitarian suffering in recent years, driven in part by long-running political strife.
When the appeal was launched in December 2009, some 6 million people in the country did not have access to safe water and sanitation due to the erosion of basic services. Livelihoods were also threatened by the prolonged economic downturn.
"There is need for vigilance as the humanitarian situation is still precarious and prone to sudden shocks," OCHA said, adding that the available funding is insufficient to address the country's humanitarian needs.
The Office reported that the dry spell in parts of the Southern African nation from mid-December 2009 to last month has raised concerns for food security.
Meanwhile, over 70 cases of cholera, including one death, have been reported in a new outbreak that began in early February. During the same period in 2009, there were nearly 75,790 cases and 3,612 deaths in the outbreak that started in August 2008.
In addition, the number of deaths related to a measles outbreak more than doubled, rising to 110 by the end of February, compared to 50 at the end of January.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
20:56 GMT,
Friday, 12 March 2010
Fourth one-day international, St Vincent:
West Indies 142-6
(34.3 overs) bt Zimbabwe 141 (48.2 overs) by four wickets
Narsingh
Deonarine's composed 32 not out saw the West Indies home after they
were
made to work hard wrapping up a series victory over Zimbabwe.
Elton
Chigumbura top-scored with 42 in a flimsy Zimbabwe batting display as
Dwayne
Bravo claimed figures of 4-21.
After Chris Gayle crashed 32 runs off 21
balls the hosts looked poised to
comfortably chase down their
target.
But the middle order wobbled as the tourist's attack slowed the
scoring,
before Deonarine sealed victory.
Skipper Gayle had no
hesitation sending Zimbabwe into bat after winning the
toss on a pitch that
offered zip and movement.
Ravi Rampaul struck early as a lifter hurried
Hamilton Masakadza into edging
behind for a duck, but Vusi Sibanda and
Timycen Maruma pushed the total on
to 37 before the Zimbabwe innings
disintegrated.
Maruma mistimed a shot to gulley off Bravo on nine before
Brendan Taylor saw
his off stump pegged back while trying to drive at
Rampaul.
Sibanda fell to a run-out for 11 after a mix-up in the middle
and Stuart
Matsikenyeris and Tatenda Taibu provided Bravo with his second
and third
victims shortly after.
At 62-6 and with five wickets
falling for just 25 runs, Elton Chigumbura
salvaged at least a modest score
with a defiant display that featured three
sixes.
Gayle's trademark
swift scoring seemed to bring the total in sight, but,
with Ramnaresh Sarwan
missing from their line-up, the hosts faltered after
their captain fell to
Greg Lamb.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul followed for only two before Adrian
Barath was
trapped in front by Graeme Cremer to introduce some doubt into
the Kingstown
crowd.
The frugal spin of Cremer and Ray Price tied
down the batsmen, but Deonarine
shared watchful partnerships of 31 and 38
with Denesh Ramdin and Kieron
Pollard to haul his side over the line.
Dear Family and Friends,
As we come towards the end of our rainy season
we hear the news that
one in four Zimbabweans are in urgent need of food
aid.
We are not surprised.
Since the start of the season 6 months
ago, everyone has been
commenting on the dramatic absence of crops on farms.
Travel in any
direction, towards any of our country's borders and you see
grass,
weeds and derelict farms. The best crops are those planted
on
roadsides and little squares of vacant land in urban areas. There
has
been so little growing on our farms this season that even
before
Christmas the farming organisations were warning that this year
was
going to be the worst ever recorded. Now we know that they
were
right.
The Red Cross are quoted as saying that the hunger
situation in some
parts of the country is as bad as they have ever seen
it.
Erratic rain, too little rain and too much rain are the three
reasons
being publicly given by the Red Cross. They do not, perhaps dare
not,
say anything about the fact that on the few farms that were
growing
food this season, continuous
invasions by Zanu PF officials
and army personnel destroyed what
little production was going on. The few
people who were actually
trying to grow food were stopped because their skin
is white. They
were harassed, intimidated, threatened, evicted and even
arrested. In
one shocking case the Chipinge Magistrate ordering the eviction
of
farmers was himself lined up to be a beneficiary of the seized farm.
It
is almost beyond belief that for 10 years in a row this has been
going on.
The greed of a very few highly placed and already rich
people, continues to
result in the suffering of so many.
The continuing lawless situation on
the farms is one of many issues
that has not changed or been tackled by the
unity government running
Zimbabwe. Every year that it continues, it is
getting harder and
harder for anyone to produce anything. Men and women who
used to
crowd at the farm gates for jobs have gone. They are scared to
work
on farms knowing that at any time an arbitrary bod with a
fancy
government double cab or an army uniform might come down the
driveway
and evict them all. Others won't work on farms because the wages
they
receive amount to less than 50 US dollars a month. Even being given
a
free house, water and food rations simply isn't enough because there
are
school fees to pay, clothes to buy and the basic needs of
everyday life. And
then there are the people who don't even try and
work but rather wait to be
given handouts.
The beneficiaries of Zimbabwe's land seizures have had
ten years to
practice how to grow food. They've had free land, free buildings
and
infrastructure, free seed and fertilizer, free tractors and diesel
and
yet one in 4 people in the country are hungry. No one is fooled
anymore, not
even the most radical of radicals whose silence is
leaving people going to
bed hungry tonight.
Until next week, thanks for reading, love cathy�
Copyright cathy
buckle 13 March 2010. www.cathybuckle.com
BILL
WATCH SPECIAL
[13th
March 2010]
Parliamentary
Legal Committee to Consider Indigenisation
Regulations
The
Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment (General) Regulations [SI 21/2010] will
be considered by the Parliamentary Legal Committee [PLC] on Tuesday 16th
March.
PLC
meetings are not open to the public, but organisations or individuals may
make written representations to the PLC to assist it in its consideration of the
regulations
The
PLC’s Mandate
Under
the Constitution [section 40B] the PLC must consider:
·
the
constitutionality of the regulations, and
·
whether
they are ultra vires [outside the terms of] the enabling Act – the
Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.
Under
Parliamentary Standing Orders the PLC must also ensure that the regulations do
not:
·
contain
“matters more appropriate for parliamentary enactment”
·
make
“the rights and liberties of persons unduly dependent upon administrative
decisions which are not subject to review by a judicial
tribunal”
·
change
an Act of Parliament.
Written
Representations to the PLC
Written
submissions should be delivered to Parliament no later than 8.30 am Tuesday 16th
March, addressed to the Clerk of Parliament and marked for attention of the
Parliamentary Legal Committee. Deliveries should be made to the Kwame Nkrumah
Avenue entrance to Parliament between Second and Third Streets. Telephone
queries: Harare 700181 or 252936-55 [ask for Counsel to Parliament’s office].
PLC
Members
The
majority of the PLC’s members must be legally qualified [Constitution,
section 40A]. The members are:
Hon
Senator Obert Gutu, chairperson
Hon
Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana
Hon
Shepherd Mushonga
Hon
Thandeko Mnkandla
Hon
Biata Nyamupinga.
[Electronic
versions of the regulations and the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act available
on request]
Reminder:
Portfolio Committee Public Hearing on Regulations
The
House
of Assembly
Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance, Economic Planning and Investment will
hold its second public hearing on the Indigenisation Regulations at the Harare
International Conference Centre on Monday 15th March at 10 am. [Details in
Bill Watch Special of 12th March.] This, rather than the PLC, would be the
correct forum for raising general or policy concerns about the regulations.
Veritas
makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal
responsibility for information supplied.
BILL
WATCH SPECIAL
[13th
March 2010]
House of
Assembly Portfolio Committees and Senate Thematic Committees: Open Meetings 15th
to 18th March
The
meetings listed below are open to members of the public, as observers only,
not as participants. [See note at the end of this bulletin on public
attendance/participation at different types of committee meetings.]
Note:
The mining companies, Permanent Secretary and Minister of Mines failed to turn
up at the three Mines and Energy Committee hearings scheduled for them last
week. The Clerk of Parliament has said the Committee has the power under
the
Privileges, Immunities and Powers of Parliament Act to demand their presence,
and they have been summoned to appear at hearings this coming week [see
below].
The
meeting to hear oral
evidence from the Ministry of Youth
on empowerment programmes and activities may be of general interest
[see
below].
Monday
15th March at 10 am
Public
Accounts Committee
Oral
evidence from Public Service
Commission
Committee
Room No. 4
Chairperson:
Hon Mashakada Clerk: Mrs Nyawo
Portfolio
Committee: Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism
Oral
evidence from NetOne; Econet;
Hotel Association; Bankers Association
Committee
Room No. 311
Chairperson:
Hon P Dube Mr Munjenge
Portfolio
Committee: Mines and Energy
Oral
evidence from Mbada and
Canadile Companies
Committee
Room No. 413
Chairperson:
Hon Chindori-Chininga Clerk: Mr Manhivi
Monday
15th March at 2 pm
Thematic
Committee: Gender and Development
Oral
evidence from Ministry of Youth
on empowerment programmes and activities
Committee
Room No. 3
Chairperson:
Hon Chitsa Clerk: Mrs
Khumalo
Portfolio
Committee: Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
Oral
evidence from the Minister
of Labour and Social Services
Committee
Room No. 1
Chairperson:
Hon Zinyemba Clerk: Ms Mushunje
Portfolio
Committee: Justice, Legal Affairs, Constitutional and Parliamentary
Affairs
Oral
evidence from the Minister
of Justice and Legal Affairs
Committee
Room No. 413
Chairperson:
Hon. T Matutu Clerk: Miss Zenda
Tuesday
16th March at 10 am
Portfolio
Committee: Health and Child Welfare
Oral
evidence from Ministry of
Health and Child Welfare on investment in health sector
Committee
Room No. 1
Chairperson:
Hon Parirenyatwa Clerk: Mr Ndlovu
Portfolio
Committee: Mines and Energy
Oral
evidence from the Permanent
Secretary for Mines and Ambassador Midzi [former Minister of
Mines]
Senate
Chamber
Chairperson:
Hon Chindori-Chininga Clerk: Mr Manhivi
Thematic
Committee: Millennium Development Goals [MDGs]
Oral
evidence from Ministry of Education
on its programme for establishment of schools in newly resettled
areas
Government
Caucus Room
Chairperson:
Hon Chief Mtshane Mrs Nyawo
Wednesday
17th March at 10 am
Portfolio
Committee: Mines and Energy
Oral
evidence from Minister of Mines
Senate
Chamber
Chairperson:
Hon Chindori-Chininga Clerk: Mr Manhivi
Thursday
11th March at 11 am
Thematic
Committee: Indigenisation and Empowerment
Oral
evidence from Harare City Council
Government
Caucus Room
Chairperson:
Hon Mutsvangwa Mr Ratsakatika
Public
Attendance at and Participation in Committee Meetings
These
portfolio and thematic committee meetings are open to the public to attend as
observers only.
Members of the public wishing to attend a meeting should telephone
Parliament first [on Harare 700181], to check with the relevant committee clerk
that the meeting has not been cancelled. If you are attending, please use the
Kwame Nkrumah Avenue entrance to Parliament. IDs must be produced. Members
of the public are only free to participate when committees call public hearings.
Veritas will send out separate notices of these public hearings and outline the
procedures. Committees also sometimes have meetings where invited stakeholders
[and those who notify Parliament that they consider themselves stakeholders and
are accepted as such] are able to make representations and ask questions. These
meetings will be highlighted in these notices. Portfolio and thematic committees
meetings for deliberations are not open to the public, and these are not listed
in these notices.
Veritas
makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal
responsibility for information supplied.